AGENDA
This is such a great technique that everyone can ‘tap’ into, its fairly unknown to most which can always stop people in their tracks from giving it a go, but in this session you will be taken through it step by step and a lovely holistic way, giving you the tools to use this as and when they need it. This session will also give attendees a few minutes of grounding, breathwork and chair yoga moves we can give you to again help you use these at home or at the workplace anytime you need it.
Talent retention is not the same as either engagement or inclusion. It is important for people to feel that they can thrive in an organisation/industry where they are seen or heard, irrespective of gender.
The challenge for many women in tech is finding a company that backs up their words with actions; women need to feel truly supported by their employer in all stages of their lives.
There is so much we can all learn from each other; each woman has carved their own unique career path.
Meaningful change and improvements in women’s experiences won’t come without the commitment of allies.
Recruiting and employing from different socioeconomic backgrounds means that everyone has a place at the table. Having a diverse perspective leads to richer conversations, better decisions and ultimately helps businesses to grow. Hear from Lesley Salmon, CIO, Kellogg Company, about her own background, career journey and what her team is doing to lift up equity in Kellogg IT.
HSBC
Love it or hate it, this short intense session will turn everything you think about Networking on its head. Learn how a small twist of the mind can create a whole new attitude. Then try it out.
Despite widespread acknowledgement that women are underrepresented in technology and continual initiatives to boost the number of women tech leaders, progress is glacial. Board quotas have worked to improve women’s representation in the public sector and on FTSE boards. Are they the logical next step for tech employers?
Women, hormones, and neurodiversity: How women are affected by neurodiversity during their cycles and menopause. Understanding and kindness are crucial. ADHD is influenced by the loss of oestrogen, which impacts dopamine production and ADHD symptoms.
Accommodations for neurodivergent individuals benefit the entire staff. Many can relate to neurodivergent traits. Allowing headphone use and flexible working hours reduces pressure. This improves productivity and benefits the organisation.
Embracing the creativity of neurodivergent individuals benefits organisations: neurodivergent individuals offered incredible solutions and open discussions and free thinking leding to the best ideas.
Women are resigning at at a rate eclipsing that of their male colleagues - especially at the leadership level. With companies struggling for skilled workers and the tech workforce already heavily weighted towards men, this simply isn't good enough. In this session we'll discuss why women leave, how to spot the signs at your own company, and how to build a culture where women want to stay.
Throughout history, women’s work outside their private sphere has been contingent on men’s availability and preferences. This has often resulted in limiting women’s career choices to repetitive and low-paid jobs; the kind of work that technology has frequently either made obsolete or demoted to gig work. The tech sector itself has not been immune to this genderisation of work. When computers took off in the 1960s, women became programmers while men focused on the hardware which was perceived as the most challenging work. As programming gained status during the 1980s, men pushed women out of those jobs. Nowadays women in tech are overrepresented in areas particularly vulnerable to automation such as HR, finance, marketing, and administrative work as well as customer support and quality assurance. They are also part of the human labour behind artificial intelligence, working on low-wage jobs such as data annotation and content moderation. In this talk, we’ll explore the impact of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, on women’s roles in tech as well as the strategies that can help you build a successful, resilient, and sustainable career in our sector.
Women have been underrepresented in the tech industry for decades and we have a major pipeline problem, with less than 20% of those studying tech related subjects at any level identifying as female and only 3% of women dreaming of a tech career. If we want the technology we all use every day to be safe and meet our needs, the people working on it have to reflect society. So how can we inspire more girls and women to pursue studies and careers in tech?
The session will explore what it takes to be a successful leader in today's dynamic business landscape, delve into the essential principles of leadership, emphasizing the importance of vision, integrity, and empowerment and how to develop leadership skills and navigate complex power dynamics in leadership settings and how to make a lasting impact.
