Last year, our theme was Staying the Course. This was our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, despite growing pushback.

This year, we are building on that commitment and moving from resolve to action. Our theme for 2026 is All In: Building Bridges. This is not a slogan. It is a call to action.

All voices are welcome

In a divided world, building bridges and finding common ground is no longer optional. Progress on equity and inclusion does not come from silos or echo chambers, nor does it come from debate. It comes from dialogue, from genuine curiosity with the intention of learning, and the willingness to stay in conversation even when it gets uncomfortable.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of spending time with senior leaders, managers and employees across our network, listening to what is top of mind. These conversations matter, and it is often in these moments that we recognise where a bridge needs to be built.

The gap we still need to close

While this work is not easy, the distance we still have to travel is clear. We are more than a century away from global gender parity. When executive shareholder power is aggregated worldwide, the ratio is stark: for every 99 men holding decision-making power through ownership stakes, only one woman does. And this ratio has not budged.

These are not abstract figures. They shape who gets heard, who makes decisions and whose experience becomes the default.

Gender is the tide that lifts all ships. When progress is made on gender, other dimensions of inclusion tend to move as well. And individual, team, and firm performance increases. Until we achieve gender parity, we remain steadfastly committed to our mission.

Building bridges means engaging everyone

Engaging allies requires patience, trust and the willingness to meet people where they are, not where we wish they were. If we are serious about progress, we need everyone involved. All genders, leaders, allies, and those who are sceptical or unsure.

This is why All In matters. All In is our unique platform where people can come together in a safe space, learn from one another, and turn dialogue into meaningful, sustained action.

From listening to action in 2026

1. Focus on actions, not words

Language in the DEI space will continue to evolve. Rather than getting stuck in terminology, focus on what you are actually doing and the outcomes you are creating.

2. Understand resistance

Very little is black and white. Suspend judgement. Listen to understand, not to respond. Resistance often highlights where a bridge is needed most. And if you feel resistance, get curious about that. Often that is where your work is needed.

3. Build in, not bolt on

Inclusion works best when it is embedded into everyday ways of working, not treated as a separate initiative or programme. Leaders play a critical role here. Culture is shaped by what leaders model, reinforce and protect.

4. Go beyond the surface

Representation metrics matter, but they are lagging indicators. They reflect the culture you have already created. Pay attention to behaviours, experiences and decision-making patterns that signal whether inclusion is truly taking hold. Look at a broader scope of metrics to understand how the culture is lived.

5. Create a safe space

Allyship only becomes meaningful when people feel safe to speak up or step in. Many individuals want to act as allies but hesitate when doing so carries personal or professional risk. Creating a culture of allyship means removing those barriers and making it clear that inclusive action is expected, supported and protected. When people trust that their actions will be backed, allyship becomes part of how the organisation operates, not an act of individual bravery.

One community, many voices

LEAD Network is, at its core, a community where all voices are welcome across differences of background, belief, identity and experience. That includes voices we agree with and voices that challenge us.

Last year, we committed to Staying the Course. In 2026, we are going All In on what that commitment demands in practice: building fair workplaces where every voice is heard, valued and respected.

Because when bridges are built with care and courage, they do more than connect us. They carry us forward, together.