Student Agency Shines at Worldwise Academy’s 2025 Women Empowerment Forum
On 14 March, students at DCB didn’t just witness empowerment – they created it.
In a departure from tradition, the 2025 Women Empowerment Forum (WEF), the biggest annual event of International Women’s Month at DCB, was largely led by the newly selected Worldwise Academy Student Representatives and Secretariat Team. This marked a pivotal shift where students, led by Worldwise Prefect Julia J, took ownership of planning, organising, and executing the event — an embodiment of student agency in action.
Behind the Scenes of This Year’s Worldwise Academy
Worldwise Academy is a DCB initiative connecting students with the professional field of work. Worldwise Prefect Julia J and a team of fourteen passionate Year 12 students were selected to initiate, organise, and lead Worldwise Academy events. This event was the team’s first offline big event. It was an opportunity to showcase our skills and also learn, grow, and gain experience.
Defining Student Agency in Context
Each year, the WEF invites women across career fields to share their perspectives towards identity, professionalism, and success. The 2025 theme — To See Is to Make Worlds — highlighted the importance of nuance and perspective, urging audiences to view challenges and each other with greater empathy, openness, and curiosity in a world that is ever more complex and diverged. From female CEOs and museum curators to microbiologists and mothers, panellists shared their diverse paths to innovation, leadership, and impact across disciplines.
Complementing the theme further was the exhibition of a large-scale installation image recognition artwork, co-created by DCB’s Artist-in-Residence Sara Christova and 14 of our very own budding artists – a striking visual metaphor, challenging audiences to being open to new possibilities and perception brought by artificial intelligence.
Julia J, Bella O, Stephanie A, Anthony Coles, Sara Christova during the Award Ceremony section
Student-Led Event Planning: From Conception to Execution
- 21 February – Julia J and Jennifer Z worked with DCB’s Department of Government Relations and Public Affairs to establish a working plan of the event.
- 24 February – Work began to take shape as the student Communications and Marketing Officers, in collaboration with DCB’s Communications Department, produced an official event briefing facing the DCB community.
- 25 February – Six students were selected to take on key roles such as opening moderators, transition speakers, and panel hosts.
- 1 March – Aurelie L and Julia J invited guest speakers as panelists for the forum. While rejections and complications were inevitable, Aurelie and Julia were able to personally invite Dr Silin Tang, microbial scientist at Mars Global Food Safety Centre, and Amy Huang, CEO of Mattel163.
- 4 March – Final meetings between core organisers, including communication on event logistics such as set design, filming, and sound rehearsals. The efforts of various team members, especially Event Manager Jennie Z, resulted in the production of an official event booklet.
Day of the event: Student Agency in Action
On the day of the event, moderators Bella O and Jennie Z opened the forum, followed by remarks from our Head of College Mr Anthony Coles.
Bella O, Student Representative for the International Public Affairs pillar, and Jennie Z, Events Manager, opened the event with thoughtful speeches. “From science and game development to the creative arts, these women have broken barriers and set new standards of excellence,” said Bella.
The first panel discussion was led by Julia, featuring Ms Huang, CEO of Mattel163, Ms Tang, a microbial scientist at the Mars Global Food Safety Centre, and Global Citizenship prefects, Aurelie. The conversation explored personal experiences, including obstacles and professional challenges they faced. Despite coming from distinct industries like game design and food science, they found common ground in themes such as creative problem-solving, experimentalism, and global awareness that provided actionable strategies to inspire students to become inclusive and innovative leaders in their future careers.
Julia J, Head of the 2025 WWA Team, moderated the first discussion panel “Career Building & Cross-Cultural Dialogue.” Reflective questions and brilliant follow-ups found common ground between science and classroom, gaming and sustainability, allowing for a conversation of meaningful insight.
Aurelie L, one of our Global Citizenship Prefects, added a student perspective to the notion of “female success,” concluding with the encouragement: "Don't be scared to try anything. Take on new challenges."
Year 11 student Becca Y, who is actively involved in both performative dance and the visual arts here at DCB, led the transition from the broader theme of “career” to a specific focus on the artistic industries.
