Institute of Directors welcomes women leaders at forum in London

The Institute of Directors (IoD) welcomed hundreds of business leaders to its Women’s Business Forum in London on 26th February 2026. 

The event was held at The View, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, with attendees including founders, senior decision-makers and emerging leaders from across the UK.

Keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops focused on leadership, innovation and growth. Speakers included Mariella Frostrup, broadcast journalist and UK Government Menopause Ambassador; Stephanie Hilborne OBE, CEO of Women in Sport; Rachel Jenkins, managing director of Curvy Kate; and Steph Douglas, CEO and founder of dontbuyherflowers.com. 

Entrepreneurs, board members and industry experts also shared strategies for business success.

Speakers challenged traditional leadership approaches and highlighted authenticity, resilience and innovation. 

Sessions included Breaking the Mould: Women Redefining Leadership, Boardroom Bound: Elevating Women to the Top Table, Beyond the Algorithm: Female Minds Driving the Tech Revolution, From Pitch to Power: Scaling Bold Ideas into Real Businesses, and Built to Last: Women Redefining Health, Performance, and Power.

Delegates took part in interactive wellbeing sessions such as Confidence and Mental Fitness for Women in Leadership and Unwind and Reset Workshop.

Roisin Sweeney, director of membership services at IoD, said: “The Women’s Business Forum was a celebration of the incredible impact women are making in business.