Name: Influence – Winning Stakeholder Trust
Start: 2026-06-29T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-06-29T11:00:00+01:00

Influence – Winning Stakeholder Trust

You can be 100% clear on what needs to happen and still not get the support you need. Everyone may seem aligned at first, but that alignment does not last.

The real problem is not that your plans are weak, or your credibility is lacking.

The real problem is trust.

At senior levels, influence is not just about being right. It is about whether stakeholders trust you enough to act with you.

The difficult truth is that the same approach does not work with every stakeholder. Priorities and expectations differ. The difference between trust and distance is unique to the individual, their role, and your working relationship with them.

In this session, Karyn Harrington, Global Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Leader reflects on how to adjust your approach with different stakeholders. She will share real-world examples of where trust was difficult to build and what she changed.

You will leave with a clearer understanding of how to build trust effectively with every stakeholder.

Key Takeaways

Where trust commonly breaks down
Why stakeholders do not always align
How different priorities shape responses
What to adjust in your approach

Karyn Harrington

Coca-Cola HBC

Global Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Leader

Emma Hicks

WeQual

SVP, Product & Learning

Emma is an experienced strategic leader specializing in professional development at
C-suite and senior management levels. With over 20 years’ experience across global sectors, she brings deep expertise in leadership education and a genuine passion for continuous professional growth.

A Fellow and Advisory Board Member of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI), Emma also holds certifications from the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and previously served on the Education Committee of the European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa).

Before joining WeQual, Emma spent nearly a decade with the IoD, shaping the strategic direction of its global executive programs, including the prestigious Chartered Director qualification. She later joined HR technology company Connectr, first as interim COO and then as Chief Commercial Officer, leading its mission to build more inclusive leadership pipelines.

Earlier in her career, Emma held senior roles with Reed Learning, designing and delivering internationally recognized qualifications for more than 100 corporate and academic partners.

At WeQual, Emma leads the global membership and program function. Creating communities where senior leaders connect, reflect, and develop through shared experience. Her work aligns with her core purpose: Helping individuals achieve their career goals and enabling organizations to succeed through inclusive, effective leadership.

Outside of work, Emma has a young family — Joshua (10), Jasmine (7), and Monty the cockapoo (3) — who keep her active, grounded, and grateful.