From CEOs and founders to campaigners and economists, each voice brings a unique perspective and practical insight.

Explore the line-up and discover the people behind the conversations shaping the future of equity at work.

David Smith, PhD, is co-author of the book, Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace and Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. A former Navy pilot, Dr. Smith’s career included squadron command in combat and flying over 3,000 hours over 30 years. As a sociologist, his research focuses on gender, work, and family issues including allyship, inclusive mentorship, gender bias in performance evaluations, and dual career families. He is co-author of Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women and scholarship related to gender and the workplace.

Leah Ruppanner is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Melbourne and runs Lighten Lab. She authored Drained: Reduce Your Mental Load to Do Less and Be More which is based on decades of her research and over 70 peer-reviewed articles on gender, work and family. She is committed to understanding how women’s unpaid work – the time they spend in housework, childcare and the mental load – impacts their ability to engage in employment, sleep and overall well-being. Her ultimate goal is to use this research to help women gain control over their time to spend it exactly as they wish – to create more meaning, love and joy in our lives.

Kacy Fleming, M.A. is a social impact entrepreneur, workplace researcher, and founder of The Fuchsia Tent, a workplace research and consulting organization focused on menopause, and Kacy Fleming Consulting, a strategic practice delivering leadership development and workplace strategy to organizations globally. With over 20 years in biopharmaceuticals and a Master’s in Organizational Psychology, she conducts national-scale research and works at the intersection of clinical evidence, employer coalitions, and pharmaceutical innovation.
As Head of Global Well-Being at Takeda, Kacy built strategy for 50,000+ employees across 80+ countries, earning three consecutive Business Group on Health Awards. At Sanofi, she held an 11-year progressive career spanning market access, health economics, and organizational well-being. Her recent contributions include the 3H Framework™ for workplace menopause support and the 3Cs Method™ of Compassionate Leadership, evidence-based approaches that help organizations move from awareness to systemic implementation.
A TEDx speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice, and frequent corporate speaker, Kacy has delivered 20+ keynotes globally and serves on advisory boards for RMH Compass, Let’s Talk Menopause, Menopause Mandate, and Airvet. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Daily Mail, and leading wellbeing publications.