Let’s Talk: Conversations Inclusion and Diversity

The moderator will invite us to reflect on diversity and inclusion in workplaces as well as exchange perspectives, together with a panel of leading women from international companies in Düsseldorf and surrounding areas. 

Focus: the challenges that employers and employees face in this area. e.g. lack of talents, struggle to retain those talents, need for more diverse teams, difficulty in finding job openings as women of other nationalities: non-native speakers, without job experience in the German labour market.

The Speakers are

1. women in senior positions with job experience in international companies or companies with an international perspective
2. women with international mindset and the ability to take action in their positions and  lead teams
   
3. women that see diversity as an opportunity and inclusion as an asset for workplaces

Geraldine Freeman

Geraldine is the General Mgr of the BNL organisation &  a member of the Leadership Team for Central Europe. She is a Board Member of the Consumer Health Organisation in Belgium. She started her working career in Dusseldorf and has held several roles in J&J.

Eva Leihener-Stefan

Eva completed her International management studies (ESCP) in France, UK and Germany. She has over 23 years with L’OREAL, working in Paris, Düsseldorf & Melbourne. She had a 2 year sabbatical in Beijing, China when following her husband’s job but L’oreal called asking her to return! She became GM L’OREAL Paris in Düsseldorf 2015 and since Nov 2018- CEO of German natural certified cosmetics acquisition LOGOCOS.

Birgit Bassarak

Global Head of Learning at Siemens Healthineers AG

Birgit was born and raised in Dusseldorf, lived in Zurich, Barcelona and Munich. She says she has the typical “Rheinische” mentality, loves to talk and to laugh (especially about herself!). She has 22 years of experience in the area of employee learning & development and has worked for Deutsche Bank, Zurich Insurance Group, Siemens, & Deloitte.