Women at Work 2026: Reigniting Progress in a New Era of Work
Part of a series | Women@Work Series
Join ADP's complimentary Women@Work virtual summit on May 7, 2026, and explore strategies to accelerate women's progress in the workplace.
Over the past five years, women have navigated real gains and real setbacks, adapted to hybrid environments, watched artificial intelligence (AI) reshape entire industries and found themselves at a crossroads between the progress that's been made and the potential that still lies ahead. The key question for 2026 is: How do we move forward with purpose, confidence and the right tools to lead what comes next?
That's the conversation at the heart of the sixth annual ADP Women@Work complimentary virtual summit on Thursday, May 7. Like last year's event, this summit will bring together forward-thinking leaders, workplace experts and change-makers for a candid, inspiring day of learning — all focused on accelerating meaningful progress for women at every level of an organization. And, as always, it's free to attend.
Here's a look at the sessions you can expect:
Reigniting momentum: Advancing women's progress with purpose and possibility
From 2020 to 2025, women's progress at work fluctuated, marked by both meaningful advances and significant setbacks. As AI continues to reshape how work gets done, this session will explore how to turn that stalled momentum into a powerful launchpad for lasting change.
Attendees will leave with a clear-eyed insight into the past five years: what's worked, where progress has faltered and what role technology, especially AI, has played in widening or narrowing the gap. More importantly, the session will map out the road ahead, examining the visible and invisible barriers that still hold women back, including skills gaps and uneven access to technology. In addition to mapping the challenges, this session will offer bold, collective strategies that can begin to clear the path.
This session will be a call to action with a clear blueprint for what's possible when organizations commit to advancing women with intention.
Cultures that lift: Building safety, sponsorship and well-being that power performance
High-performing teams grow in environments where people feel safe, supported and genuinely cared for. This session will examine how well-being, inclusive leadership and meaningful sponsorship come together to unlock potential and elevate performance at every level of an organization.
Attendees will learn how to reframe well-being as a core performance driver and how to make that case in language that aligns with business priorities and measurable outcomes. The session will also provide practical management strategies for everyday leadership actions and human-centered check-ins that strengthen connection, build resilience and keep teams moving forward.
For leaders looking to build cultures where people can bring their full potential to work, this session will offer both the why and the how.
Closing the leadership gap: Unlocking women's full influence in 2026
As the nature of work continues to evolve, so must the nature of leadership. This session, currently still in development, is set to explore the skills, mindsets and behaviors leaders need to inspire teams in a hybrid, AI-driven world — and why the most effective leaders of 2026 are those who lead with both confidence in technology and deep human intelligence.
For women ready to step into greater influence, this session will provide a new leadership blueprint that is as future-ready as it is deeply human.
Save the date: Thursday, May 7, 11 a.m. ET
Whether you're an HR professional, a people manager, an executive or someone navigating your own career path, Women@Work 2026 will offer insights and strategies you can put to work immediately. The summit reflects what ADP has long believed: that when people are supported, empowered and equipped to lead through change, organizations and the people within them perform at their best.
Mark your calendar for May 7, and save your seat now for the complimentary ADP Women@Work virtual summit.
