A scintillating cohort of inspiring women gathered at the Bazaar At Work Summit
on a crisp november day, bazaar hosted the sixth annual At Work Summit at the newly opened Raffles London at The Old War Office, in partnership with Porsche and One&Only One Za’abeel.
During an invigorating day of interviews and talks, themed around celebrating women of the future, we discussed a wide range of subjects including the art of leadership and the anticipated impact of AI on the workplace. We looked ahead with pioneering female leaders and entrepreneurs from the worlds of design, finance, sport and more, who shared the often-hard-won lessons of their careers, and gained insights on how to build resilience and navigate challenges. Above all, it was aday filled with opportunity, arising from the power of bringing visionary women together.
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s event…
IN CONVERSATION WITH ZAWE ASHTON
The actress, author and playwright detailed the emotional journey of her career with warmth and wit
‘I’m just going to be really candid,’ said Zawe Ashton, as she stepped on stage for a forthright and generous discussion with Bazaar ’s acting deputy editor, Helena Lee. She revealed the ‘quietness’ that new motherhood has brought her, how she has embraced the physical challenges of playing the super-villain Dar-Benn in 2023’s superhero film The Mar vels and how setbacks in her career have improved her performances. ‘When it gets really hard, I feel at my most strong or determined,’ she said. ‘I wonder if, to even become an actor, there needs to be something inside of you that is already a little fractured and that these fragmented pieces come together when you perform.’
Ashton, who starred in the period drama Mr Malcolm’s List last year, also spoke about the importance of representation. Her breakthrough role as the metal-loving Vod in Jesse Armstrong’s comedy series Fresh Meat was a personal high point: ‘There weren’t any people of colour who were on screen portraying this alternative landscape,’ she said. ‘When I got the part, I thought: this is now my opportunity to be that for someone else who maybe didn’t have it. I was willing to do whatever it took to make that character edgy and authentic.’
WHAT DOES AI MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK?
The mechanical engineer Dr Shini Somara, the director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy Verity Harding, and the CEO and co-founder of Writer, an AI writing assistant, May Habib on this technological revolution
Shini Somara: ‘AI is an exciting tool
