The Reality of Women in Leadership – Imposter Syndrome, Pay Gaps and Proving Yourself

03 Jun 2026
Hall by the Sea, Dreamland
Main Stage

Stepping into leadership sounds great. Until you’re actually in it. 

This session gets into the reality of what that shift looks like for women in affiliate, across different stages. From those leading teams to those stepping up, taking on more responsibility, or figuring it out as they go.

The confidence wobble. The pressure to prove yourself. The tendency to hold everything together for your team while quietly taking on more than you should.

We’ll talk about:

  • Imposter syndrome and how it actually shows up day to day
  • Why delegation is harder than it sounds and how to get better at it
  • Navigating pay, progression and having the conversations most people avoid
  • Returning to work, balancing care responsibilities and still being expected to deliver
  • Finding your voice in rooms where you might not feel like you belong

If you’re stepping up, thinking about it, or already in it and figuring it out as you go, this is for you.

Moderator
Hannah Wharrier
Hannah Wharrier, CEO & Co-Founder - Affilifest
Speakers
Helen Southgate
Helen Southgate, Chief Strategy Officer - Acceleration Partners
Alexandra Parmar-Yee
Alexandra Parmar-Yee, Regional Business Strategy and DEI Lead - Awin
Hope Houston
Hope Houston, Partnerships Development Lead - easyfundraising