London—Dentons' Black Professionals Network hosted an International Women's Day event in collaboration with Generation Success, the not-for-profit organisation that aims to empower all people of diversity to achieve their career aspirations, as part of Generation Success's Power Series. The event was held at Dentons' London offices on 8 March and was attended by over 70 students and young professionals who had the opportunity to listen to a panel of female business leaders share their personal journey to success and their experiences as industry leaders.

The panellists at the event were Jo Davies, Managing Director of VIM Group; Li Yu, Senior Global Product Manager - China Specialist at HSBC; Mary Boakye, Consultant at Dentons; and Naa Mettle-Nunoo, Vice President – MiFID II Project Manager at Barclays Capital. They discussed top tips for career progression and about the challenges they had overcome to get to where they are today.

Jo Davies spoke about being made redundant six times during her career in the manufacturing and retail industries and how she used her experience in brand implementation and client services to change careers and progress to management level to become UK Managing Director at VIM Group. Li Yu provided insight into the skills needed to be successful, including demonstrating one's knowledge and experience, making one's skills indispensable through establishing a niche, and demonstrating a unique offering. Mary Boakye shared the importance of excellence, being resilient and strategic, as well as the importance of giving back to help others achieve. Naa Mettle-Nunoo talked about her experience as a career-driven woman suffering with post-natal depression, finding God and how it led to true career success.

The evening also included nine mentors and mentees taking part in speed mentoring sessions, and led to several professionals volunteering to mentor the students in attendance, with a number of students expressing interest in becoming involved with Generation Success.

Dentons is proud to have supported Generation Success in providing a platform for individuals to learn and share with each other on International Women's Day 2018. The Firm is committed to achieving gender parity and is targeting a partnership in the UK where at least 30 per cent of its partners are women by 2020.

About Dentons

Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com