Thursday 26th June 2025

In a world filled with endless demands and opportunities, learning to say "no" is a crucial skill for maintaining balance, focus, and well-being. This interactive workshop, The Art of Saying No, will empower participants to set healthy boundaries, prioritise effectively, and communicate their limits with confidence and clarity. Through practical strategies, attendees will explore the psychology behind saying "no," overcome guilt or fear of rejection, and discover how to decline requests gracefully without damaging relationships. Whether in personal or professional settings, this workshop will equip you with the tools to reclaim your time, energy, and peace of mind. 

Key Takeaways:

• Explore why this is an issue in the first place, i.e. why we have found it difficult to say No
• Understand the importance of setting boundaries.
• Learn techniques to say "no" assertively and respectfully.
• Practice real-life scenarios to build confidence.
• Discover how to prioritise what truly matters.

Join us for this session and master the art of saying "no" with grace and intention!

This session will be delivered by Katherine Leopold, Senior Fellow at University of Greenwich, Jo Richardson, Professor at NTU and Tao Jiang, Sarah Budello Co-Chairs of the Women at Leeds Network from University of Leeds

We've all been there; someone makes a comment that feels off, inappropriate or subtly offensive. You freeze. You fawn. You second-guess whether it was “that bad.” Sound familiar?

This empowering and practical workshop is for anyone who’s ever been caught off guard by a microaggression and walked away wishing they’d said something but didn’t know how. You’ll explore what holds you back in those moments, learn how to work with your body’s natural stress responses and discover powerful techniques to respond in a way that’s true to who you are.

Through storytelling, reflection, and real-life role play, you'll leave with strategies that don’t just live in theory, but in your voice, your body and your everyday life.

• Explore the internal beliefs that make it hard to speak up.
• Learn how your body responds to stressful social situations and how to manage it.
• Practice addressing microaggressions in a way that is authentic to you.
• Gain confidence in your ability to skillfully handle uncomfortable social situations.

Join us for this energising session and leave with tools, and the self-belief, to speak up with strength, no matter the setting.

Advancing in your higher education career isn’t just about skills and opportunities—it’s about clarity, perspective, and meaningful connections. This interactive workshop is designed to help you to reflect on your career journey, gain fresh insights, and define a clear path forward. Through guided self-reflection and paired discussions, you’ll explore your strengths, aspirations, and the challenges holding you back, while learning from the experiences of your peers.

This session will create a safe space for sharing, collaboration, and discovery. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of your unique value, practical strategies to overcome obstacles, and defined actions to take the next step in your career. 

Key Takeaways:

• Reflect on your career goals, strengths, and challenges through guided exercises

• Gain new perspectives by sharing experiences and insights in paired discussions

• Identify actionable steps to advance your career in higher education

• Build connections with peers to foster ongoing support and collaboration

Join us for this reflective and collaborative session to redefine your career path and take meaningful steps towards your professional aspirations in higher education!

This session will be delivered by Alice Chilver, Founder and CEO, WHEN and Ellie Rich-Poole - Lead Faculty from WHEN's Career Accelerator Programme and Executive Career Coach.

What we do and where we work aren't the only interesting things about us, and yet they're often the first thing we talk about when we meet new people in a professional environment.

In this workshop you'll learn which ingredients you need to make your good story great, so the next time you're at a networking event or introducing yourself before a speech, you'll be well equipped to make a lasting impression. 

Led by the Director of Stori, together with The She Network, this session will share techniques used in journalism and comms that will help you to make your story memorable. 

Key takeaways: 

- Identify the 'why' in your story

- Differentiate between a good story and good storytelling 

- Gain confidence, practicing your story in pairs

- Receive constructive feedback with the opportunity to refine your story further

This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to refine their story, make connections, meet new people and widen their network.

Delivered by Trina Everall, Director of Stori and Louise Wood, Deputy Director, Communications and PR, University of Chester - both are founding partners of The She Network. 

What would you go for if you truly backed yourself?

In this energising and straight-talking session, Sarah John — Partner at global executive search firm Perrett Laver — invites you to rethink your limits and stretch your ambitions. Drawing on years of experience placing leaders across higher education and beyond, Sarah will share what truly stands out in candidates, what holds talented people back, and how to approach bold career moves with purpose and confidence.

This session is about helping you:

• Get clear on what you really want from your next move
• Understand what search firms and panels are really looking for
• Let go of the narratives and doubts that keep you stuck
• Start saying yes to opportunities that scare and stretch you
   
   
  Whether you're feeling stuck, striving for your next step, or supporting others to rise, this is a chance to reset your mindset and remind yourself: you are allowed to want more — and go for it. No slides. No long theory. Just honest insight, practical tips, and a space to get brave together.

Delivered by Sarah John, Regional Managing Partner, UK and Africa & Middle East at Perrett Laver and Adele Mackinlay, Chief People Officer at Lancaster University.