Last Sunday, IPWS launched the very first edition of Career Lab, and what an afternoon it was!

A day designed to help professionals pause, reflect and reconnect with their purpose turned into a vibrant exchange of stories, learning and inspiration.

From Sales to Gen AI, from burnout to visual confidence, our lineup of speakers (Yoann Delwarde, Guillaume Mallet, Joyous Mata, Jessica Gleeson, Gaia Farinelli, David Ammerschlaeger and  Robin Wang), brought their best insights to the stage. Thank you for sharing your time, wisdom, and energy – you truly made “courage contagious”.

New Formats, Fresh Energy

What made this debut edition truly stand out?

Two bold new experiments:

Speed Mentoring: A high-energy, face-to-face “career accelerator” where participants met their mentor for quick fire-conversations and targeted advice. The buzz in the room was proof sometimes 15 minutes is all it takes to spark a breakthrough.

AI Prompt Corner: led by Guillaume Mallet from System in Motion, where attendees tested live prompts for career building and resume upgrades. A blend of tech with personal growth.

Community Spirit and Special Guests

We wore our limited – edition IPWS “Courage to Grow” t-shirts – a fun pop-up collaboration with Cambess – a company owned by Grazia Longo from Shanghai and the energy was visible in every photo.

We were especially honored to welcome Katarzyna Bralczyk, Consul, Economic, Cultural, and Public Diplomacy Section, who stayed with us during the entire afternoon. Her presence was more than symbolic and it showed how international allies stand behind our mission of inspiring women and fostering international connections.

A special thanks to our Food & Beverage Sponsors, Donna Jannie and Epermarket, who kept us fueled, and to our partners at United Family Hospital who were absolutely fantastic and hosted us at their Henry Lester Auditorium in Jing’an.

And of course, to our mentors and attendees. You brought the heart, the curiosity and the courage to make this day unforgettable.

Here’s to many more editions, to the courage to grow, to mentor, to ask better questions and to build futures that inspire. Until next time!