Women in Tech and Business Conference London 2023
Foreword
As a first-time attendee to the Women in Business and Tech conference, it really was heartening to see so many empowered females leading the way from positions of power and influence. Of course, we are still a long, long way from where we should be, and there should be no resting on our laurels until there is complete balance from top to bottom.
I found it worrying how few men there were there. For many of the talks, there were maybe one of two males in the theatre of fifty-plus. I think this is a shame, as I think men need to attend such events too, so that they can better understand the obstacles women face in our industry and help support the changes we all want to see.
I noted that as well as Version 1 have done up until now, there is always room for more. In keeping our Strength in Balance triangle aligned, we must empower our female staff so that they are comfortable and confident, and this will lead to better outcomes for our customers.
The three authors of this blog post are an example of what we can achieve when we recruit great engineers regardless of gender, orientation or race. So without further ado, I’ll pass over to AWS DevOps Engineers Catherine Hillier, Linh Luong and Eunjung (EJ) Shin.
Catherine Hillier on Busi Sizani, Head of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Deliveroo
The talk from this conference that I wanted to share some insights on was given by Busi Sizani — Head of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Deliveroo. Her talk was titled: Equality ≠ Fair: Let’s Talk about Equity. Busi was a fantastic public speaker and delivered an engaging and informative talk on a subject that should be important to us all.
Equity has become a popular topic of discussion in recent years and most people are now familiar with the differences between equality and equity, as demonstrated by the following well-known illustration.
We can understand the differences between these two concepts, but achieving equity, in reality, is not always as simple as adjusting the height of a stack of boxes.
In Busi’s talk, she referred to recent studies which claim that our brains are hard-wired for fairness. The example given was the Capuchin Monkey Experiment (Two Monkeys Were Paid Unequally: Excerpt from Frans de Waal’s TED Talk). To summarise, two monkeys performed the same task, but one was rewarded with a piece of cucumber, and the other was rewarded with a grape (a superior treat). The first monkey throws back the cucumber as he is aware that they are not being treated fairly, yet the other monkey is content with his grape. I am sure personal experiences come to mind of times when we have felt like the cucumber monkey, perhaps with pay rises and promotions. What we should also reflect on, however, are those occasions when we received the grape, and how we supported those that didn’t.
What kept me engaged throughout Busi’s speech was her storytelling. This allowed the audience to care and empathise, which she advised as the first step to achieving equity.
The story she goes on to tell was of her friend who had recently needed to start using a wheelchair. Busi happened to be in the middle of renovating her bathroom at the time, so she decided to fit in new shower doors that would be suitable for a wheelchair user. Going out of her way to do this, she spent more money and waited longer for delivery, but when the doors arrived, she was delighted and excited to show her friend how her shower was now wheelchair accessible. Except Busi did not think about the bathroom door itself, which was not big enough to fit a wheelchair.
I respected her for admitting her error to highlight her point: privilege can be invisible to those who have it. One may have great intentions, but this on its own is not enough. If her friend had been involved in the planning from the beginning, she would have known immediately that the door was not wide enough, saving a lot of money and time in the process. This brought Busi onto her second piece of advice: the people who you are trying to help need to be involved in the decision-making. Not doing so will result in higher costs and further inefficiency — something that is also true in business.
In 1972, the city of Berkeley in California installed its first ramp for wheelchair users to allow them to move from the pavement to the road. This installation was met with resistance, due to excessive costs for something assumed to only be used by a small population of disabled people. However, the result was that the ramp benefited a multitude of people, such as parents with pushchairs, skateboarders, cyclists, and people with a range of mobility issues. This is the Curb Cut Effect and it demonstrates that there can be benefits for everyone if we design with the least-privileged in mind.
Busi’s last essential point of advice is that to strive for equity, we must commit to the journey. For a company, this means providing the resources that are needed: money, time and effort. The work required can often land on individuals to go above and beyond their role for action to happen, but the responsibilities should be pushed back on the people who have the power to make a change and cannot be up to just an individual effort. Therefore, investing in roles (such as Busi’s) which have the purpose of helping improve diversity, is a great start to the journey ahead.
