In this Fridays from the Frontline, Francesca Pinto, London Business School MBA ’25, takes us behind the scenes of the 25th annual EQUALL conference, Europe’s largest student-led conference on gender equity. Francesca, who was an R&D Scientist at Procter & Gamble prior to joining LBS, discusses why she chose the leading business school, the Women in Business Club there and the related opportunity to co-host this year’s EQUALL conference.
Co-Hosting the 25th EQUALL Conference at LBS
By Francesca Pinto, LBS MBA ’25
Choosing LBS
Selecting the right business school is a pivotal decision—one that shapes academic growth, career trajectory, and personal development. For me, LBS stood out for three key reasons.
First, the London location provides unparalleled advantages for building a global career. Being at the center of one of the world’s financial and business hubs means direct access to leading companies across industries, facilitating networking opportunities that simply wouldn’t have been possible elsewhere.
Second, LBS’s hands-on, flexible curriculum was a major draw, allowing me to participate in an international exchange at MIT Sloan and gain practical experience through internships. Practical courses like the LondonCAP (a consulting-style project working with London-based companies on real-world business challenges) and Global Experience (a week-long, topic-focused, experiential course in various international locations) offer hands-on learning that complements the theoretical foundations.
Finally, what truly sets LBS apart is its diverse and inclusive community. LBS brings together people from across the globe with varied and fascinating professional experiences, creating a rich learning environment where different perspectives enhance classroom discussions.
The Women in Business Club
Being part of the Women in Business (WiB) Club has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my MBA journey. Beyond professional development, it has given me an incredible sense of community, lifelong friendships, and unforgettable memories.
My first encounter with the club was as a prospective student attending the club’s EQUALL Conference in 2023. I was immediately struck by the energy in the room—the passion, ambition, and camaraderie among the women leading the event. Meeting the WiB Club leadership at the time was inspiring, and I left that day with a personal promise: if I got into LBS, I would find a way to be part of this club.
When I started my MBA, I joined the logistics team for the 2024 EQUALL Conference, an experience that was both intense and incredibly fulfilling. Seeing months of hard work come to life in an event that brought together so many inspiring voices was a defining moment. More than that, the experience fostered deep friendships and a genuine sense of teamwork.
So when I was asked to Co-Chair the 25th anniversary edition of EQUALL, I didn’t hesitate. It felt like the natural next step in a journey that had already meant so much to me. A particularly special part of this experience has been working alongside EQUALL Co-Chair Deb Carey, who I first met at EQUALL 2023 when we were both prospective students, and Vittoria Golfarini (EQUALL Chief of Staff), one of my closest friends. Bringing this milestone event to life together has been a true full-circle moment.
Beyond the conference, the WiB Club continues to be a space for empowerment and support. It has given me a platform to help other women, celebrate achievements, and advocate for meaningful change. But most importantly, it has connected me with an extraordinary group of women who uplift and inspire each other every day.
EQUALL Conference
The EQUALL conference has evolved into Europe’s largest student-led equality event, serving as a powerful platform for the next generation of female leaders. This year’s milestone 25th-anniversary celebration centered on the theme “Lift as You Lead: Empowering Others Through Authentic Leadership,” highlighting how women can uplift others while advancing their own success. The event reinforced that leadership extends beyond individual achievements to fostering collective progress.
I led the logistics team responsible for bringing this vision to life. The organizing committee comprised 30 dedicated individuals who worked for over six months to create an environment where women and allies could engage in meaningful dialogue that advances diversity in leadership. Spanning three days, this year’s event proved to be our most successful yet, with impressive participation numbers reflecting its growing influence: over 500 attendees including students and professionals, representatives from 17 universities, 180 prospective candidates, 36 speakers, and 8 workshops.
The conference kicked off with a welcome evening featuring a compelling keynote by Aline Santos Farhat, Former Chief Brand Officer and Chief Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Unilever, who shared valuable insights on navigating difficult conversations. The main conference day boasted an inspiring lineup, including an opening keynote from Baroness Dambisa Moyo, renowned economist and member of the UK House of Lords, who encouraged attendees to “tell the world that your ideas are worth listening to because they are.” She left us inspired to challenge norms, embrace our strengths, and demand our place at the table. Debbie Hewitt MBE, the first female Chair of The Football Association and Vice President of FIFA, delivered a powerful closing keynote on risk-taking and cross-industry leadership. Attendees also engaged in a series of hands-on workshops covering topics such as early-stage investing, allyship, design thinking, and women’s health, providing them with concrete tools to navigate and excel in their professional and personal journeys.
The final evening brought the community together for a celebration at London’s Lincoln’s Inn. In a sold-out 300-guest gala dinner, we raised over £2,000 for the WiB Fellowship Fund, supporting future women leaders in business education.
Impact
Reflecting on the impact of EQUALL over the past 25 years, one of the most telling signs of progress is the rise in female representation at LBS. When EQUALL first began in 2000, only 22% of LBS MBA students were women. Today, that number has more than doubled to 46%—a testament to the work of the WiB Club and LBS’s commitment to inclusion.
Yet with women holding just 10% of FTSE 100 CEO positions, our work continues—focusing not only on inspiring women but ensuring everyone contributes to creating true parity throughout the business world. True success will only be achieved when parity in education is reflected at every level of leadership, ensuring that opportunities for advancement are accessible to all.
