Holmes Report 29 Jan 2012
Top women business leaders spoke at 218 unique events in 2011, including a mix of women’s and non-gender specific forums, according to Weber Shandwick’s latest Top Executive Conferences study.
Weber Shandwick conducts global research annually on the executive leadership conference landscape, and this year’s installment examined the speaking engagements of the world’s top women business leaders, based on Fortune’s 2011 Most Powerful Women list, which features 50 US-based women executives and 50 outside the US.
The majority of women (69 percent) on the list spoke at one or more conferences in 2011. On average, these top-ranking women spoke at 2.7 conferences over the course of 12 months. US and non-US- based women were nearly just as likely to speak, confirming that women all over the globe recognize the value of conference visibility.
“Women executives are establishing their rightful place at the table, gaining greater stature and notoriety in the business world,” says Micho Spring, chair of Weber Shandwick’s global corporate practice. “As such, they are becoming vital members on the conference circuit, increasing participation and prominence in this powerful venue,” said
The leading speaking forums in 2011 for these top women executives included Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, The World Economic Forum/Davos, India-US CEO Forum, Women Corporate Director’s Global Institute, the Paley Center for Media International Council Summit and the APEC Women and the Economy Summit.