This panel will explore the critical role of social mobility in the tech industry, with a focus on women from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Join Lisa Goodchild, Jessica Harwood, Nazreen Visram, and Laiba Khan for this insightful conversation.
It will examine the unique challenges these women face in breaking into and advancing within tech, as well as the significant creative & innovation benefits they bring to the tech industry. The conversation will highlight how hiring practices, workplace culture, and career mentoring systems can either hinder or enhance social mobility, ultimately shaping the diversity and inclusivity of the tech workforce.
Discussion Points:
- Understanding Social Mobility in Tech: A look at what social mobility means in the context of the tech industry. The panel will discuss how socioeconomic background influences access to education, networking opportunities, and career paths, particularly for women.
- Challenges in Hiring and Retention: An exploration of the barriers that women from socially mobile backgrounds face when entering and advancing in the tech sector. Topics will include biases in hiring practices, the impact of unpaid work experiences, internships, lack of mentorship, and the cultural challenges of navigating predominantly middle- and upper-class work environments.
- The Benefits of Diverse Perspectives: A discussion on how women from socially mobile backgrounds bring unique perspectives, problem-solving abilities, and innovation to tech teams. The panel will highlight real-world examples of how diversity in background contributes to more creative, user-centred, and inclusive technological solutions.
- Creating Pathways to Success: Insights into what companies can do to better support women from socially mobile backgrounds. This includes revising hiring practices to recognise non-traditional pathways, offering scholarships, mentorship programs, and career development opportunities, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures that value diverse experiences.
- Success Stories and Role Models: The panel will feature a story of a woman who has successfully navigated the tech industry despite the odds, obstacles they overcame, and how they are now paving the way for others to follow.
- The Future of Social Mobility in Tech: A forward-looking discussion on the importance of social mobility for the future of the tech industry. The panel will consider how tech companies, educational institutions, and policy makers can collaborate to create more equitable access to tech careers for women from all backgrounds.
Objective:
The panel aims to raise awareness about the importance of social mobility in technology and inspire actionable change in hiring practices, workplace cultures, and support systems. It seeks to empower women from socially disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue tech careers and encourage companies to recognise and cultivate the unique strengths these individuals will bring to the industry.
Register on LinkedIn here