Santander has celebrated the winners of its SW50 2026 programme, a prestigious female leadership initiative now in its 16th year. The programme aims to enhance the talent of top female executives globally, with nine local cohorts across Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Mexico, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
Empowering Female Talent
Puja Patel, Head of Strategic Programmes and Universities at Santander UK, emphasized the importance of recognizing female talent: “It’s so important that we celebrate and recognise female talent in the workplace. Without women, we don’t get the diverse balance that can drive growth, positive change and a greater impact in terms of what society can offer.”
The SW50 programme offers participants access to leadership and development opportunities in partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Winners from each country can apply for the global programme, where 50 successful women attend a one-week high performance workshop at LSE’s London campus.
UK Recognition Event
City AM attended this year’s SW50 UK recognition event in London, which brought together 50 influential women transforming female leadership in the UK. Selected from hundreds of applicants by a panel of experts, the finalists were chosen based on professional achievements, motivation, and impact within their organizations and communities. The event featured keynote speakers including Claire Williams, former F1 Deputy Principal, and Maya Raichoora, a mental fitness and visualisation expert.
Maya Raichoora shared insights: “Talent and skill gets you so far, but really, those that go far have mastered their mind. First, we need to be obsessed with learning – whether it be podcasts, resources, books – for example, my course on Santander Open Academy, which is all about teaching you how to think, feel and perform in that top 1 per cent. The second thing is about people – we can learn so much from people who have been there, who have done it, but also people in a similar position to us. That’s why I love being here at SW50, because, as a network, we’re all learning from each other and strengthening as a group, but also individually.”
Programme Impact and Future
Now in its 16th year, more than 1,700 women have participated in the SW50 programme. Victoria Zuasti, Global Content and Programmes Director at Santander Universities, added: “At Banco Santander, we believe that female leadership is an essential force to transform organizations and society. With Santander W50 we want to continue promoting and giving visibility to the talent of women who inspire, connect and generate impact with purpose in their environment. We do this hand in hand with institutions as prestigious as LSE, offering unique and transformative training experiences.”
Applications for the 2027 programme will open in November 2026 on Santander Open Academy. For more information on the 2026 programme, visit the Santander Open Academy website.
