OWA Recap From MIDO + 100% Optical 2026

MIDO: Milan, Italy

The Optical Women’s Association proudly hosted its OWA Global Connection Event at MIDO in Milan, marking an important milestone in the organization’s continued international expansion and its mission to empower women in leadership roles across the global optical industry.

The “Leading with Courage: Inspiring Stories of Authenticity” event welcomed a highly engaged audience for a dynamic 45-minute panel discussion followed by an impactful networking session. The conversation created space for honest reflection on leadership, courage, and authenticity, sparking meaningful dialogue across cultures and professional backgrounds.

Graciously sponsored by MIDO, the event opened with welcome remarks from Lorraine Berton, President of MIDO and ANFAO, alongside Nancy Gries, Chair of the OWA International Expansion Committee and Co-Founder of COTI Vision. The panel discussion was facilitated by Erminia Monzo, Leader of the Connection & Enrichment Team for the OWA International Expansion Committee and Senior Education Manager at EssilorLuxottica.

In her remarks, Nancy Gries highlighted the broader significance of the gathering within OWA’s global vision, sharing:

“This gathering is another important step forward in expanding the OWA’s mission globally: to connect visionary women leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are shaping the future of our industry.”

She continued, “By showing up here, engaging, and sharing your energy, you are helping us build something bigger than an event, you are helping us shape a global community. A space where we can support one another and leave a lasting legacy for the generations who will follow.”

In her opening remarks, Lorraine Berton reflected on the responsibility of leadership, noting that

“Leading means taking responsibility for providing direction, even when the path is not linear.”

She highlighted the deeply interconnected nature of the eyewear industry, adding, “The eyewear sector is a truly international system that thrives on relationships and is built on trust.” Berton emphasized that at MIDO and ANFAO, supporting conscious, inclusive, and ethical leadership is not only a cultural value but “a real driver of growth for our sector. This is why we give space to initiatives like this one, which place experiences, personal journeys, and real voices at the center.”

View the full high-res MIDO photo gallery

The panel featured a distinguished group of industry leaders: Rossana Loperfido, General Manager, Transitions Optical, EssilorLuxottica, Leo Mac Canna, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Ocuco Ltd., Amanda Bogers, Global Key Account Manager – Commercial Execution, CooperVision.

During the discussion, Amanda Bogers spoke candidly about the impact of mentorship on her leadership development, noting that finding the right mentor helped close personal gaps and fundamentally shaped her leadership style. She shared her personal perspective on courage, explaining,

“For me, courage means pushing forward even though the journey ahead could be long, difficult, or quite scary.”

Rossana Loperfido offered powerful advice on self-belief and sponsorship, sharing

that she progressed by

“Finding three or four people who truly believed in me, trusted me, and gave me opportunities — even at times when I didn’t feel ready.”

She encouraged attendees to seek mentors and acknowledged that self-doubt can often be the greatest obstacle. “Many times I didn’t step in because I didn’t think my opinion mattered,” she said. Loperfido also emphasized the importance of presence in leadership, adding, “Being a leader and simply giving a vision is not enough. You have to be there and help people grow. ‘Being there’ is an underestimated superpower.” She further addressed adaptability in leadership, stating,

“In this world, we must get used to change and learn to look at it without fear. There is a subtle line between anxiety and buy-in, and leaders must guide teams to build habits that make managing change part of everyday culture.”

Erminia Monzo highlighted the importance of listening as a leadership skill, emphasizing the value of taking time to truly understand what is in front of you before acting, an approach she noted is particularly powerful in fostering trust and connection.

Leo Mac Canna reflected on leadership as an evolving journey, sharing that

“As you develop your skills in your chosen profession, particularly as an entrepreneur, you naturally grow into leadership.”

The Milan event underscored the OWA’s commitment to creating global platforms for connection, inspiration, and leadership development. With strong attendance and enthusiastic engagement, the gathering highlighted the growing demand for international forums that elevate authentic voices and lived experiences within the optical industry.

The Optical Women’s Association extends its sincere thanks to MIDO, the panelists, and all attendees who contributed to the success of this inspiring event. OWA looks forward to building on this momentum through future global initiatives that continue to connect, inspire, and empower women across the optical community.

View the full high-res MIDO photo gallery

100% Optical: London, England

The Optical Women’s Association marked an exciting milestone at 100% Optical London with its global connections series, bringing together women from across the global optical community for an inspiring conversation on leadership, resilience and career journeys. The session, held on the 100% Catwalk stage, opened with remarks from Nancy Gries, Chair of the OWA International Expansion Committee, before a dynamic panel discussion led by Dr. Pretty Basra with Dr. Caroline Casey, Jayne Abel and Dame Mary Perkins.

Throughout the discussion, the panel shared honest reflections on the realities of leadership and the courage it can take to follow your own path. Jayne Abel spoke about the challenge of making decisions that may not always please everyone around you, and reflected:

“Sometimes wanting to do things differently means saying no to the people closest to you.”

The act of saying no was a theme that resonated strongly, with Dr. Caroline Casey noting that it can sometimes feel uncomfortable, particularly for women, yet it is an essential leadership skill. “We need to be able to say no without feeling we have to justify it.”

Jayne also emphasized the importance of remaining authentic throughout a career. “You should be the only one to put pressure on yourself,” she said, adding that leadership is not always about pushing relentlessly forward but about resilience and adaptability.

“It’s not about pushing through, it’s about absorbing the shocks and navigating.”

Casey offered a powerful reminder of the impact of the profession itself, describing optics as “the business of dream-making. Without these glasses, people wouldn’t be able to do what they do.”

Dame Mary Perkins reflected on leadership with characteristic humility, reminding the audience that leadership is not always something you consciously step into.

“You don’t always realize you’re being a leader”

she said, encouraging attendees to surround themselves with people who know more than they do and to remain open to learning. When asked what advice she would give to those starting their careers, Dame Mary encouraged the audience to find their niche, continue developing their expertise, and not be afraid to move sideways before moving up. The future of the profession, she said, is full of opportunity. “The future is exciting. Optics is going to be a great business to be in.”

The event also celebrated the inaugural Dame Mary Perkins and OWA Leadership Recognitions, with Krupa Mistry receiving the Emerging Leadership Recognition and Fiona Anderson the Leadership Recognition.

As the session came to a close, conversations continued long after the panel ended, with attendees connecting, sharing experiences and building relationships. It was a fitting reflection of the community the Optical Women’s Association continues to build as it expands internationally.

100% Optical write up by Rebecca Thompson