FEATURE
Well-attended – the latest in a series of events was hosted at the Wilton Centre , which is home to Womble Bond Dickinson ’ s Teesside office .
Discussion – Womble Bond Dickinson ’ s Emma Welch spoke to delegates about the benefits of having a diverse leadership .
The event The event included an insightful and at times entertaining fireside chat , where we were joined by Liran Kessler , group director of HR at 2M .
We explored the importance of recognising employees at every level , nurturing their talents and giving them the tools they need to develop within the business ( either in their current role or in another role within the business ). By breaking down barriers and moving away from rigid shift patterns towards a more flexible working environment , employees felt more empowered to balance family , health and work .
As a firm with strong sector expertise , it ’ s great to be able to share what we ’ ve learned about gender diversity in the legal sector with our network in the chemicals industry and explore imposter syndrome ,
Series – Womble Bond Dickinson ( WBD ) hosted the second of a series of events focusing on supporting women in the chemicals industry .
which is a challenge that many of us face throughout our careers . Gender diversity is obviously incredibly important because it ’ s the right thing to do , but what came out strongly in the fireside chat is the proven business imperative for achieving gender diversity .
This uplifting and informative talk was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Emma Welch , managing associate at Womble Bond Dickinson and also co-chair of WBD Thrive , which is the firm ’ s national women ’ s network .
The expert panel – which included contributors from Green Lithium , Alpek Polyester , Koch Industries , 2M Group and Womble Bond Dickinson – shared their own experiences with imposter syndrome and how its effects have changed at different stages of their careers .
They also explained what their businesses were doing and the processes that were being put in place to support staff , build professional confidence and alleviate the effects of imposter syndrome , as well as ensure greater diversity at a senior level .
Above all else , all panel members stressed the importance of recognising that success does not look the same to everyone but comes in all manner of shapes and sizes , and so maintaining an open dialogue about career progression and personal development with employees is vital to ensuring retention and future success .
“ There are so many benefits to a business in having diverse leadership ,” said Emma .
“ One of our missions in WBD Thrive , is to ensure women are given the opportunity to succeed at every level and one of our core objectives is to lead the way on responsible business , making continuous improvements for our people , our planet and our clients .”
Womble Bond Dickinson With more than 200 years of combined experience of advising clients in the chemicals and wider process sector , Womble Bond Dickinson has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in Teesside , the UK , Europe , the US and beyond .
Blending local expertise , cross-sector knowledge and connections with city quality and international reach , the offering is truly unique in the region .
The team at WBD has many decades of experience supporting manufacturers in the chemicals sector , including pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers and , increasingly , renewables solution providers .
It is well equipped to help leading chemical companies navigate an everchanging regulatory landscape .
The firm also has significant expertise across complementary sectors such as renewable energy , manufacturing , digital and local government , and can also help you navigate the key local matters impacting development and business . Based in the heart of Teesside ’ s industry in the Wilton Centre within the freeport , and with offices in London and Newcastle and teams placed across the globe , the firm is helping promote Teesside and the exciting opportunities here for business on the national and international stage .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 125