Pan Macmillan hosts women’s leadership breakfast with Angela Merkel to mark the publication of Freedom
Pan Macmillan c.e.o Joanna Prior hosted a women’s leadership breakfast with Angela Merkel on Wednesday (4th December) to mark the publication of her long-awaited memoir, Freedom.
The event, which took place at The Lanesborough Hotel in London, was attended by guests including BBC Europe editor Katya Adler; BBC broadcaster and journalist Emma Barnett; Professor Sarah Gilbert DBE, the co-developer of the Oxford AstraZeneca covid vaccine; 27th prime minister of Australia Julia Gillard; Jude Kelly, CEO of the Women of the World (WOW) foundation; Afua Kyei, CFO of the Bank of England; journalist and The News Agents co-presenter Emily Maitlis; Jenny Mollica, CEO of ENO and London Coliseum; Alison Noble OBE, Technikos Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering; Juliet Stevenson CBE actor and narrator of Freedom in audiobook; former first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon.
In conversation with the guests, the former chancellor of Germany spoke about self-belief and her journey to the chancellorship. On her swearing in as Germany’s first female chancellor in 2005, she commented: “A lot of people thought that I was an accident somehow”. Reflecting on her 16-year tenure at the top of German politics, Mrs. Merkel emphasised the importance of learning step by step and fact-based decision making.
Acknowledging the gender disparity in top leadership positions globally, she emphasised the importance of networks that support women’s advancement and overcoming the needs to be liked: “If somebody senses you want to be liked, you let them participate in your emotions.”
Mrs. Merkel also spoke about how vital the arts are to civic culture: “You can find a lot of solutions to problems by looking to art”.
Freedom
by Angela Merkel
'A great accomplishment . . . A wonderful reflection of an extraordinary sweep of history' Barack Obama
Timely, intimate and important, the long-awaited memoirs from one of the most influential leaders of our times
For 16 years, Angela Merkel was Chancellor of Germany. She led the country through numerous crises, shaping both Germany and international politics with her actions and attitudes. In her memoirs, co-written with her long-time political advisor Beate Baumann, she reflects on her life in two German states – 35 years in the German Democratic Republic, 35 years in reunited Germany.
More intimately than ever before, she talks about her childhood, youth, and studies in the GDR and the dramatic year of 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell and her political life began. She also shares recollections and insights from her meetings and conversations with the world's most powerful people. Discussing significant national, European, and international turning points, she shows how the decisions were made that shaped our times. Her book offers a unique insight into the inner workings of power – and is a compelling plea for freedom.