A discussion with Audrey Lambert, senior vice president of global people and culture at BCD Meetings & Events, about International Women’s Day and how BCD Meetings & Events encourages female leadership at the executive and strategic levels, as well as strategies and programs BCD has implemented to elevate women into senior leadership roles, such as formal learning programs and projects and assignments that allow future female leaders to develop new skills.
In honor of International Women’s Day, BCD M&E outlines how recognition turns into real opportunity for female leaders
The impact of women within the meetings industry is undeniable. From shaping strategy to driving culture and innovation, female leaders continue to redefine what leadership looks like across the sector.
In honor of International Women’s Day, Smart Meetings spoke with Audrey Lambert, senior vice president of global people and culture at BCD Meetings & Events, about developing leadership from within, creating sustainable pathways for advancement and building a future where women thrive at every level of the organization.
Smart Meetings International Women’s Day is often centered on visibility. How does BCD M&E move beyond recognition to create sustained impact for female leaders within the organization?
Aubrey Lambert Our greatest impact for our female leaders comes from investing in their development, career growth and overall job satisfaction. Many of our leaders have built long-term careers at BCD M&E, advancing into their roles through internal mobility rather than being hired directly into leadership positions. As the company grows, we remain committed to creating opportunities from within, ensuring women have clear pathways to advance. We also emphasize work-life balance and promote employee wellness. By fostering flexibility and autonomy, we create an environment where female leaders can thrive both personally and professionally.
SM In the spirit of International Women’s Day, how does BCD define and support female leadership at the executive and strategic levels?
AL The female leaders at BCD guide our business with vision, integrity and empathy, leveraging diverse perspectives to drive performance, foster an inclusive culture, and inspire others through collaboration and innovation.
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Many of our female leaders are actively involved in industry associations, and specifically leadership roles with support from BCD. We support our leaders with a variety of programs for development and collaboration globally across functions and roles. We specifically provide live and virtual opportunities for our executive leaders to build relationships, collaborate with peers, and share knowledge across our business and industry. We provide multiple levels of internal leadership training and mentoring programs and support external executive track learning programs through higher educational institutions.
SM What intentional strategies or programs has BCD implemented to elevate women into senior leadership roles, and how are those initiatives measured for impact?
AL BCD offers a variety of programs to support development, growth and internal mobility to help elevate women into senior leadership roles. This includes formal learning programs both internally and externally as well as opportunities for project work and short-term assignments to allow future female leaders to develop new skills. BCD also has both informal and formal coaching and mentoring programs giving leaders the chance to participate in both sides of a coaching relationship and strengthen their skills in multiple ways.
We measure the success of our strategies in multiple ways. Monthly employee surveys help to gauge satisfaction with well-being, engagement, growth opportunities, leadership support, inclusivity and more. We track internal mobility within BCD to measure the number of employees growing within the company, including specific segmentation for gender and other attributes. With over 80% of mobility attributed to women and a majority of our current managers and above being women, we’re proud of our efforts and the progress we’ve made to support women in leadership and expand opportunities across the company.
SM How does BCD ensure that momentum built around International Women’s Day translates into year-round opportunity, mentorship and advancement?
AL At BCD, we have a variety of intentional programs to ensure there are plenty of opportunities for women to develop and advance in their roles. Some are live, formal learning sessions that encourage collaboration, sharing and group learning. Others are virtual programs that provide employees with easy access to management and leadership learning in shorter timeframes. We also offer recurring coaching and mentoring programs across the globe.
Our business performs a regular talent assessment process to identify key talent and provide thoughtful development opportunities. This provides BCD with a mechanism to review talent within the company, understand who is ready to advance and share that knowledge across teams to increase potential opportunities for internal talent companywide.
In addition to measuring internal mobility at BCD, we actively promote our open roles to current employees and have efficient processes in place allowing employees to apply for those roles. By keeping internal candidates informed and empowered, we help ensure women have every opportunity to grow, step into leadership positions and shape the future of BCD.
SM As the industry looks ahead, what role do you see BCD M&E playing in shaping the next generation of female leaders?
AL BCD M&E has a long-standing commitment to developing female leaders from within, and creating opportunities for internal mobility remains a key focus for the future. In the years to come, BCD will continue to build an environment where women can grow, advance and lead with confidence within their roles.
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I’ve been with BCD for over 25 years and have seen significant growth within the company. During the early stages of my career, there were two influential female leaders who played a pivotal role in shaping my path. They directly modeled leading as a woman, provided consistent support, feedback, praise and mentorship. Most importantly, they provided me with ample opportunities outside my core role. Their encouragement to explore new skills and participate in leading edge projects changed the trajectory of my career. My personal journey as a female leader is just one of hundreds at BCD and I am thrilled to see what we can accomplish as a company looking ahead.
Listen to the podcast with BCD Meetings & Events’ Christine Erickson, senior vice president of global supplier relations. Erickson discusses why emotional intelligence and business acumen are not competing skills but complementary ones, as well as shares practical advice for women ready to advocate for themselves and advance their careers.
