Every Stage Matters: Supporting Women's Career Development Across the Lifespan

CPD theme: International Women's Day

Women's careers are shaped and influenced by a complex interplay of health, identity, caregiving, work, and life transitions. From education and workforce entry to leadership, motherhood - or not, caregiving, career reinvention, menopause and later life employment, women often navigate challenges and opportunities that shape both career progression and well-being. At the same time, growing recognition of women's health as a workforce and equality issue highlights the need for more holistic and inclusive approaches to career development. 

This webinar explores how career development professionals can adopt a life-course approach to supporting women’s career development across education, work, caregiving, leadership, career transitions, and later-life employment. Drawing on the Women's Health Strategy for England, contemporary research and established career development theories, the session will examine how health experiences, identity, and changing life circumstances influence career decisions, progression and workforce participation. Participants will gain practical, evidence-informed strategies for supporting women through transition, strengthening career resilience and agency, and promoting sustainable career development across the lifespan. 

Learning outcomes

•    Identify key life, health, and work transitions that can influence women's career development, participation, and progression across the lifespan. 
•    Apply evidence-informed career development frameworks to support women at key career transition points. 
•    Facilitate career conversations that promote resilience, adaptability, and sustainable career decision-making. 
•    Develop more inclusive and culturally responsive career support strategies that respond to the diverse and intersectional experiences of women.

Speaker

Sini Parampota is a global voice in career development whose work sits at the intersection of policy, practice, research and social impact. With more than two decades of experience, she has helped shape career development ecosystems, strengthen practitioner capacity, and advance inclusive approaches to workforce participation across diverse international contexts. As President-Elect of APCDA, she is known for building meaningful partnerships, nurturing emerging leaders and creating initiatives that connect professionals across borders and disciplines.

Her work is driven by a belief that career development is a powerful vehicle for equity, resilience and lifelong wellbeing. Through consulting, research and professional leadership, she advocates for the inclusion of women, people with disabilities, and individuals facing complex life and career transitions. Recognized with the NCDA International Practitioner of the Year Award (2024) and the APCDA President's Award (2025), Sini continues to contribute to the profession's growth through thoughtful leadership, innovation, and a commitment to collective impact.

This session supports the following CPD competencies:

•     Career Development Practice
•     Career-Related Policy and Practice
•     Professional Practice, Values, and Ethics