Catherine Ouellet-Dupuis’ Post

IN4 Group Ranked 11th on Insider’s ScaleUp 75 List... IN4 Group has been recognised as the 11th most scaling business in the North West in the 2024 Insider’s ScaleUp 75 report. This acknowledgment reflects the consistent growth we’ve achieved, expanding by over 53% year-on-year for the past four years. More importantly, it highlights the impact we’ve been able to make: ➡️ Supporting over 2,500 people into careers in technology. ➡️Delivering £14.3M in social impact in 2023. ➡️Promoting diversity with 41% women, 53% ethnic minorities, and a focus on underrepresented groups and career changers. A big thank you to our team, partners, and community for their continued support. Together, we’re driving positive change and fostering growth in the region. Mo Isap Laura Cleverley Lauren Monks Julie Chadwick Alana Borkwood Sufian Kaki Aslam Roxana Lawton (MBA) Darren O'Brien Tamima Mulla-Shah Anna Louise Birbeck #ScaleUp #NorthWestBusiness #TechnologyCareers #SocialImpact

It's been a little over one month now since I wrapped up my time at Techleap. What a ride that has been 🎢. During my time there I was able to do a number of cool things, and met some of the most passionate people in the Dutch tech ecosystem! I also got a front row seat to so many incredible founders, ecosystem players, and companies that are going to be the next big thing in Tech. Here's a few of my highlights: ‣ Contributed to the inaugural #DEITechSummit from Diverse Leaders in Tech, powered by Techleap, where over Dutch Tech 300 ecosystem players gathered ‣ Launched a community platform for the Diverse Leaders in Tech, powered by Techleap Community ‣ Initiated a working group focused on driving DEI interventions within the Dutch Tech ecosystem ⏭️ After a while I took on a different role as Program Manager for the Techleap for Scaleups team. If you know me, you undoubtedly will know that I am passionate about inclusion. In this team I was able to sink my teeth into a project that would feed this very passion. 🔍 I led market discovery, gathering key insights and offering recommendations that will serve as the foundation for new initiatives at Techleap. This project specifically addressed the underrepresentation of intersectional female founders in the Dutch tech ecosystem. 💡 Through this research, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges women STILL continue to face in building and scaling their businesses in the Netherlands—challenges that I know are, unfortunately, shared by women across the globe. 🫶🏾 I’d like to express my gratitude to the incredible women who generously shared their time and experiences during this research. Your insights, lived experience, resilience, and unique perspectives were invaluable to my work (see comments for an individual shoutout). Thank you 🙏🏾 So what's next for me? I am currently cooking up a few things and embarking on an exciting new journey. I cannot wait to share it with you all 🥹 Stay tuned! 😎 #newchapter #comingsoon #strategynerd

✨ What an amazing experience at the techUK event on 'Unlocking Talent in Tech Scale-Ups'! ✨ I thoroughly enjoyed Tuesday morning, diving deep into the best practices shared by experts across the scale-up ecosystem. A huge thank you to TechUK for putting together such a valuable and insightful session. The fireside chat with Rebecca Simmons, Chief Operating Officer at Riverlane, was a highlight – her insights on increasing gender diversity in deep tech were incredibly inspiring. Her recent blog offers quite a few tips on increasing gender diversity based on the stage of business you're in - check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eG_wHqxX The panel on talent acquisition and retention also delivered key takeaways for anyone looking to scale successfully. Ben Maitland, Robin Beattie, Paisley Keys and Graham Butler provided some really useful feedback when it comes to culture, storytelling and building your people plans. Some standout insights included: 🌟 Strong leadership is critical to drive company culture and guide growth. 🌟 When building a people plan, it is essential to match key skills with scaling milestones. 🌟 Fostering career growth is vital – mentoring, skill-building, and clear growth paths keep top talent engaged. 🌟 Creating a mission-driven, inclusive culture with strong values is a must from day one. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate with brilliant minds in the industry. Excited to keep these conversations going and apply these insights as we continue to grow at Sitehop! 🚀 #TechUK #TalentInTech #ScaleUpSuccess #Leadership #InclusiveCulture #TechEvents

