We sat down with Madison Porter, Chair of the Women at Thurn network, to hear how the group is creating space for connection, support, and real conversation—while shaping a more inclusive future for the firm.

What is your role as a part of the committee?
When I took on the role of chair for Women at Thurn, the group already had great energy and ideas. I saw a real opportunity to turn that into something lasting. Since then, it’s been about creating a genuinely useful space - where we can share advice, support each other, and talk openly about the day-to-day. I’m here to keep building on that and help the network grow in a way that really works for all of us.
Why is this important to you?
For me, the Women’s Network isn’t just a nice extra - it’s a space to support and learn from each other. Executive Search can be male-dominated, so having a place to share advice, swap stories, and back each other up really matters. Whether it’s figuring out how to handle a tricky client conversation or just needing a sounding board, it’s great to know you’re not on your own.
What takes place, what has happened so far?
Those first few meetings were full of energy! We mapped out the year ahead, defined our key themes, set some big goals, and brainstormed ways to come together as a group and celebrate one another. As chair, I see my role as sparking those conversations and keeping the momentum going.
A stand out of moment of this year has been our International Women’s Day celebrations, a milestone event led by our incredible committee member, Sam. She took the reins and brought in the brilliant Ella Podmore, Materials Engineer at McLaren, to speak to the whole team.
Ella’s talk was inspiring. She shared her lived experiences as a woman in STEM and her message really struck a chord: as women, we don’t always have to shout louder to be heard - instead, the real power lies in finding allies among our male colleagues who will advocate for us, elevate our voices, and stand beside us.
It was definitely one of those moments that reminded us exactly why this network exists.
What plans do you have for the future?
Our vision for the future isn’t big, its Beyonce! (I hope you understand this reference)
Beyonce aside, we’re committed to hiring and retaining more females. and making sure they feel supported to grow, lead, and take on new opportunities with confidence. We're also big on education, helping the whole team understand the challenges women can face in a male-dominated industry, and how they can show up as genuine allies.