About the event:

Emotions can be one of our most valuable assets in our fast-paced and challenging workplaces and a driving force behind performance. Join Natalie Boudou and our guest panellists Hajar El Haddaouni, Mara Harvey and Fungai Mettler as they explore the power of emotions for leadership. We will also take a deep dive into gender and emotions, looking at the challenges that women may face as they navigate stereotypes and myths around emotions at work.

During this event you will:

• Understand how emotions can be one of our most valuable assets at work.
• Gain strategies to work with your emotions and the emotions of your team effectively.
• Learn from senior professionals about the role that emotions have played in their careers.
• Gain insights and tips to overcome biases and express emotions more confidently at work.
• Connect with our wonderful community of Lean In Switzerland, learn something new, and make new friends!

Agenda: 

17:30 - 18:00: Doors open

18:00 - 18:10: Welcome by Lean In Switzerland 

18:10 - 18:40: “Dismantling the stereotypes around emotions at work” - keynote speech by Natalie Boudou 

18:40 - 19:30: Panel discussion with Hajar El Haddaouni, Mara Harvey and Fungai Mettler, moderated by Anna Stando 

19:30 - 19:40: Closing by Lean In Switzerland 

19:40 - 21:30: Apéro

Our Speakers:

Natalie Boudou:

Natalie Boudou is the author of the bestselling book “HumanForce: The Power of Emotions in a Changing Workplace”, which has been featured in Forbes, Stylist and HR Director. The book looks at how, in fast-paced and challenging workplaces, emotions can be one of our most valuable assets and a driving force behind performance.

Natalie is also a sought-after speaker, specializing in emotional intelligence, health and wellbeing at work and all areas pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion. She has spoken on many topics related to leading in a changing business world, including creating and maintaining cultures of belonging, recognition and care in the workplace. She has participated in forums and associations dedicated to promoting female leadership and has enjoyed collaborating with several educational schools working with students to build their emotional intelligence skills. She is an engaging TEDx Speaker.

Natalie is a highly experienced and versatile professional with over 30 years’ experience in the corporate world. As CEO and Founder of HumanForce, she works closely with leaders and teams to unleash the potential and strength of their human capital. She has worked closely with multinationals from a variety of sectors including Pharma, FMCG, Sports and Luxury and also various UN organizations.

Hajar El Haddaouni

Alongside her “side job” as an advisor/consultant, Hajar is a senior Director and member of the executive Board at NTT Data Switzerland and has been with the IT industries for over 18 years.

Proven executive with global experience, client leader and change agent. She has held global and regional roles focused on Corporate Strategy, Transformation, Change and Innovation. Combining an MBA degree from IMD with a Law background, Hajar focuses on balancing both the business and human perspective in all her work. Her passion lies in creating inclusive and empathetic work environments in which people are encouraged and supported to be the best they can as their most authentic selves. Hajar has had the privilege to live and work in Europe, Canada and the Middle East. She was granted the Business Leader Award for best all-round female In IT in Europe and Global Influencer leader award.

Having experienced the power of recognition of authentic behavior firsthand, she wanted to make sure she paid it forward and gave other women the chance to experience it as well. She is a board member of Swiss leader, member of the advisory Board of MOD-ELLE, Member of the Advisory council of WINconference, Member of the assembly of delegates of Vaud chamber of commerce and an active contributor to inclusive leadership and advocate for the SDGs.

Hajar believes in the transformative impact of emerging technologies. She has developed a deep knowledge and practical experience in a range of emerging technology solutions, such as Metaverse blockchain, AI, virtual and augmented reality, 3D-printing, IoT and sensor technologies, and robotics process automation, among others. Hajar is a giving Masterclass Fellow at American Institute of Applied Sciences in Switzerland and Geneva University. She is a dynamic and influential speaker and presents regularly at corporate, United Nations and industry conferences.

Dr. Mara Catherine Harvey

CEO of VP Bank Switzerland, Head of Region Europe and member of the Executive Board of VP Bank Group.

Founder of FinancialParentingWorld.com, enabling parents to shape their kids’ financial future, and of Smartwaytostart.com, a financial literacy learning journey for kids (5-10y), on money and ethics.

Economist, banking rebel, senior leader with 21 years of experience in Wealth Management at UBS. Believer in life-serving leadership and award winning change maker and passionate advocate for financial literacy, gender equality and sustainability. Author of “Women and Risk: Rewriting the Rules” (2018). Pro-bono leader for The-A-Effect.com and board member of Plan.ch.

Fungai Mettler

Fungai Mettler is a multi-passionate social impact driven professional on a mission to help people and organizations to make a positive impact in their communities. She has spent the last decade driving social impact in Europe, Middle East, and Africa through various roles in academia, non-profit organizations as well as through the private sector. She currently serves as the Social Business Innovation Director for Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) at MSD. Her work includes integrating health equity and health systems strengthening into the business as well as driving global impact giving and ESG strategy development and implementation in EEMEA.

She is at the precipice of completing a doctoral degree at Geneva Business School, that is exploring the relationship between business decision making and ESG and assessing its influence in creating shared value.

Fungai is also a co-Founder and Director at SwiZim Trust, an organization supporting marginalized communities through strategic partnerships that foster innovation. She is a board member at Conscious Influence Hub and Friends for Matibi, which are organizations driving equity and social impact. In 2022, Fungai was named Woman Investor of the Year by Inyova, a company aimed at creating a more sustainable world through investing, as a recognition for her commitment to impact investing.

Moderation: 

Anna Stando

Anna Stando is a Co-Leader of Lean In Network Switzerland, independent DEI consultant, and a speaker, trainer, and facilitator of workshops and team days about diversity & inclusion, appreciation at work and gratitude for mental health.

Join us, we would love to have you with us!

The number of seats is limited.

PS: We will be taking pictures and recording a video of the event. If you don’t want to appear in these materials, please send us an email to leaninswitzerland@gmail.com prior to the event and mention this at the reception once you arrive, and you will be given a special seat.