Women in Tech: Yes Please
Women in tech. In just a couple of decades, it’s gone from a political hot potato to one of the hottest topics in the tech world as more companies open their doors — and minds — to the sheer potential and talent of those amongst us who identify as female.
That’s not to say there isn’t room for improvement. I could make this piece a rant about how and why people develop notions of what’s appropriate or not for those of a particular gender to like or do, but I won’t. And I won’t because having recently attended Karren Brady’s “Women in Business & Tech Expo” in London, I’m feeling even more optimistic about the possibilities for women in the fast-changing, fast-paced world of technology. Because I see them all around me.
Lady Karren Brady CBE does too. CEO and Vice Chairman of West Ham United Football Club, Brady is one of the most influential, high-profile and respected female business leaders in the UK, voted Business Woman of the Year and Ultimate Entrepreneur. Not surprisingly, she is passionate about the promotion of women in business. So a few years back she launched her own expo to add momentum to the general improvements in women’s professional opportunities. I have also seen Karren present at other expos and of course on television (as Alan Sugar's right-hand woman on The Apprentice), but to think she also had a life-threatening health scare in 2006 and underwent major surgery for a brain aneurysm, also for me makes her even more inspiring.
Be the woman of today, for the woman of tomorrow, so she can be who and what she wants to be
Progression for women: is it happening?
For me, the essence of this annual event is summed up in its tagline: Inspiration - Recruitment - Progression. The importance of the inspiration piece cannot be overstated. Technology — and the Venture Capital industry that is so crucial to it in a company’s early days — remains a very male-dominated industry, from entry level to boardroom. We’ve all heard the saying ‘to be it you need to see it’, so inspiration — role models, press coverage, social proof, success stories, leadership — is key.
Recruitment is, of course, my area. As Head of #Talent, #Diversity and #Inclusion at a world-leading software company, my team and I make it our business to ensure that the way we recruit, the language and tools we use and our culture of inclusion are attractive to women. It’s paying off, too, with almost double the number of employees who identify as female compared to 18 months ago.
The really knotty problem, for many women, is progression. Like it or not, women face certain barriers when it comes to professional advancement, not least because our peak child-bearing years coincide painfully closely with those years of our professional lives that often offer the best opportunities to advance. This is not the place for a more nuanced discussion on this enormous elephant in the room, however, and besides, there are other barriers too: lack of sufficient support, poor corporate culture, disinformation and plain old tradition. Yes, it still persists in some dark corners — the idea that ‘this place/industry/job is no place for women.’
I’m delighted to say that Oxbotica is nothing like that. Everyone here is an ally for the rest of us, irrespetive of gender (or none). But there’s always work to be done if we’re to continue to give women whatever they need to be and do their best at work. We cannot afford to be complacent.
Impressive Speakers, Abundant Insights
Which is exactly why five of us Oxbots headed to the “Women in Business & Tech Expo”. It was an intense couple of days, with an impressive line-up of speakers who commanded the room, and whose ideas and wisdom generated abundant notes.
I often think it’s impossible to accurately sum up the learnings you get from a day like this, not least because the ‘penny drop’ moments can come days, weeks, even months later, when finally something clicks. But here is our best shot at summing up the key takeaways.
On harnessing the talents, ambitions and drive of women in business
Speaker: Lady Karren Brady, CBE
Upskilling and Retraining and Overcoming Gender Imbalances
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You are never too young or old to join a board
Speaker: Fiona Hathorn , Co-founder and CEO Women on Boards, UK
The versatility of a career in tech
Speaker, Kristina Burnwood-Ansell, product Director, Experian
Thank you, Zeba Farzeena , for taking such extensive and accurate notes! They really capture the essence of the presentations.
It was inspiring to witness the support in the room and great to hear and speak about topics that every woman has experienced or seen in their career at some point. But it was also wonderful to bring these issues to the forefront and empower one another, to give a voice and really listen to each other about how we can continue to shape the future
The Human Case for Diversity
But perhaps one of the biggest takeaways is from my colleague Bryony Groves . It’s about the diversity that women bring to any organisation. If we can diversify our teams we will innovate more because we have diversity of thought.
In my work, and even generally in the tech industry as a whole, you hear a lot about the business case for diversity; it’s better for the bottom line. Much more important, though, is the human case.
We — people of all genders and none — are human. If Covid taught us anything, it is the primal drive of humans to connect — to exchange ideas, opinions, doubts, questions. To be heard. To be seen. Given how much time we give to our professional lives, it would be a shame if our workplaces fail to provide a platform for people to have that need met, at least to some degree, safely and appropriately at work. Because when it’s done right, it’s magic. People are more productive, they’re happier and they perform better in the long term.
And that’s what we all want, right?
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1yWhat a fabulous and thought-provoking post! This is an issue for so many organisations and one we are actively challenging ourselves at Oxford Flow. There is much to be gained from a collaborative approach from businesses such as ours, creating a network from which can together encourage, nurture and develop the very best talent and loyal, engaged members of the team who are recognised for their expertise and abilities, rather than a focus on their gender. Thank you for sharing this. It most definitely has provided some food for thought.