The seventh edition of the EVE International seminar is opening its doors in Evian in three weeks’ time. Ahead of this important event that will bring together 300 new managers and directors for three days of inspiration and respiration devoted to balanced leadership, the EVE webzine presents the essential facts about the Programme in five key figures.

1 motto: Be yourself and unleash your potential

Created in 2010, the EVE Programme tackles the question of equality between genders in corporate leadership, in terms of unleashing possibilities and encouraging boldness. Designed to shape stronger and more inspiring people to bring about change, this program invites each person to develop their character and becomes an authentic and bold individual.

Embodied by the programs signature “be yourself and unleash your potential”, this motto can be seen on social networks with the hashtag #BeYourself.

A community of 2,500 enlightened managers and directors

Every year for the last six years, EVE international has been bringing together 300 managers and directors. Since 2014, EVE has also been available in Asia, during an annual seminar in Shanghai, attracting over 150 people. In total more than 2,100 individuals have taken part in EVE to date. The community will swell to 2,500 people at the end of 2016, after EVE International in October and EVE Asia-Pacific in November.

7 official partners and 5 sponsors

EVE is an intercompany program because by bringing together and contrasting points of view, change can emerge, and by sharing “best & next practices”, it can be amplified. Seven companies, who have been committed to the program for several years, form the pool of official partners, represented by the Wise Committee: Caisse des Dépôts, Crédit Agricole S.A., Danone, KPMG, L’oréal, Orange and SNCF. Each of these companies sends at least 30 participants to each edition of EVE International. The sponsor companies, Accor, Société Générale, Total, and Kering, send at least 10 employees to the event. Around a dozen other companies are represented at EVE by ambassador teams made up of one to five people.

20% male participants

Eve is a women’s leadership seminar that includes men in reflection, discussion, and actions to promote improved sharing of responsibilities. Each participating company commits to sending between 20% and 25% of men to the seminar. Yes, that’s a quota… And the amount wasn’t chosen at random: 20%-25% is the proportion of female senior managers in major companies on a global scale. Inverting the situation just for a seminar gives men the chance to experience what it’s like to be in the minority, to better understand the inclusion issues that women encounter in their daily professional lives.

More than 50 countries represented

EVE is a complete network of enlightened leaders who spread the culture of boldness, openness, and managerial innovation throughout the world. No fewer than X nations were represented during EVE international seminar and X nations during the EVE Asia-Pacific seminar. Given its multicultural character, the Programme carries universal values: participation for all, women and men, a vast array of backgrounds and points of view, in the decision-making, change and building of a shared future.

Marie Donzel & Valérie Amalou, for the EVE webzine.