Jennifer Z, Student Representative of the Creative Art Industries pillar, was the host for the “art careers” panel. Guiding the conversation with both English and Chinese translations, the panel allowed for cross-cultural communication between artists from China and beyond.
Jennifer then introduced our second panel: The second panel illuminated how a contemporary Bulgarian artist, a bilingual poet-curator, and a student collaborator harnessed their unique perspectives. Their bilingual dialogue in Chinese and English underscored the value of cultural exchange in art. By sharing insights on collaboration, the cohort also touched upon the possibilities and challenges of “creativity branding” in an age of artificial intelligence.
Year 11 Yinuo L also participated in the DCB’s Artist in Residence Programme with Ms Sara Christova. Yinuo shared her creative experience participating in the project and her advice for fellow budding artists: “creation is not a linear process…don’t worry about things going wrong and don’t give up.”
Lessons from the Forum: Personal reflections
I became a cultural translator.
“The idea of hosting in two languages was scary at first – I had to ask questions and respond in the language that the panellists were comfortable with, while making sure the bilingual audiences were engaged. It was challenging but very unique!” – Jennifer Z
I was inspired by my peers.
“Watching all these amazing, passionate, and commited people put together this event was extraordinary. I felt so inspired by my peers growing to confident young adults. Being part of this team showed me how many people it actually takes to organise events.” – Eleanor D
I stepped out of my comfort zone.
“This was my first time professionally hosting a panel and leading an event. I couldn’t sleep the night before, as it felt like I was going to take an exam the next day. Managing, integrating, and organising the resources of student members, the PR Department, and DCB parents was a complex and challenging reward. It took everyone a lot of work to stand on stage today, but seeing everything come together was one of my proudest and most valuable moments.” – Julia J
I forged connections.
“Presenting at the Women’s Empowerment Forum was such a rewarding experience—it not only reinforced my confidence in public speaking but also allowed me to collaborate closely with other members of WWA who I normally wouldn’t collaborate with. Being part of a platform that uplifts and empowers voices was incredibly meaningful, and it helped me grow both as a communicator and a team member.” – Bella O
I feel thankful to everyone involved.
“As the event director and as one of the moderators, I learned the importance of consistent planning and the value of having diverse voices that share the same vision. I am honoured to engage with inspiring panellists and celebrate Sara Christova's art piece collaboration. A heartfelt thank you to our team members, speakers, and audience for making it an unforgettable first event of WWA!” – Jennie Z, WWA Events Director
The event marked the beginning of a world of possibilities for me.
“From inviting the guests to sitting there on the panel alongside them, everything was so surreal and eye-opening. The questions prompted me to reflect not only on my role as a Global Citizenship Prefect but also from a multicultural standpoint as a student at DCB. Our school offers so many opportunities, and it’s important to put yourself out there and explore. This panel wasn’t an endpoint for me, it was a beginning to a world of possibilities.” – Aurelie L
Broader Impact
These moments not only saw growth in professional abilities in our students, but also revealed their internalising of global challenges, preparing them to lead in industries that shape our world. Worldwise Academy’s focus on professional bridging amplified this impact, connecting students with our guests.
Before the event, Julia J and Jennifer Z joined Sara Christova in three respective live interviews aimed to highlight the leadership reflections of both students and Christova’s unique contributions to the arts at DCB.
Our Student Representative for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Sean P, also interviewed Dr. Silin on the food science industry prior to the event launch.
Worldwise Academy’s model -- fostering the exchange of perspectives between students, teachers, parents, and professionals – made this possible, turning the forum into a catalyst for our community. It’s not just about empowering individuals; it’s about building a school culture where every student feels bold enough to lead, whether in a boardroom or a local project.
WWA
Launched in 2019, the Worldwise Academy (WWA) aims to enrich the career pathways of DCB students by creating connections between DCB and the world of work, thus supporting students to explore their passions in relation with their future professional endeavours. It received recognition in 2022 when DCB won the Pathways to Continued and University Education because of its Worldwise Academy initiative.
Learn more about WWA and events that have stemmed from our partnerships below:
