Partnering with CPG & Retail’s leading brands to drive performance through inclusion

With 30,000+ professionals and 65 partner companies, we help organisations across Europe advance gender equity and build high-performing, inclusive workplaces.

How we Drive Business Impact

Grow

Programmes & Performance

Build the leaders you’d have to hire in. Our programmes, from NextGen and Mentoring to C-Level, develop future leaders at every level of your business. Replacing one employee costs up to 200% of their salary.

Explore Programmes >

Perform

Industry Insights & Access

Get the intelligence to prevent risk before it costs you. Exclusive C-level roundtables, best practices, and industry research — the kind that can’t be automated. €376B was lost in 2024 to poor employee engagement.

Explore Chapters >

Connect

Network & Brand Visibility

Be seen by the people who matter most to your business. 110+ annual events, 19 chapters, and 600+ leaders and 120+ companies at our Annual Conference. 75% of consumers back brands that show up on inclusion.

Join the Business Network >

Oct 6–7 • Dublin, Ireland

LEAD Network Conference 2026

All In: Shaping Inclusive Futures

This year’s conference is an invitation to come together as a community shaping the future of work in the European CPG and Retail industry.

From Commitment to Measurable Change

Built for All: Rethinking Career Advancement in Retail & CPG

LEAD Network partnered with Shape Talent to study barriers to career advancement for women in Retail and CPG across Europe. Read the report now.

Gender Diversity Scorecard

We’re proud to produce the only benchmark specifically analysing the state of gender diversity across CPG and Retail companies in Europe.

CEO Pledge

Join 60+ leaders signing the CEO Pledge – a public pledge to accelerate gender parity and drive inclusion in the CPG and retail industry.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Gender Equity

85%

of purchase decisions will be made by women by 2028 but only represent 31% of leaders

Lost Productivity

€376B

incurred in 2024 from poor employee management

Skills Gap

59%

of the workforce needs re-skilling by 2030

NextGen

90%

of GenZ would refuse to apply for companies that deprioritise wellbeing and diversity

1 – World Economic Forum, Unlocking the Trillion-Dollar Female Economy, 2023 2 – Gallup, State of the Global Workplace, 2025 3 – World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report, 2025 4 – Alexander Domini, Gen Z: Insights for Employers

Trusted by Leading Companies

LEAD Network Partnerships: Tiered for Measurable Impact

Gold

Foundation
Connect: Network & Brand Visibility
Priority Logo Feature tick
Exclusive Hosting, Sponsor, Speaker Opportunities tick
Priority Consideration for Advisory Board/BOD tick
Annual Conference Tickets 10 20
Local & Industry Activation Leadership Eligibility for Leadership (Co-Chairs, Committees, Volunteers) Roles
Perform: Industry Insights & Access
CEO/CIO Roundtable Nominees 1 2
Retailer Roundtable (by invite-only) tick tick
Data-Driven Insights tick tick
Member Platform Access to 30K+ Industry Professionals, 19 Chapters, 110+ Annual Events
Grow: Programmes & Performance
Thrive: Mgr/Indiv. Contributor X-Company Nominees 5 10
Award-Winning Mentorship X-Company Nominees 5 10
Build: Emerging Sr. Leader X-Company Nominees 5 5
Impact: NextGen X-Company Nominees 1 1
Support & Savings
Discounted Add-On Programme Nominees 10% off
Discounted Add-On Conference Tickets 25% off 50% off
Dedicated LEAD Network Manager tick tick

Join 65+ leading companies creating thriving workforces

Our Geographical Chapters

Our Chapters connect professionals across Europe who are committed to creating inclusive workplaces, elevating women in leadership, and advancing gender equity in the CPG and retail industry.

  • Expert Community

  • CEO Community

  • CIO Community

  • Retail Community

Our Functional Chapters

Grow your professional network in CPG and retail

Faces of Impact

Faces of Impact

Real stories from equity champions across CPG & retail

“In 2023, we reached 50% women managers globally. We achieved this through internal programs and practices but also by getting inspiration from the rest of the industry through partners like LEAD Network.”​

Béatrice Dupuy
President & GM, France, Belgium, Luxemburg & the Netherlands

“Our partnership with the LEAD Network allows us to stimulate and contribute to the wider industry drive to advance women in their careers.”

Derek O’Donnell
Senior Vice President, Head of Global Supply Chain, CHEP, A Brambles Company

“Working in multicultural, 3-countries like Lidl Baltic, I especially appreciated exchanging perspectives from different markets. The [Boost] programme encouraged me to reflect on my leadership style.”

Ilze Liepa-Balode
​Latvia Engagement, CSR Specialist, Lidl

“I’m honoured to be a Partner Ambassador for LEAD Network, an organisation working to advance female talent, skills, and networking opportunities, raising the bar (and opportunities) for us all.”

Jen Ragland
Senior Director for Industry & System Commercial Communications, The Coca Cola Company

Latest News

Media & Press

Mary Robinson to address LEAD Network Annual Conference in Dublin this October

Sustainability Online

15 July, 2026

Mary Robinson To Speak at LEAD Network’s Conference In Dublin

Checkout

17 July, 2026

Former President of Ireland to speak at LEAD Network conference

European Supermarket Magazine

21 July, 2026

The Silence Tax: New Research Exposes The Hidden Costs Of Holding Back Women — And All Talent Across Retail & CPG

Employer News

15 May, 2026

New report explores main structural barriers affecting career progression in retail and consumer goods

Sustainability Online

28 April, 2026

The Silence Tax: New Research Exposes The Hidden Costs Of Holding Back Women — And All Talent Across Retail & CPG

Business Partner Magazine

29 April, 2026

Checkout February 2026: Read The Latest Issue Online!

Checkout

19 February, 2026

So haben es Vorständinnen geschafft

Lebensmittel Zeitung

6 March, 2026

LEAD Network recognises leaders advancing gender equity

Sustainability Online

1 March, 2026

LEAD Network Names Change-Makers Driving Inclusion In Retail by Sarah O’Sullivan

Checkout

18 February, 2026

Lidl Ireland Cuts Mean Gender Pay Gap To 3.8%

Checkout

1 December, 2025

Lidl Ireland slashes mean gender pay gap to 3.8%

Retail News

1 December, 2025

LEAD Network Reveals Increase In Women Holding Executive Roles In Retail And CPG

Checkout

17 October, 2025

Slight increase in leadership roles held by women in European retail and consumer goods

Sustainability Online

9 October, 2025

Embedding inclusion to create a happier, more engaged workforce by Allyson Zimmermann

Sustainability Online

17 September, 2025

LEAD Network’s 2025 Annual Conference set to take place in Milan in October

Sustainability Online

9 September, 2025

LEAD Network Calls For Conference Attendees Ahead Of Registration Deadline by Sarah O’Sullivan

Checkout (Irish)

9 September, 2025

LEAD Network reaches 25,000 members across consumer goods and retail landscape by Stephen Wynne-Jones

Sustainability Online

21 August, 2025

LEAD Network Europe Reaches 25,000 Member Milestone by Sarah O’Sullivan

Checkout (Irish)

20 August, 2025

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Join 65+ leading companies creating thriving workforces