✨ A Bittersweet Goodbye to She Loves Tech ✨ Last week marked my official last day at She Loves Tech, and it’s a moment of reflection and gratitude for a journey that has been nothing short of transformative. Being part of the world’s largest platform accelerating women entrepreneurs in technology has been an honor and a mission I held close to my heart. Over the past months, I had the privilege of working alongside a team of brilliant, passionate individuals, collectively pushing boundaries to create a more inclusive and equitable tech ecosystem. Together, we: 🚀 Empowered countless women founders and innovators. 🌍 Expanded She Loves Tech’s global footprint. 💡 Built programs that championed women in tech to dream big and succeed bigger. 🌟 @Rhea See: Your unwavering passion for She Loves Tech’s mission and ability to bring big ideas to life have been amazing. 🌟 Leanne Robers: Your charisma, vision, and steadfast leadership have been truly inspiring. You are the epitome of innovation and resilience, and working with you has been a masterclass in building impact. 🌟 Katrin Miller: Your example of true leadership – empathetic, strategic, and empowering – is one I will carry forward. You’ve shown me the strength of genuine collaboration and care in building successful teams. While it’s bittersweet to close this chapter, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. To everyone I’ve met through She Loves Tech – let’s stay connected, keep dreaming big, and continue making magic together. ✨ My commitment to building ecosystems in technology globally is stronger than ever, and I’m currently looking for opportunities where I can contribute my skills in community building, program management, and ecosystem development. If you’re looking for someone passionate, driven, and ready to create a meaningful impact, I’d love to connect! #ThankYou #SheLovesTech #WomenInTech #Leadership #Opportunities #CareerChange #ProgramManagement #CommunityBuilder #TechLeadership #OpenToWork #DiversityAndInclusion #WomenLeaders #TechEcosystem #JobSearch #HiringNow #Innovation #GlobalOpportunities #InclusiveWorkplace #Networking #Empowerment #StartupEcosystem #TechCareers

I've hesitated to post for a while…. However after discussions at TechWM Birmingham Tech Week, Women in tech Day, I can't stay quiet. After a discussion on: "Social good doesn't mean free" I want to share a hard truth I learned while building my company dedicated to advancing women and underrepresented talent in tech. After 17 years working in corporate as an executive, I decided it was time to step into the world of entrepreneurship and founded Halzak to connect diverse talent with inclusive companies. Which then led to the creation of Elevate - Women in Tech. We've created tangible impact through many FREE initiatives such as our award-winning ElevateHER leadership program, mentoring 80 women and building a thriving tech community. But here's what needs to be said: Companies claiming to champion women in tech often expect social impact organizations to work for free (we do a number of probono events) Recently, a company engaged with us about our paid services, extracted our intellectual property and methodologies during discovery calls, then implemented them internally without compensation. This isn't collaboration - it's exploitation. To companies promoting their commitment to diversity and women in tech: - Pretty website statements about empowering women mean nothing if you won't invest in organizations doing the actual work - Supporting social impact doesn't mean getting services for free - "We don't have budget" rings hollow when you're profiting from our expertise Real allies: 💰 Pay for valuable services 🤝 Honor intellectual property 🌱 Invest in sustainable impact 🚪 Open doors instead of extracting free value We're proud to partner with organisations like WeAreTheCity, WeAreTechWomen, Enable, Royal London, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and Just Eat Takeaway.com and many others who understand that meaningful change requires real investment, not just performative posts. Social impact organizations need sustainable revenue to create lasting change. If you value their mission, value their work. What are your thoughts? Have other social impact founders experienced this? Intrested in learning more about what we do DM for more details and services 🫶 #WomenInTech #SocialImpact #TechInclusion #Leadership

Why role models matter for everyone. ✅ We from UVC Partners know exactly why diversity drives innovation; we see daily how teams of different personalities and backgrounds work effectively together. 🦾 That’s why we also support in different ways female founders. 👏 And we would love to share with you the story of our Co-founder of Crafthunt, Dr. Anna Hocker, who is redefining what leadership in tech looks like! Just 8 weeks after becoming a mother 🤱, she returned to work – not to prove a point, but to live one: that women in tech can have it all and inspire others to see what’s possible. 💫 Her story isn’t just about personal determination – it’s about the importance of a supportive environment, whether at work or home. When families and partners come together 🤝 to share responsibilities and explore new ways of balancing life and career, barriers start to break. 💡 This isn’t just an opportunity for women but for men to redefine their roles and ambitions. 🙏 What does Anna’s journey mean to you? How can we collectively build a future where career and family aren’t choices but opportunities for everyone? Join us in celebrating these bold stories in our Diversity & Female Empowerment Campaign as we explore the people and ideas reshaping the future of tech and venture capital. 🌟 💙 #WomenInTech #BreakingBarriers #FamilySupport #DiversityMatters #UVCPartners #UnternehmerTUM

