Every year, International Women’s Day invites us to celebrate progress, reflect on what true inclusion looks like in our daily work, and ensure women’s voices continue to be heard and uplifted. At Capgemini, this commitment extends far beyond a single day—it lives in the spaces we intentionally create for honesty, learning, and meaningful conversations.

This year, as part of our International Women’s Day initiatives, we launched the “My Inspiring Journey: Lunch Talk Series” as a dedicated space for visibility, inspiration, and honest conversations about careers and leadership.

A space for real stories and growth

In a 45‑minute lunch session, colleagues gathered to hear authentic leadership stories from three inspiring and remarkable women at Capgemini: Lucie Kroemer – Head of CIS Belgium, Patricia Boydens – Insurance Market Lead Belgium, and Annlore Defossez – CSR Officer Belgium.

The session kicked off with a simple but powerful invitation by Annlore:sharing in good faith and listening with zero judgement.  Annlore remarked, “We’re not here for perfection, we’re here for what’s true, useful, and human.” This created a safe and supportive atmosphere that encouraged participants to listen, reflect, and engage openly.

Each speaker walked us through four main chapters of their journey:

  • Their path at Capgemini
  • Key defining moments, opportunities, and people who shaped their career
  • Barriers or biases they faced as women and how they navigated them
  • One valuable piece of advice for others to grow

The stories were not polished biographies or curated speeches, but honest and real conversations of human experiences shared openly. They revealed what we usually don’t see on a CV or presentation: courage, timing, self‑doubt, breakthroughs, and the strength found in supportive colleagues and managers.

To make the conversation more engaging, participants were asked thought‑provoking questions such as “When did you realize you were truly growing?”, “How do you stay true to yourself without becoming hard?”, and “What small habit has made a big difference?” These questions encouraged our colleagues to reflect on their personal development and offered small but meaningful insights that can support their career growth.

An honest and insightful Q&A

Post lunch, the event concluded with a Q&A session. Questions like “What would you tell your younger self?” resonated with many in the room and sparked personal, relatable exchanges between colleagues.

Why initiatives like these matters

This event is part of a broader set of initiatives launched during International Women’s Day aimed at promoting visibility,  employee voice, and empowerment for women across Capgemini.

The session offered two clear benefits:

  • Learning from relatable role models who lead with authenticity and transparency
  • Practical takeaways to support personal growth and career progression

Creating inclusive futures, one conversation at a time

Our ‘My Inspiring Journey’ session reflects Capgemini’s commitment to gender equality—an ambition reflected across our global initiatives. From progressing toward 40% women in our global workforce to promoting inclusive leadership and expanding opportunities across roles and geographies, we continue to build a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Local initiatives like this one bring that commitment to life. They create moments where senior leaders and younger colleagues exchange insights, uplift each other, and strengthen the community through genuine conversations. These moments may appear small, but their impact is significant as they build confidence, nurture growth, and inspire people to take their next step forward.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, this session reminds us that careers are not linear; they evolve through courage, support, and continuous learning. By sharing our experiences openly, we help others see what’s possible for them too.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our speakers for their generosity, to everyone who helped organize the event, and to all colleagues who joined with curiosity and care.

Together, we keep building a more inclusive future, one honest conversation at a time.

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