PWN GLOBAL SUMMIT 2026, LISBON Leading with Collaborative Intelligence
POWER. PROGRESS. PEOPLE. By Sharon Schön & Robert Baker
There are moments when you know something important is shifting. This Summit felt like one of those moments.
As Professional Women’s Network came together in Lisbon to celebrate thirty years, what happened over two days felt bigger than an anniversary. We were there not only to celebrate how far PWN has come, but to ask harder questions about where we go next. What kind of leadership does this moment demand? What needs to change? What do leaders need to do differently?
Across two days, through conversations about Power, Progress and People, one idea kept returning: the future will be led by people who know how to bring others in, listen deeply, work across differences, and build trust. That is what Collaborative Intelligence means.
DAY ONE – POWER
At the Centro Cultural de Belém, with the Belém Tower in the distance, we gathered in a place where explorers once left to redraw the map of the known world. That felt symbolic. In many ways, this Summit was about redrawing the map of leadership.
Patrick Siegler-Lathrop challenged us to think about the geopolitical changes reshaping the world. Manuela Doutel Haghighi challenged command-and-control leadership. Dato’ Dr Munirah Looi reminded us that authority may be given, but legitimacy must be earned.
Amy Kellogg moderated a rich panel on responsible power with João Pedro Tavares, Maite Lillo, Mihwa Park and Carol Constant. The conversation showed that difference strengthens thinking. Collaborative Intelligence is not everyone thinking the same way—it is people thinking better because different views are in the room.
DAY ONE – PROGRESS
The afternoon shifted to AI, transformation, governance and innovation. Dr Harbeen Arora Rai’s video address reinforced the importance of partnership. Progress happens faster when we work together.
Araceli Canedo challenged leaders to think about accountability in the age of AI. The panel on Tackling Algorithmic Bias, moderated by Robert Baker, became one of the strongest examples of Collaborative Intelligence in action. Audrey-Flore Ngomsik, Dorothy Dalton, Martyn Redstone and Cintia Mano challenged one another constructively around governance, bias, regulation and economic impact.
OFF STAGE
Some of the most important moments happened off stage. The Presidents’ Offsite brought together leaders from more than 26 city networks, many meeting in person for the first time. PWN stopped feeling like an abstract global network and became something tangible and alive.
The social events created trust in ways formal sessions cannot. Conversations over dinner, laughter, dancing and shared moments built genuine connection. Trust is not built only in boardrooms.
DAY TWO – PEOPLE
If Day 1 focused on Power and Progress, Day 2 made one thing clear: People is not the soft pillar. It is the foundation.
Dr Anthony Giannoumis opened with a powerful reminder: expertise expires, curiosity does not. Nathalie Pilhes reinforced the importance of partnership and collective action.
The Intergenerational Leadership panel explored what happens when generations genuinely learn from each other. Wendy Morée, Dr Jonathan Collie, Samira Rafaela and Clara Zoé Richter offered important insights into mutual learning, age diversity and generational collaboration.
THE COLLABORATIVE INTELLIGENCE LAB
The Collaborative Intelligence Lab became the defining moment of the Summit. This was where the Summit moved from conversation to action.
Participants worked in small groups to identify best practices that create connection, learning and impact. They then generated practical actions to help position PWN as the global reference network for balanced and collaborative intelligence.
More than 70 ideas were generated. This mattered not because of the number, but because it showed something important: the Summit did not just inspire people. It activated them.
LOOKING AHEAD
Céline Abecassis-Moedas challenged assumptions around longevity and the future of work. Age-diverse teams perform better. Experience remains valuable.
The closing keynote by Avivah Wittenberg-Cox brought the Summit together powerfully. Her message on longevity, leadership and the third quarter of life challenged conventional assumptions about age and relevance.
Her message was clear: power does not peak early. For many women, it is only just beginning.
CLOSING REFLECTIONS
As the Co-Presidents closed the Summit, something had shifted. Not only in how people were thinking, but in how they were connecting. Collaborative Intelligence is not just a theme. It is becoming a capability, a way of leading, and a signature for PWN.
The invitation is clear: take this into your teams, organisations and boards. Think bigger. Listen better. Build together.
Thank you to the Co-Presidents, every speaker, volunteer, partner and attendee who made these two days so special.
The next chapter starts now.
To dive deeper into the incredible insights from the Summit, be sure to check out this fascinating article here.