Women in Tech Week 2026 – Opening Live with Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE

We’re kicking off Women in Tech Week 2026 with a special LinkedIn Live hosted by Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE, Founder & CEO of WeAreTechWomen.

This opening session will set the scene for a week that has quickly become a national movement, uniting women across the UK through over 100 events spanning London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Cornwall and Durham, plus an incredible programme of virtual masterclasses, think tanks and keynotes.

Vanessa will reflect on the journey of WeAreTechWomen — from launching the TechWomen100 Awards and leadership accelerators, to creating global platforms such as One Tech World and the WeAreTech Festival — all designed to accelerate the careers of women in technology.

She’ll also highlight why this week matters more than ever:

• The findings of the Lovelace Report with Oliver Wyman, which revealed a £2–3.5bn annual cost to the UK tech sector from women leaving or being held back.
• The UK Government’s ambition to become a global tech and AI superpower by 2030.
• The creation of a Women in Tech Taskforce at the heart of government, signalling real change.

Throughout the Live, Vanessa will share calls to action for the community:

• Join the conversation – amplify voices across social media.
• Take part in virtual events & LinkedIn Lives – with something for every stage of your career.
• Celebrate Women’s Stories Day (16 Oct) – share your personal journey and inspire others.
• Follow the highlights daily – catch soundbites, photos and key moments across our channels.

✨ This is your chance to be part of a movement driving collaboration, visibility and change for women in technology.

📌 Don’t miss this inspiring opening session and explore the full programme at women-in-tech-week.com.

The tech industry is fighting hard to retain females, especially leadership level, yet a massive, naturally occurring hurdle remains shrouded in silence: menopause and its impact on the individual’s mental health.

With the average age of menopause coinciding exactly with the peak of a woman’s career trajectory, countless high-performing employees are secretly battling brain fog, anxiety, exhaustion and worse, whilst having to meet the expectations of the ever demanding workplace and family environments.

In this vital and validating session, Joanne Butler combines her 28 year background in the technology industry, with her lived experience of the menopause and mental wellness challenges to strip away the stigma. This isn’t just a menopause talk; it’s a career-preservation toolkit.

Key Takeaways for Attendees:

• The Biology & The Boardroom: Understanding how hormonal transitions impact executive functions (memory, focus, anxiety) and how to manage them without losing your professional edge.
• The Tech-Life Toolkit: Practical, actionable strategies and bio-hacks to manage symptoms while maintaining high performance in fast-paced tech environments.
• For Leaders & Allies: How to better support colleagues through this transition, reducing burnout and preventing mid-career talent drain.

Target Audience: Tech Leaders, those navigating or approaching hormonal transitions.

Booking link coming soon.

In today’s competitive market, roles are fewer, expectations are higher, and visibility is everything. Whether you’re navigating redundancy, seeking a promotion, or pivoting to a board-level role, your CV must do more than list achievements – it must tell a compelling story of strategic impact.

Yet most executives struggle to:

• Translate complex financial experience into clear, compelling language
• Stand out in a sea of equally qualified candidates
• Navigate AI-driven screening systems and recruiter expectations
• Articulate their value beyond technical delivery

This free, live, online, one-hour masterclass is designed to help you overcome those challenges and position yourself for your next big opportunity.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to structure your CV for maximum impact
• The two mistakes that lead to instant rejection by 97% of recruiters
• How to beat the bots – navigating AI and ATS systems with smart formatting
• Why soft skills can sabotage your CV – and how to show, not tell
• How to prove your value with metrics, outcomes, and strategic language
• The essentials of bullet point writing that sell your leadership story
• Live Q&A to address your personal CV challenges

This session is ideal for:

• Senior leaders looking to transition or advance
• Executives impacted by restructuring or redundancy
• Board-ready professionals preparing for NED or advisory roles
• Professionals who haven’t updated their CV in years and need to align with current market expectations

Ready to take control of your career narrative? Reserve your spot now and learn how to build a CV that gets you noticed, shortlisted, and hired.

Register your place here

We are taking our event series into the urban outdoors! As part of the Women in Tech Week 2026, we are setting out for a pre-work Barbican walk for everyone seeking a community to trade career advice, share current work struggles or just to marvel at the brilliance of London’s architectural wonder over really good coffee.

We’ll be meeting up at Dose to grab some hot drinks and will set off to the Barbican from there.

P.S. We would love to keep our events free and inclusive. We are orchestrating these events in our spare time and try to cap these events at lower numbers. If you have signed up and can’t make it any longer, we would really appreciate it if you let us know on Meetup, it might just help someone on the waitlist to attend.

P.P.S. Please let us know if you have accessibility requirements, the Barbican has ramps and we can base the itinerary based on that.

