Slaughter and May partners named on Women to Watch list

Sarah Lee and Nilufer von Bismarck have been featured in the Women to Watch list 2019 compiled by Cranfield University. The list features 50 inspiring Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic (BAME) female professionals who come from backgrounds historically under-represented in the senior leadership pipeline.

The Women to Watch supplement was introduced by Cranfield University’s Gender, Leadership and Inclusion Centre in 2009, and this year is compiled in collaboration with The Network of Networks BAME – Multicultural Chapter (TNON) and the Black British Business Awards.

Sarah Lee and Nilufer von Bismarck were also recently named in the EMpower 100 Ethnic Minority Executives List, which celebrates the achievements of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) business leaders who are helping to make the workplace a more welcoming place for ethnic minority employees.

Sarah Lee said: “Greater diversity at all levels of corporate life, all the way to the board, benefits business. It is an honour to be recognised alongside so many impressive women in this list compiled by Cranfield University in partnership with BBA and TNON to widen the perception of diversity and the numbers of diverse senior professionals”

Nilufer von Bismarck said: “It’s no surprise that more needs to be done to encourage greater diversity in boardrooms. Lists such as this can only be a good thing in order to promote BAME individuals and encourage diversity in senior leadership positions.”

Dr Doyin Atewologun, Director of the Gender, Leadership and Inclusion Centre, says: “We need to be sure that we are not only advancing progress for a certain small group of women, but are truly pushing board diversity in every sense. We hope executive search firms, FTSE Board Chairs and other Directors are inspired by the rich talent we highlight, to look at gender diversity - including men - in a different way.”

Diane Greenidge, Founder of TNON, said: “These inspiring women, already leaders in their respective fields, have the potential to bring the power of greater diversity to UK boardrooms. We join Cranfield University in urging businesses to realise the positive impact that women from a broader range of backgrounds can have on their success.”