STOP THE PRESS! Yesterday, the TechRound SaaS Top 66 companies were announced, and not only did HeyFlow make the list, but we were ranked TWELTH! 🤯 "As a majority female-founded company, HeyFlow and its team has also faced the challenge of securing investment in a field where female entrepreneurs often encounter biases and funding barriers. HeyFlow operates in a space that necessitates challenging entrenched social norms and systemic beliefs, and attitudes that support the lack of inclusion for women. The firm advocates for changing workplace attitudes that have historically sidelined women’s health issues, which often contribute to high absenteeism, lower retention rates, and slower career progression for women." If you, or your company are looking to make your workplace more inclusive for women and want to take the lead as we create waves in the future of work, get in touch. Aer Venture Studios Nick Dean Sabrina W. #femalefounded #womensequity #femalereproductivehealth

The Seekhr team were really excited to dive into the inaugural 100 Women Tech Founders to Watch report that was published by the Founders Forum Group... The report shines a light on the incredible potential and impact of women in tech, despite the challenges they continue to face. Women entrepreneurs control over $30 trillion in consumer spending globally (85% of the total consumer spending in the U.S.), yet women-led startups still struggle to secure funding—only 10% of VC funding in Europe, and just 2% in the U.S., which is pretty staggering. But this report isn't just about the challenges. It's about the amazing women who are defying the odds. With over $1.1 billion raised between them, these founders are breaking boundaries and showing the immense value that diverse leadership brings to the tech world. From AI to climate tech, femtech to spacetech, these women are leading the charge in industries across the globe. We are incredibly proud to be female founded here at Seekhr, and will continue to shout about how we can do better! Check out the full report here 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/eaN_D6Jb #FemaleFounder #FemaleLead #Recruitment

💥Only 20% of tech jobs at major companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft are held by women 💥Women make up only 5% of leadership positions in the tech industry. 💥Women in tech earn 85 cents for every dollar earned by men in similar roles We could go on, but you get the point. That’s why we are so excited to be teaming up with Female Startup Club to amplify a group of founders leading the way in tech. These women exemplify exactly what is possible when women lead: social impact, inclusive workplace cultures, above-average profitability, job creation and to put it simply, awesome products. 🌟 Aasiyah Abdulsalam-Abdulsalam, Founder of The Renatural - the future of wigs. Their category-leading assortment, paired with their proprietary supply chain system fuels their ability to continually revolutionize the monopolized wig industry and on a mission to dismantle the singularity of luxury beauty. 🌟Aparna (Amy) Divaraniya, PhD, CEO & Founder of Oova - a fertility translator that fully illuminates a woman's fertility, giving her and her care team the clearest steps to conception. 🌟Daniella Pierson-Pierson, Founder + CEO at The Newsette, Co-Founder of Wondermind - The Newsette is a media company empowering women through content and connections. She has since co-founded Wondermind, the world’s first mental fitness ecosystem to democratize and destigmatize mental health for everyone with Mandy Teefey and Selena Gomez. 🌟@Lucy Liu, Co-founder & President of Airwallex - a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. 🌟Jasmine Crowe-Houston-Houston, Founder & CEO of GoodrCo. - a sustainable food waste management company, we leverage technology to combat hunger. 🌟Vienna Sparks, CEO and Co-Founder of MabLab - an at-home rapid test that will tell you before you take any substance whether it is laced or not. Follow along on these founder’s incredible journeys and don’t forget to join us inside The 10th House, where we’re curating a tech-focused cohort to help you scale, build and thrive in your tech businesses. Get started here: https://hubs.li/Q02t_2Sw0

How many women are on your technical teams? We don’t just talk about diversity, we deliver it. Toast connects companies like BlueMarvel AI with top-tier women in tech who are ready to hit the ground running and make a difference from day one. As Keri Lee shares, we unlock tech talent that might otherwise go unnoticed. Partnering with Toast gives you access to our pre-vetted candidate pool of talent women in tech. Plus, every woman we place in your company gets an automatic Toast membership - connecting them to a built-in community, ongoing support, and upskilling opportunities to help them thrive. Want a team that actually reflects the future of tech? Book a call and start hiring *toast-worthy* talent 🥂 https://lnkd.in/efjvejxZ