EJ Shin on Ifeoma Noelin Okolie, Product Safety Manager and EDI Network Lead, Thales UK
Embracing Diversity: Lessons from Ifeoma’s Inspiring Journey by EJ Shin
The keynote speaker, Ifeoma, originally from Nigeria, moved to the UK thirteen years ago. She shared her inspiring journey of overcoming the challenges associated with being a triple minority and becoming a successful role model in the fields of Black, Female, and Artistic Professional in the Engineering & Tech industry.
Ifeoma’s parents were university lecturers, and she grew up in an academic environment. She pursued a career as a doctor in Nigeria, which could have offered her a stable life. However, driven by her dreams, she decided to come to England. Along the way, she had moments of self-doubt and faced difficulties related to being a triple minority. However, she soon realized that her differences shaped her unique identity. She told us that being different is not a disadvantage; it’s a source of strength, and the power lies in our own hands.
One question that resonated with me was how to establish sociological safety in the workplace. Ifeoma pointed out that people tend to fear what they don’t understand. To address this, she encouraged managers in companies to educate themselves about diversity and suggested that employees should listen to the stories of individuals from different backgrounds. Transparency and honesty about what we don’t know or understand can lead to improvement.
Ifeoma also emphasized the importance of believing in ourselves and surrounding ourselves with positive, like-minded individuals who share our vision.
Linh Luong on Lucile Kamar, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, ITN
“Unveiling the Secrets of Success: Cracking the Networking Code at the Women in Business/Tech Expo”
I recently had the privilege of attending the Women in Business/Tech Expo, where I had the opportunity to explore a wide array of empowering sessions and workshops. One particular session that stood out was “Cracking the Networking Code.” This seminar was a game-changer for anyone looking to enhance their networking skills, especially in the world of business and technology.
Hosted by a seasoned expert in the field, “Cracking the Networking Code” provided invaluable insights and practical tips to help attendees make the most of their networking experiences. The workshop revolved around the idea that networking is not just about exchanging business cards or making small talk but about building genuine connections that can lead to long-term professional success.
Here are some key takeaways from the session:
- The Power of Authenticity: One of the central themes of the workshop was the importance of being your authentic self when networking. It emphasized that genuine connections are built on trust and common interests. By being authentic, you can create a more meaningful and lasting impact.
- Effective Communication: The workshop stressed the significance of effective communication skills. Attendees learned how to initiate conversations, maintain engaging dialogues, and listen actively. This is crucial for leaving a memorable impression on potential contacts.
- Networking Tools and Strategies: The speaker provided a wealth of practical tools and strategies for successful networking. From leveraging social media platforms to attending industry-specific events, the workshop offered a comprehensive roadmap for building a robust professional network.
- Follow-Up and Building Relationships: Networking doesn’t end when the event is over. “Cracking the Networking Code” highlighted the importance of consistent follow-up and nurturing the connections you make. Building relationships takes time, effort, and genuine interest in others.
- Overcoming Networking Challenges: The workshop also addressed common networking challenges, such as shyness or fear of rejection. Attendees learned strategies to overcome these obstacles and become more confident and effective networkers.
Overall, “Cracking the Networking Code” was an enlightening and transformative experience. It reinforced the idea that successful networking is not about quantity but quality. Building authentic, meaningful relationships can open doors to new opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations.
This session at the Women in Business/Tech Expo was a testament to the event’s commitment to empowering women in these industries. It provided attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the world of business and technology with confidence and grace.
In conclusion, if you missed “Cracking the Networking Code,” I highly recommend seeking out similar opportunities to enhance your networking skills. After all, as the saying goes, “Your network is your net worth,” and this workshop provided valuable tools for increasing both.
About the author(s)
Catherine Hillier is a Consulting Engineer here at Version 1.
Eunjung (EJ) Shin is an Associate AWS DevOps Engineer here at Version 1.
Linh Luong is a Senior AWS DevOps Engineer here at Version 1.