We have a LI page, please give us a follow to help us grow this community

We can’t wait to see you!
Emma and Samira

Register your place here

Data Decoded MCR (Manchester) is where data & AI teams come to solve real implementation challenges, discover practical ideas and learn from organisations delivering projects at scale.

Across two days in Manchester, senior data leaders, engineers, architects and AI practitioners explore the strategies, technologies and operational lessons shaping modern data-driven organisations – from scaling AI and governance to modern platforms, automation and analytics.

Register free to discover practical solutions, connect with high-quality peers and uncover ideas you can apply back inside your organisation immediately.

Data Decoded brings together senior data leaders, engineers, architects, analysts, AI practitioners and business decision-makers working on real data & AI initiatives. Whether you’re scaling AI, modernising platforms, improving governance or driving data strategy, the event is designed to connect teams solving similar operational and implementation challenges.

Who should attend?:

Data & AI Leadership
Senior leaders responsible for data strategy, AI adoption,
governance and organisational transformation.

Technical & Engineering Teams
Architects, engineers, analysts and practitioners building modern data, analytics and AI capabilities.

Business & Operational Leaders
Teams using data & AI to improve operations, decision-making,
customer experience and business performance.

See more and register here.

LinkedIn isn’t just for job seekers – it’s a strategic platform for leaders who want to shape perception, influence conversations, and future-proof their careers. With over 1 billion users and 97% of hiring professionals relying on LinkedIn, the question is: What does your profile say about you?

Are you positioning yourself as a trusted authority? Does your online presence reflect the impact you make inside your organisation – and the value you could bring to your next role? In today’s competitive market, your LinkedIn profile is more than a CV; it’s your personal shop window, your leadership voice, and your gateway to opportunity.

In this one-hour online masterclass, you’ll learn how to craft a powerful, authentic LinkedIn profile that elevates your leadership brand, showcases your achievements, and aligns with organisational success. You’ll also discover how to leverage LinkedIn activity to boost visibility, strengthen credibility, and attract future opportunities – whether that’s your next promotion or a board-level role.

This session is delivered by Victoria McLean, CEO of Hanover City CV, an award-winning career consultancy and part of the Hanover Group. Victoria has helped thousands of professionals – from rising stars to senior executives to non-executive directors – amplify their personal brands and achieve career-defining goals. Her approach fuses market insight with recruitment expertise to help you position yourself for success while reinforcing your organisation’s reputation as a hub of talent and innovation.

Register your place here

Are you looking to return to tech after an extended career break? Join Career Returners, the experts in returning to work, for an inspiring and practical session designed to support your journey back.

This time, we’ll shine a spotlight on a panel of inspiring tech returners, who will share their personal stories of navigating the path back into the industry – the challenges they faced, what helped them succeed, and what they’ve learned along the way.

Alongside these real-life experiences, you’ll gain valuable insights and guidance to help you overcome common barriers and feel confident in taking your next steps. By the end of the session, you’ll feel motivated, informed, and ready to move forward towards a fulfilling return to a tech career.

Booking link coming soon 

Book your place here

This session explores how career changes, time away from work, transferable skills, and lived experience can become professional strengths. Hear honest reflections and practical advice from women who have rebuilt momentum, navigated change, and created successful careers in tech with confidence.

The opening keynote of this session will be delivered by Fiona Ho, Chief Human Resources Officer at Sophos. Fiona leads the company’s global people strategy, overseeing talent, culture, learning and development, total rewards, internal communications, and employee engagement. A trusted leader within Sophos, she works closely with the executive team to build a high-performing organisation that attracts, develops, and retains the talent needed to support long-term growth and innovation.

Building on these themes of growth, opportunity, and career development, Rebecca Taylor, Chair of Sophos Women in Technology (SWIT), will host the panel discussion, No Straight Lines: Rebuilding and Rising in Tech. This honest and inspiring conversation explores the power of non-linear career journeys into cybersecurity and technology. Featuring women from across Sophos who have pivoted from different backgrounds or returned to their careers after time away, the panel will discuss confidence, transferable skills, support networks, and the practical steps that help women regain momentum. Attendees will leave with a powerful reminder that they are not starting from scratch – they are bringing valuable skills, experiences, and perspectives with them.

Book your place here

More details coming soon.

To close Women in Tech Week, we will come together to celebrate our TechWomen100 Award winners alongside the Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Sue Langley, at the iconic Mansion House.

Now in its ninth year, TechWomen100 is the only awards programme dedicated to recognising mid-level women in technology, shining a spotlight on those making a significant impact and shaping the future of the industry. More than an awards programme, TechWomen100 provides winners with a year-round development programme, ensuring recognition is just the beginning of their journey.

Set within one of London’s most historic venues, this special lunchtime reception will honour 100 exceptional women in technology, bringing together industry leaders, partners and the wider community for an afternoon of recognition, connection and celebration as we mark the finale of Women in Tech Week.