NEW YORK, April 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 24, 2014, PwC US will host its first-ever global forum focused on women and leadership to students around the world. The live webcast with LeanIn.Org is scheduled to take place at 9:30am PDT / 4:30pm GMT/UTC, is part of the Aspire to Lead: The PwC Women's Leadership Series, which includes a number of programs and workshops hosted by PwC that are designed to provide university students and new professionals with the tools to help them build leadership skills. 

The inaugural event will kick off with a welcome by Terri McClements, PwC's US Human Capital Leader and Global Talent Leader, who will share her insights and experiences. She will introduce Sheryl Sandberg, founder of LeanIn.Org, author of Lean In and Lean In for Graduates, and Facebook COO, who will encourage the next generation to reach for their ambitions and discuss the important role they have in reaching gender equality. Rachel Thomas, President of LeanIn.Org, will offer tips for finding the right job, negotiating your first salary and succeeding in your career. Sandberg and Thomas will answer questions from the live audience of students from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the US.

To watch the live global webcast or the playback after the event, please visit www.pwc.com/aspire to register. The translated versions will be available on the site after May 5th.

"PwC prioritizes career progression and professional and personal development, and we work tirelessly to create an environment for our people that enables them to fulfil their leadership potential," said McClements. "The first steps into a professional career are critical, and there are many important decisions that must be made. Through this event, we aim to inspire the next generation of leaders and equip them with information and skills that will help in navigating the transition." 

Aspire to Lead: The PwC Women's Leadership Series events will be promoted by PwC in over 30 countries around the world, including in Austria, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Spain, the UK, and the US on April 24 and through mid-May.  In addition to viewing the webcast, many events will include panel discussions that highlight diverse perspectives and choices, insights into career and leadership development, work/life and related topics.

"Diversity and inclusiveness are critical social issues that the US needs to better focus on to ensure our relevance globally. Organizations also have a responsibility to diversify their leadership for the benefit of their people, customers or clients, and other stakeholders," said Bob Moritz, PwC's US Chairman and Senior Partner. "At PwC we've developed programs and processes to address this need, but we also recognize that leadership comes from within. It's a personal journey students can command at the earliest stages of their careers. This next PwC sponsored event with Sheryl was designed with that in mind." 

PwC will continue the conversation about Women in Leadership with the firm's interns and at various events next fall with university students by hosting skill building workshops, such as Building Your Leadership Brand, Communicating with Confidence and Focusing on Feedback.  Additionally, PwC's videos and discussion guides on Communicating with Confidence and Focusing on Feedback will be available on LeanIn.org. These resources provide real-life scenarios, expert commentary and learning exercises university students can use to strengthen their leadership skills and executive presence.

Aspire to Lead follows PwC's Next Generation Diversity: Developing tomorrow's female leaders report and its Global Diversity Week, in which thousands of PwC people around the world joined the conversation on how to become even more inclusive leaders.

About PwC US

PwC US helps organizations and individuals create the value they're looking for. We're a member of the PwC network of firms in 157 countries with more than 184,000 people. We're committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services. Tell us what matters to you and find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/US. Gain customized access to our insights by downloading our thought leadership app: PwC's 365™ Advancing business thinking every day.

Learn more about PwC by following us online: @PwC_LLP, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google +.

© 2014 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership. All rights reserved. PwC US refers to the US member firm, and PwC may refer to either the PwC network of firms or the US member firm. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

About LeanIn.Org

LeanIn.Org is the nonprofit organization founded by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg to empower all women to achieve their ambitions. LeanIn.Org offers inspiration and support through an online community, free expert lectures and Lean In Circles, small peer groups who meet regularly to learn and grow together. More than 425,000 women and men have joined the LeanIn.Org community and started more than 16,000 Lean In Circles in over 70 countries since the organization was launched in March 2013 following the release of the bestselling book, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. LeanIn.Org is a private operating nonprofit organization under IRS section 501(c)(3).

In addition to the full text of Lean In, Lean In for Graduates includes a letter from Sheryl urging graduates to aim high and new chapters with expert advice on choosing your path, finding a job, and negotiating your first salary. This edition also includes chapters encourage millennial men to work toward gender equality and women of color to own who they are.  In addition, twelve young people from around the world share their moving stories of how they overcame obstacles to lean in to their lives. To learn more, visit http://www.leanin.org/graduates/.  

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SOURCE PwC US