It's about damn time, said Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit co-chair Maryam Banikarim as she introduced the singer Lizzo for a Q&A before a live audience.
The four-time Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter is on a break, and she broke the news to the crew of high-powered women that she had voted for Kamala Harris in the presidential election.
“There’s so many important issues on the ballot this year. And I just want to encourage everyone—I know everyone in this room is going to vote—but please, anyone who’s going to see this video or hear this, please vote.”
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FORTUNE Most Powerful Women 2024
October 14th, 2024
Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
7:00 – 9:00 PM
DINNER AND CONVERSATION
Hosted by Instacart
8:00 – 8:20 PM
FROM GRAMMYS TO GAP YEAR
4x Grammy Award and Emmy Award winning singer-songwriter, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, Lizzo, will discuss her music career, the future of her popular shapewear brand, YITTY, and why she decided to take a gap year.
Lizzo, 4x Grammy Award-winning Artist; CEO, YITTY
Interviewer: Ellie Austin, Fortune
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune
The singer's lively interview with MPW co-chair Ellie Austin capped off an evening that began with a discussion between fellow co-chair Emma Hinchliffe and actress and wine purveyor Cameron Diaz. After taking time off to focus on her family, Diaz embarked on a new venture in the wine industry with friend and fellow aficionado Katherine Power.
“It felt like something I had to do to reclaim my own life,” said Diaz of the break. “It really comes to: What are you passionate about? For me, it was building my family."
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FORTUNE Most Powerful Women 2024
October 14th, 2024
Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
7:00 – 9:00 PM
DINNER AND CONVERSATION
Hosted by Instacart
THE MULTI-HYPHENATES
Actress-turned-entrepreneur Cameron Diaz and consumer brand builder Katherine Power (WhoWhatWear, Merit Beauty, Versed) discuss their career evolutions and the launch of Avaline, their transparently produced organic wine brand.
Cameron Diaz, Actor; Author; Co-founder, Avaline
Katherine Power, Founder and Chairperson, MERIT, Versed; Co-founder, Avaline
Moderator: Emma Hinchliffe, Senior Writer, Fortune; Co-chair, Fortune MPW Summit
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune
The first day of the seminal event began bright and early with a beach trip in Laguna Niguel, Calif., where friends old and new bonded over a brisk walk and morning breeze.
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FORTUNE Most Powerful Women 2024
October 14th, 2024
Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
7:00 – 8:00 AM
BEACH WALK WITH AMBASSADORS
Join the MPW Ambassadors and other MPW members for a relaxing morning beach walk. Make a new connection, get inspired through nature, and start your day off right.
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune
One of the themes that emerged from the day is the idea of grit. For many women, their grit is a source of power, and for a lot of them, they learned it playing sports as children.
Deloitte chair Lara Abrash defined grit as that hard part on your elbow that gets built up. “You can’t teach someone grit. They’re not born with grit,” she said. “So these experiences, particularly for women who are often told they can’t do something, actually teaches them they can.”
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FORTUNE Most Powerful Women 2024
October 14th, 2024
Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
1:00 – 2:30 PM
MPW CONCURRENT LUNCHES
HOW INVESTING IN WOMEN’S SPORTS FOSTERS WOMEN LEADERS
Hosted by Deloitte
There is much to celebrate in the sports arena, as attention for women’s sports continues to grow. A recent Deloitte study suggests skills developed through playing competitive sports often set women up for successful careers. This finding stacks up to an incredible opportunity to help girls who play become women who lead. How can we invest in women’s sports to inspire the next generation of leaders?
Discussion Leaders:
Ilona Aman, Chief Marketing Officer, Athleta
Elizabeth Lindsey, President, Brands and Properties, Wasserman
Sarah Robb O’Hagan, Chief Executive Officer, EXOS
Moderator: Lara Abrash, Chair, Deloitte US
Photograph by Kristy Walker/Fortune
Women also shared tales of how they got into the most powerful boardrooms in the world.
Former Black Entertainment Television CEO and now corporate board member Debra Lee recalled being asked to join a board years ago after a CEO saw her at an event and told her she was attractive. The company was a beauty brand, and Lee became the third woman on the board, which was made up of mostly older white men who would pass around the lipstick trying to determine the shade.
