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Leading Women in Tech

Posted on 2 July 2018

Mishcon de Reya was joined by a panel of leading women to discuss the obstacles faced when starting a business within the Tech industry, and what can be done to level the playing field. The event was opened by The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, who provided a keynote speech. The panel was chaired by Neeta Patel, Founder and CEO of the New Entrepreneurs Foundation. Panellists included Anne Boden, Founder and CEO of Starling Bank; Melissa Morris, Founder and CEO of Lantum;  Catherine Wines, Director and Co-Founder of WorldRemit; and Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP also joined the panel.

Charlotte Wilson

Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya

Mishcon is hosting this event because we work with a lot of entrepreneurs and we understand the value of having women in businesses and in particular, women in tech businesses. 

Neeta Patel

Founder & CEO, The New Entrepreneurs Foundation

I think we can encourage more women into technology, firstly by inspiring them through events like this where leading women in technology inspire and talk about their experiences.  Secondly, perhaps having women-focussed programmes.

Catherine Wines

Director & Co-Founder, WorldRemit Ltd

There are a lot of discussion but sometimes not much is coming out.  How can we generate, you know, enthusiasm from governments, bodies, employers and so on.  I think we really need to kind of really start thinking a bit more about the concrete step to resolve the problem of, you know, diversity.

The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

Chief Secretary to the Treasury

I think it’s about inspiring the next generation saying, you can shape your own life, you can build your own future, and tech is a brilliant area to do it in. 

Melissa Morris

Founder and CEO, Lantum

I think the first thing that really struck me was that every person on that panel has done something pretty incredible.  It was a bit different to normal events, it was very challenging, people were saying things that they might not normally say in public and I think those conversations are very important to have if you are really going to move the needle in encouraging women in tech.

Anne Boden

Founder & CEO, Starling Bank

We talked about the difficulty women get in well, being noticed in the tech sector, or getting funding in the tech sector, and how important it is to have far more women.  This event is one of many, each event allows more women to get access to role models that talk about the difficulties of getting into tech and being powerful in tech. 

Sarah Wadham

EIS Association Ltd

One of the things that comes up in research is that older men look for younger men in their own image to mentor and we really need as women who have got through financial services or tech to take on helping younger women to help them through. 

Charlotte Wilson

Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya

But also, I think it is really important to encourage women at more junior levels, whether that’s taking Computer Science at school or doing tech-based degrees at university, providing an environment where women feel that they will be accepted.

The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

Chief Secretary to the Treasury

I think there needs to be more discussion about women in technology but also, more broadly, all the opportunities there are in technology.

 

Leading Women in Tech

Mishcon de Reya

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