Women in tech? Hell yes we need more of them, and help is on its way! Máxima, reigning Queen of the Netherlands, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte are joining some of the leading women in technology from Europe gathering together in the Netherlands this Wednesday (25 May) to discuss the diversity issue in the sector. With all companies of the future becoming tech companies, organisers Inspiring Fifty and StartupDelta believe urgent attention is needed to encourage more girls and women to pursue a career in tech.
Female role models
The event takes place at Mauritshuis in The Hague and will bring together female role models from across the European technology scene – some of whom recently featured in Inspiring Fifty’s top lists of inspiring role models for 2015 and 2016. Together they will debate, share and gain ideas on how to positively increase the amount and impact of women in technology within Europe, with the ultimate aim of addressing the current gender imbalance in the sector.
Networking with Queen
The Queen will take part in a networking lunch where the women will be able to share with her their views on the topic. Prime Minister Mark Rutte will then take part in a question and answer session with the guests. Other top speakers on the day include Facebook global director of diversity Maxine Williams, Intel VP Strategic Alliances Wearables Sandra Lopez and Little Miss Geek founder and Lady Geek CEO Belinda Parmar.
Video series
As part of the event, a video series will also be officially launched in which role models – both men and women – are encouraged to film a short video to identify why diversity in tech is important, why the future for women lies in tech, and what they as role models can do to help increase diversity. The aim is to both showcase key role models in the tech sector, whilst also encouraging these role models to step up and make a public commitment to bringing positive change to the sector. The series will be kicked off with a video from StartupDelta special envoy Neelie Kroes, with in addition other women of Inspiring Fifty.
“All companies will be tech companies”
Kroes said of the goal of the event: “All companies of the future will be tech companies, and it is vital that we work together now to encourage more girls and women to take an interest in technology or quite simply they will be left behind. A career in tech is rewarding and fun and urgent attention is needed to address the diversity in the sector to bring positive change for a future generation. We hope through this event we can come up with new ideas that can make a difference.”
Inspiring Fifty
Inspiring Fifty founders Janneke Niessen and Joelle Frijters said: “Inspiring Fifty believes in the power of role models to inspire other women to pursue a career in tech. ‘If she can see it, she can be it.’ The goal of our event is to bring together these brilliant women to discuss just how we can work both individually and collectively to address the diversity issue. We are delighted to have the support of Queen Máxima and Prime Minister Mark Rutte. It demonstrates what an important topic diversity it and we hope to keep it top of the agenda until it hopefully is no longer necessary.”
The event is supported by partners Facebook, Atomico and Improve Digital. Picture: RVD, Jeroen van der Meyde
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