Across two sessions – 2 pm – 3.30 pm CEST on 7 and 23 October – you will explore practical frameworks, skills, and real-world examples to turn influence into meaningful action for gender equality.
Join the first masterclass session: 7 October 2 pm – 3.30 pm CEST 2025
In the first session, you will meet Kristin Valasek, Senior Specialist on Women, Peace and Security at the Folke Bernadotte Academy. Valasek works with leaders worldwide to strengthen their role in advancing gender-equal peace, security, and development. You will be introduced to the gender-responsive leadership framework and handbook. The framework and handbook are designed to help managers and leaders use their position and skills to actively advance gender equality and women’s rights – both within the workplace and through their organisation’s external activities.
During the sessions, you will explore:
- what gender-responsive leadership looks like in practice
- learn how to apply the Handbook and other capacity-building materials
- exchange experiences with peers on challenges
- strategies for overcoming resistance
- good practices for engaging leadership on gender equality
To make this session as engaging as possible, we invite you to reflect on two things before attending:
- How does your organisation include gender equality in its leadership and decision-making?
- Where do you see that you, as a leader, can contribute to advancing gender equality within your organisation?
Kristin Valasek (Sweden, USA) is a Senior Specialist on Women, Peace and Security at the Folke Bernadotte Academy.
She has over twenty years of experience working for gender equality, both globally and regionally as well as in the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Liberia, Palestine, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Timor-Leste. She is currently a Senior Specialist in Women, Peace and Security at the Folke Bernadotte Academy – the Swedish government agency for peace, security and development. There she directs their Specialization Course for Gender Advisers and is leading their multiyear initiative on Gender-Responsive Leadership. In this role, has supported leaders and managers across organisations such as the EU, UN, ECOWAS, OSCE, and the African Union in implementing gender perspectives.
Register for the masterclass webinar here
The registration deadline is 5 October.
A link to the webinar will be sent via email for those who have registered.
Please note: Make sure to log in to the webinar well before 2 pm CEST.
Sweden Talks is organised by Sweden Alumni Academy, an initiative to strengthen and inspire SI and Sweden alumni. The Sweden Alumni Academy includes professional development and networking opportunities, webinars and capacity building initiatives and programmes.