Amplifying women’s voices in healthcare leadership: Insights from the SIG Workshop at WHC

On 11 November 2025, we welcomed more than 100 leaders to our Women in Leadership Special Interest Group (SIG) workshop, held as part of the World Hospital Congress programme. This year’s session marked an exciting milestone with the participation of our new SIG sponsor, Icon Group. Dr Penny Kechagioglou shared her hopes for the group and highlighted several initiatives Icon is leading to promote diversity and inclusion across its global network.

Our keynote speaker, Dr Dina Alismail, delivered a powerful address on the ongoing challenges women in leadership face in making their voices heard. She echoed the words of Dr Tedros: “Women are the backbone of healthcare – yet too often, they are not at the head of the table.” Her reflections set the tone for a day centred on empowerment, advocacy, and collective learning.

We also heard inspiring personal leadership journeys from Dr Tarang Gianchandari, Dr Mantwa Chisale, and Hildigunnur Svavarsdottir, each underscoring the importance of empathy, resilience, and active listening in navigating today’s complex healthcare environments. As Hildigunnur reminded us, “Our resilience is extraordinary, but not limitless.”

Participants then broke into roundtable discussions to explore their own leadership competencies and the ways these have been tested throughout their careers. Common themes included the importance of active listening, emotional resilience, building authentic connections, leading with humility, and drawing upon emotional intelligence and intuition.

The conversations also illuminated shared challenges: developing self-confidence, recognising one’s own value, and confronting implicit bias. Leaders offered practical strategies for addressing these obstacles, such as:

• “Get uncomfortable.”

• “Don’t listen to your inner critic.”

• “Be vocal in establishing boundaries.”

• “Create a robust support network.”

Looking ahead, the SIG will continue expanding these discussions in 2026, with a particular focus on how women leaders can drive improvements in women’s health outcomes. If you would like to get more involved, share your experiences, or contribute a case study, please contact Ilona—we would love to hear from you.