IMF Head joins Business School students to celebrate life of former Chancellor

Five students from Southampton Business School joined the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, on Monday 17 September as she led tributes to the University's former Chancellor, Dame Helen Alexander.

The Business School students were privileged to have front row seats at the first annual "Women on Business" lecture held in Helen's name. Remembering Helen's affection for the University, Ms Lagarde made sure they played a prominent role in the proceedings. After her speech, she invited questions from the students before bringing them onto the stage for the further discussions about the case she had presented.

The prestigious event, which the University organised in partnership with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Economist and UBM, took place in the City of London and was attended by leading figures from business and the media, all keen to share their memories of one of the most successful and respected women in the business world.

PhD candidate Catherine Guest was selected to represent the University at the lecture. Catherine's PhD thesis, currently supervised by Prof Laura Costanzo and Prof Mine Karatas-Ozkan, focuses on the challenges facing female entrepreneurs who are mothers and how empowering that experience can ultimately be.

You can read more and see a recording of the inaugural Helen Alexander Memorial Lecture here.