Lee now serves on the boards of Marriott, Procter & Gamble, and Warner Bros. Discovery. She founded Leading Women Defined and cofounded the Monarchs Collective.
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FORTUNE Most Powerful Women 2024
October 14th, 2024
Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
1:00 – 2:30 PM
MPW CONCURRENT LUNCHES
THE NEW BOARDROOM
Hosted by Heidrick & Struggles
As companies navigate the economic and operational demands of the future, the boardroom’s collective experience will be put to the test. How are board members contributing to overall effectiveness amid fast-paced change? The call for more diversity in boards is as urgent as ever to help companies stay relevant and adaptable to what’s ahead. How are the boards of the future made? How might you prepare yourself for a spot?
Discussion Leaders:
Courtney della Cava, Senior Managing Director, Blackstone; Board Member, Mphasis, Renaissance, Rover
Debra Lee, Founder, Leading Women Defined; Co-founder and Partner, The Monarchs Collective; Board Member, Marriott, Procter & Gamble, Warner Bros. Discovery
Anna Marrs, Group President, Global Commercial Services, Credit and Fraud Risk, American Express, Director, DocuSign
Sachi Vora, Partner and Co-head, Global Financial Officers Practice; CEO & Board of Directors Practice, Heidrick & Struggles
Moderator: Ellie Austin, Deputy Editorial Director, Most Powerful Women, Fortune; Co-chair, Fortune MPW Summit
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune
An always popular topic among business leaders is the burgeoning challenge of adapting to work with Gen Z. The social-media-savvy demographic is tricky, and they care more about working for a company that has a mission they agree with than getting a packed paycheck.
FORTUNE Most Powerful Women 2024
October 14th, 2024
Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
4:00 – 5:00 PM
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
SHAPING THE NEXT-GENERATION WORKFORCE
Hosted by Workday
As technology quickly evolves to elevate humans and supercharge work – how do we inspire, develop, and mentor the next generation of forward-thinkers? In this session, we’ll explore how the world’s biggest brands are building high-performing teams ready to take on the future of work. As technology quickly evolves to elevate humans and supercharge work – how do we inspire, develop, and mentor the next generation of forward-thinkers? In this session, we’ll explore how the world’s biggest brands are building high-performing teams ready to take on the future of work.
Discussion Leaders:
Nadine Augusta, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Cushman & Wakefield
Emma Chalwin, Chief Marketing Officer, Workday
Amy Feirn, US Managing Principal for Transformation, Deloitte
Seema Hingorani, Founder and Chair, Girls Who Invest; Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
Moderator: Michal Lev-Ram, Editorial Director, Fortune; Co-chair, Fortune MPW Summit
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune
Similarly, business leaders want to understand how AI will shape the jobs of the future, without panicking employees into thinking they might lose their jobs if an AI-based system can do it more efficiently.
At private equity firm TPG, global head of human resources Anna Edwin poised one of the most burning questions for business leaders in thinking through their future talent strategies.
“Everybody is grappling with the same question: How do you create something that is sustainable and doesn’t freak people out that it’s going to replace their jobs?” said Edwin.
FORTUNE Most Powerful Women 2024
October 14th, 2024
Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
4:00 – 5:30 PM
FORTUNE MPW FUTURE LEADERS
Hosted by Heidrick & Struggles
Fortune, with the support of Heidrick & Struggles, has partnered with the Foundation for Women Warriors to present Fortune MPW Future Leaders. The program is for a select group of high-potential women seeking career guidance from women from the MPW community as they transition from active-duty military service to civilian life.
Opening remarks from Bonnie Gwin, Global Co-Managing Partner, CEO and Board Practice, Heidrick & Struggles
Michelle Gass, President and CEO, Levi Strauss & Co.
Interviewer: Ellie Austin, Fortune
Photograph by Kristy Walker/Fortune
The momentum continues on Tuesday with Day 2 of the event at 7:30 a.m. PDT. The live stream will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. with MPW's famous meet-and-greet. Stream the live event here.
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