Yahoo Lifestyle Step inside the 2024 Bazaar At Work Summit
The 2024 Bazaar At Work Summit in partnership with Samsung Galaxy Ring – our seventh annual event dedicated to ambitious professional women – took place this week in the majestic Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel in Bloomsbury. Guests gathered for a full day of inspiring interviews, immersive masterclasses and thought-provoking panel discussions on issues pertinent to 21st-century working life.
From Elizabeth Hurley’s witty reflections on navigating the media landscape in the Nineties to a rousing keynote speech from Nasa’s head of science Dr Nicola Fox, it was an invigorating day full of brilliant insights to take into the working year ahead.
Here are some of the highlights...
The day began with a candid and funny conversation between the British icon Elizabeth Hurley and Bazaar’s editor-in-chief Lydia Slater. The pair reflected on Hurley’s nascent days in the media maelstrom, her views on ageing and public perception, and her burgeoning love of gardening – nurtured during the lockdown of 2020. The actress, model and entrepreneur shared the biggest learnings of her career, from juggling childcare on punishing film sets to reframing her brand, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, over the past few years. “I’ve never been happier in my business,” she told the audience, before disclosing what advice she would give her younger self: “I would be less of a recluse.”
Our first panel discussion of the day, chaired by Bazaar’s features editor Charlotte Brook, focused on the topic of optimising the workforce, featuring contributions from Linda Morey-Burrows, who founded the interior-design and architecture firm MoreySmith, the neurodiversity expert Dr Maureen Dunne and the leading PR executive Emily Austen. The group discussed the demands on an evolving workforce, how to design an office that suits the needs of your team and how to balance flexibility at work with opportunities for communal creativity.
After a coffee break, the performance-coaching organisation Dr Theatre – a dynamic duo comprising the actresses Matilda and Harriet Thorpe – took to the stage. Getting the audience on their feet, they ran a masterclass on breathwork and self-confidence, asking attendees to modulate their voices and understand the power of tone and expression when called upon to advocate for themselves in the workplace. Their riotously successful session included improvised scenes with audience members learning how to navigate complex conversations around pay and promotion, and concluded with a group rendition of ‘Jingle Bells’. Above all, the pair’s message was about banishing imposter syndrome and bolstering self-worth. “Always remember,” said Harriet, “that you are enough.”
Our keynote speaker was the head of science at Nasa, Dr Nicola Fox, who is the first Brit and only the second woman to hold the position. Her inspiring speech encompassed the incredible journey of her career, alongside some of the most exciting developments of her work at Nasa. To an enraptured audience, Fox detailed the triumphs of her career as well as the hardships, becoming visibly emotional when mentioning her beloved late husband, who died aged 49. She shared her passion for working at Nasa and how, even after the most mundane of days, she drives past the logo on the gate and thinks to herself: “That’s pretty cool.” She left the stage to a standing ovation.
Lunch was served in the hotel’s Palm Court, with guests enjoying a buffet of dishes including crispy chicken schnitzel wraps, seared tuna and heirloom tomato salad while making the most of the networking opportunities. There was also the chance to explore the latest Samsung Galaxy products, with specialists on hand to introduce attendees to cutting-edge products revolutionising our wellbeing, including the new Galaxy Ring.
Our second panel of the day, chaired by Bazaar’s acting commissioning editor Marie-Claire Chappet and themed around the best ways to optimise yourself for the workforce, featured Annika Bizon, the marketing and omnichannel director at Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland and head of MX Ireland, the executive coach Dalbir Bains, and Dee Poku, the founder of The WIE Suite. From health and wellbeing to building communities and embracing your personal passions, all three women made inspiring suggestions for how to enhance your career through self-betterment.
The day came to a wonderful climax with a fireside chat between Bazaar’s deputy editor Frances Hedges and the superstar agent and producer Felicity Blunt. The pair spoke about spotting and nurturing talent, Blunt’s experience of working with her husband Stanley Tucci, and her instrumental part in getting Jilly Cooper’s extraordinary bonkbuster Rivals adapted for the small screen.
After closing remarks from Lydia Slater, the crowd congregated in the Palm Court for a Laurent-Perrier Champagne reception, toasting a day of celebrating and bolstering female ambition. Guests departed with goodie bags filled with luxury gifts from brands including 111 Skin, Clé de Peau Beauté and Aspinal of London.
The 2024 Bazaar At Work Summit in partnership with Samsung Galaxy Ring was held this week in the majestic Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel. Guest gathered for a full day of inspiring interviews, immersive masterclasses and thought-provoking panel discussions for our seventh annual celebration of ambitious professional women and the issues most pertinent to our ever-evolving workforce.
From Liz Hurley's witty reflections of navigating the media landscape of the nineties to a rousing keynote speech from Nasa's head of science, Dr Nicola Fox, it was an invigorating day full of brilliant insights to take into the new working year ahead.
Here are some of the highlights...
You Might Also Like