There is a longstanding shortage of staff in the channel. This deficit is increasing with a continuation of the gender imbalance. Many organisations and individuals are carrying out great best practices to change that. BUT individual and corporate tactical achievements alone cannot rectify the channel wide structural problems. We’ll discuss how we can each help motivate and engage girls in the opportunities in our industry. Alongside supporting strategic changes in making channel IT a key career choice for girls and those returning to employment.
After going through a life changing ordeal Zoe was asked why she spoke out freely about what happened. Zoe was almost murdered by an ex-partner in a torturous 8-hour attack where she was stabbed and stamped on, in Zoe's own words "This was not the worst thing to have happened. After the attack and while recovering Zoe found herself subject to victim blaming and shaming. Somehow now I was stigmatised and blamed for violence I received". She has now made it her mission not to be silenced, to inspire other women to have a voice and talk about the about injustice so things change in the future. "We must call it out"
In this session Zoe will share a little about her story and also how she strives to be her authentic self by speaking about her experiences. Knowing that every time she does it inspires another woman to do the same. Zoe will talk about her campaigning work, changing laws and utilising her knowledge in tech and business to make a difference. "Together our voices are strong, and we must not be silenced. We deserve a seat at the table, and we deserve to be treated with respect".
Effective communication is key to growth, and in this session, we will discuss how to initiate open dialogues about our diverse cultural identities. We will explore strategies for ensuring that factors such as ethnicity, attire, religion, and more do not impede job prospects or career advancement. Discover practical approaches for fostering an inclusive workplace that embraces and appreciates cultural differences. Additionally, we will delve into the specific challenges faced by women of color and explore ways organizations can create more opportunities and provide greater support for their advancement.
The session will focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by women in the channel and empowering them to overcome barriers and achieve success. We will dive not unconscious biases, stereotypes, and limited opportunities for advancement and share strategies for developing leadership skills, building self-confidence, and navigating imposter syndrome.
The importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and building supportive networks will also be addressed as well as techniques for effective negotiation and self-advocacy, along with strategies for identifying leadership opportunities and advancing careers. Accomplished women in the channel will share her experiences and insights providing valuable advice and inspiring attendees.
Women often find themselves having to be something they are not at senior management level. Behind the scenes, there is a lot going on that can impact performance. But how about showing more vulnerability and leading from the front by creating an environment of psychological safety to have impact on a team’s performance?
Much is made of the gender "pay gap" and "confidence gap", but both are often exacerbated by the gender "visibility gap". Women run successful businesses. Climb literal mountains. Lead technological breakthroughs. And yet, if you ask anyone to name a business leader, an entrepreneur, a tech pioneer - or pretty much any other "impressive" role - the name almost always belongs to a (white) man.
If you're ready to close this visibility gap, and be seen and heard on your terms without apology or qualification, this session will help you: build and sharpen your profile, get noticed without being "self-promotey", get you confident putting yourself out there, advocate for ourselves (including how to negotiate a pay raise and close the pay gap) and for policy change, banish "impostor syndrome" once and for all, and so much more.
You will not be asked to "fake it till you make it". You are ready and enough as you are, and this session will help you bring yourself - and your business - into the world to shine, authentically and powerfully.
We will hear from Hargreaves Lansdown, our proud sponsor of the WIT Festival, as members of their own Women In Tech committee take the stage. The speakers will give their view on what being a woman in tech means to them, why they are part of the committee and insight into their Roadmap. This keynote is guaranteed to have you talking, and possibly taking away some innovative ideas for you to use in your workplace, to bring more women in, on and up in Technology roles. We believe that by empowering and inspiring more women to pursue and thrive in tech careers, we can create a more balanced and innovative industry for everyone driving equality every step of the way!
This session will focus on the evolving technology landscape and what to expect in a successful UK tech market in 2030, covering where the tech sector is going and what companies should be doing to build the stronger resilient and diverse community of the democratised technology future. This will consider accelerating your career progression and seizing the opportunity for personal growth as a positive part of that future.