
Keynote OverviewÂ
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Increasing numbers of women in the UK are taking the lead in business, boardrooms, and entrepreneurship, with a notable rise among young women founding companies. However, this progress coincides with a concerning trend in the well-being of young women. Studies reveal that young women in their early 20s are three times more likely than their male counterparts to experience stress, anxiety, and depression. The pressure to delay starting a family in pursuit of career advancement is a common dilemma, with some firms even offering egg-freezing to high-performing women. Additionally, many women leaders face challenges balancing long work hours with family time, and approximately 10% leave their careers prematurely due to menopause-related issues. Consequently, numerous talented women leaders falter before reaching the pinnacle of their professions.
Historically, discussions on womenâs leadership and well-being have been siloed issues. Many female leaders have implemented commendable well-being policies within their organisations but have not addressed their own personal challenges. Dorothy Byrne, a senior television executive who battled post-menopausal health issues, asserts that prioritising womenâs health and well-being is essential for effective leadership. She argues that by doing so, leaders not only enhance their personal lives but also improve organisational outcomes.
In this keynote, Dorothy Byrne passionately advocates for a transformative shift, urging women to prioritise their health and well-being as integral to effective leadership and personal fulfilment. Join us for this impactful keynote and a crucial conversation on integrating womenâs leadership and well-being. Letâs unite to redefine leadership and empower each other to thrive. Secure your ticket for the Rising Festival on 21 September and be part of this game-changing discussion.
Q&A Chaired by Rising Festival Chair, Prof. Dame Carol Black, Chair of the British Library and Chair of the Centre for Ageing Better.
Get Inspired by Dorothy Bryne. Watch Now.
Presenter Bio:
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Dorothy Byrne is the President of Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, a college for women. She took up the role in 2021. Under her leadership, the College has played a leading role in championing girls and women in STEM, particularly in physics, engineering, maths and computer science where they are underrepresented nationally and revealed a significant gender attainment gap in these subjects at Cambridge. In 2023, she announced the College, teaming up with AstraZeneca was launching an entrepreneurship scheme which would be open to all women students and recent alumnae across Cambridge.Â
Prior to joining the College, Dorothy was Editor at Large at Channel 4, a role that was specially created for her when she stepped down as Head of News and Current Affairs after 15 years. During her time at Channel 4, Dorothy was responsible for news and current affairs programmes which have had a national and global impact, winning numerous Royal Television Society, BAFTA and Emmy awards.Â
Dorothy was made a Fellow of the Royal Television Society for her âoutstanding contribution to televisionâ. She also won the BBC Grierson Trustees Award for contribution to documentary at the British Documentary Awards; received the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards; was awarded a BAFTA Scotland Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television; and won the Women in Film and Television Award for contribution to television.Â
Dorothy continues to work in international documentary. She was Executive Producer of Leaving Neverland, The Hunt for Jihadi John, Sri Lankaâs Killing Fields, The Ballymurphy Precedent, The Man Putin Couldnât Kill, and Island of Secrets, a film about sex abuse in the Falklands.. Â
In 2019, Dorothy delivered the prestigious MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival in which she criticised politicians for lying and failing to be held to account.Â
In 2023 Dorothy delivered the James Cameron Memorial Lecture
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