The first DDaT Women in Tech programme event

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Wednesday 25 January saw 150 people gathered at the Lowry in Manchester with a warm welcome from Katie Gardiner, DDaT Women in Tech sponsor to the first ever DDaT Women in Tech Networking Conference. Katie started with a brief history of inspirational Women in Tech from Ada Lovelace, Joan Clarke, Mary Wilks, Catherine Johnston, Margaret Hamilton right up to Jackie Wright CDIO HMRC. Why we are hosting the event – the fact still reminds that there are 15-20 million people working in the tech industry but only 19% are women, across government that figure drops to 17% so we need to increase inclusiveness and level the playing field to flourish. Katie shared that over her 20 years in the Civil Service connecting with others – like today’s event, helped broaden her horizon and opened opportunities for her.?

A packed agenda was shared by the hosts Lesley Pink, from DDaT and Susanne Campbell from Sopra Steria.?

Government and Tech Industry Leaders

The session started with a talk from two Tech Industry Leaders Sam Bramwell, CEO Marra and Mattie Yeta, CGI’s Chief Sustainability Officer. Sam started by asking us to think about our purpose – why were we there? She talked about how seeing the shuttle launch in April 1981 as a 10-year-old girl inspired her to want to be an astronaut.?A blocker to this came when she was 14 and told at school, girls can’t study physics, go study home economics instead. She went on to study performing arts which lean to travelling around India where she saw and experienced many inequality lessons – what should have been for three weeks ended up being over a year and with lots of debt joined a platinum software company to pay this off. This is where she found she could do anything she put her mind to and moved up the career ladder within this company and then over to a tech phone company, just as mobile phones were coming on the scene. In this company she connected with a sponsor a woman who saw something in her and told her to take things on and look for that experience. This led to her gaining a role at Microsoft where she spent 15 happy years in a variety of senior leadership roles as well as the chair and strategy lead for their Women at Microsoft programme and thought would stay forever. She was headhunted to be the CEO of tech services consultancy Marra, a new type of tech services consultancy with a strong social purpose and a mission to hire and upskill women from a range of backgrounds to support their journey.?

Next, we heard from CGI’s Chief Sustainability Office Mattie Yeta. Mattie talked about her upbringing – moving around the world with her dad which led her to be curious and to learn about the things she didn’t know about or that pique her interest. Understanding that it’s not what you know – this you can find out by asking the questions or learning more but it’s how you make people feel, how we interact with each other. She was interested in Sustainability because it’s the right thing to do. Mattie’s career covered work with the United Nations. She received many awards from her industry as well as recently announced in the top 100 sustainability power leaders. Mattie also shared some key facts with us about how Technology can reduce emissions:

Technology can reduce 14% of the world’s global emissions

It’s estimated that data centres contribute 1% to 3% of the world’s global emissions

A computer contains about 0.2 grams of gold ($12)?

50 million tonnes of electronic waste are thrown away each year

Networking Workshop

A timely and apt session next a Networking Workshop with Sara Bashford, DDaT and Diana Hogbin-Mills, Midsummer Studio. We look at how we can build our networks and the importance of being visible and looking broader across other areas. We talked in groups about how the thought of networking makes us feel and what we can do to help build a more positive mindset when it comes to networking. Talk about what the worst thing could happen and how likely it is to. It’s about building a network that works for you, now and in the future, it’s a powerful experience that could open doors for you or support you. Networking doesn’t have to always be attending events, it could be a community of practice, curated online community, informal networking or development networks. Always remember when you are doing any networking to be present – take an active interest, what can you give to them too. Think about three things you are passionate about these can be things you can talk about. Be open in your body language and if you make a connection follow up afterwards and be specific in your note.?

So with us all, ready and prepared for networking that is what we went off to do over lunch.?

Wish and Energise workshop?

Then after lunch, Diana got us all motivated with a Wish and Energise Workshop. Focusing on training and development aimed at realising potential and supporting others. She shared with us WOOP! from woopmylife.org?

W – wish, is all about having that wish, writing it down, what would you like to achieve and putting it into 3-6 words.

O – outcome, clear on what your wish means, what do you want to see or do?

O – obstacles, what will get in your way, think about what you are going to do about it.

P – plan, if (obstacle) then I will…?

You might find that obstacles and plans are a cycle that you go through a few times.?

Finishing the session with a group WOOP!?

Allyship

Sopra Steria colleagues Georgie Rosagro and Alex Prinelle talked about Allyship.?

Georgie shared a personal story about how allyship helped her very early in her career and made a big impact on why she champions allyship in Sopra Steria.?

Alex talked about how important it is that we are Allys for all, everyone who is different from ourselves. To act when we see or hear something, for example if someone is talking over another or if someone else makes the same point as someone else has but they were ignored flag this either in the meeting or afterwards.

How Allyship works best

1. Listening – find out about the experiences of others or those different to you
2. Self-reflection – no-one is perfect
3. Proactive – look elsewhere and act

Look at who’s in your team – where are the women? Invite them in if there are not there. Lift each other and allow people to grow at their own pace and find out where they want to be and why, that way you can help highlight opportunities for them.?

Q&A Panel?

The last session of the day was a panel discussion, on normal chairs no high bar stools like so many other panels which can be tricky to get on and off.?

Speakers joined Lesley Pink to respond to delegate questions with a focus on their careers, building skills and networks. Panel members were Katie Gardiner, Sam Bramwell, Mattie Yeta, Susanne Campbell, and Lottie Davies from Capgemini.

The day closed with thanks to all of those who were involved in the conference and to get feedback from delegates about the event and any ideas about future events that could be held. Followed by drinks and networking.?