The courage to connect: how belonging builds better leaders
The courage to connect is a powerful, personal, and inspiring talk about the importance of community, courage, and connection.
The courage to connect: how belonging builds better leaders
In a world where isolation affects so many LGBTQ+ individuals, The courage to connect is a powerful, personal, and inspiring talk about the importance of community, courage, and connection. Join Dr Claire Davies, founder of PRISM Exeter – a small-but-mighty regional network created to bring together LGBTQ+ individuals and allies from the South West STEMM sector – as she shares the story behind building a movement that fosters belonging and visibility.
When: 3 March, 11.30am-12.30pm
In her talk, Claire will explore the transformative power of finding your people: the ones who understand your journey, amplify your voice, and remind you that you’re never alone. Drawing from her own lived experience of starting with a single idea and growing it into a meaningful collective, Claire will unpack the challenges, lessons, and triumphs of creating safe and empowering spaces for queer professionals and communities.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how to:
- Build authentic networks that celebrate diversity and inclusion.
- Lead with vulnerability, empathy, and purpose.
- Foster belonging within their own teams and communities.
- Inspire the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders.
Expect an honest, engaging, and uplifting session that combines storytelling with actionable advice—perfect for anyone passionate about strengthening connections, championing representation, and shaping a more inclusive future.
About Claire:
Dr Claire Davies (she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy and Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Exeter. Claire is a gay woman and an award-winning advocate for supporting under-represented groups into science through outreach and equality, diversity and inclusion work. She founded the PRISM Exeter network in 2018 to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ scientists, technologists, engineers, mathematicians and medics. in the summer of 2024, she forged PRISM Exeter’s partnership with LGBT+ education charity Schools OUT UK to develop classroom resources for UK LGBT+ History Month 2026, which integrate LGBTQ+ identities into the Key Stage 3 and 4 maths and physics curricula for the first time.
