hello my name is female speaker and I want to talk to you about women in tech
want to talk to you about women in tech
want to talk to you about women in tech now that introduction may seem a little
now that introduction may seem a little
now that introduction may seem a little bit ridiculous but that’s the reality of
bit ridiculous but that’s the reality of
bit ridiculous but that’s the reality of my everyday so today I wouldn’t talk to
my everyday so today I wouldn’t talk to
my everyday so today I wouldn’t talk to you about the power of tokenism not too
you about the power of tokenism not too
you about the power of tokenism not too long ago an invitation arrived at our
long ago an invitation arrived at our
long ago an invitation arrived at our office inviting us to speak at an event
office inviting us to speak at an event
office inviting us to speak at an event there was a full list of male speakers
there was a full list of male speakers
there was a full list of male speakers and at the slot that we were supposed to
and at the slot that we were supposed to
and at the slot that we were supposed to speak in its simply read insert
speak in its simply read insert
speak in its simply read insert female speaker here now that obviously
female speaker here now that obviously
female speaker here now that obviously speed speaks volumes to the obstacles
speed speaks volumes to the obstacles
speed speaks volumes to the obstacles and slights that women in my industry
and slights that women in my industry
and slights that women in my industry face every single day but actually I
face every single day but actually I
face every single day but actually I want to praise this person someone
want to praise this person someone
want to praise this person someone looked at that list and talked took the
looked at that list and talked took the
looked at that list and talked took the time to think hmmm I don’t know
time to think hmmm I don’t know
time to think hmmm I don’t know maybe we should add a woman and because
maybe we should add a woman and because
maybe we should add a woman and because of that a woman was added to that panel
of that a woman was added to that panel
of that a woman was added to that panel we were given a voice we were given a
we were given a voice we were given a
we were given a voice we were given a chance to stand and represent and speak
chance to stand and represent and speak
chance to stand and represent and speak for ourselves an all-male panel was
for ourselves an all-male panel was
for ourselves an all-male panel was shifted and the audience was giving a
shifted and the audience was giving a
shifted and the audience was giving a new perspective and this is the power of
new perspective and this is the power of
new perspective and this is the power of tokenism the reality is the diversity
tokenism the reality is the diversity
tokenism the reality is the diversity makes sense it’s good for business it’s
makes sense it’s good for business it’s
makes sense it’s good for business it’s good for the economy it’s good for us
good for the economy it’s good for us
good for the economy it’s good for us all it helps improve teamwork
all it helps improve teamwork
all it helps improve teamwork communication and it also helps us to
communication and it also helps us to
communication and it also helps us to collaborate and this is the power of
collaborate and this is the power of
collaborate and this is the power of tokenism creativity can flourish in
tokenism creativity can flourish in
tokenism creativity can flourish in amongst the nooks and the crannies of
amongst the nooks and the crannies of
amongst the nooks and the crannies of working together and this is why I would
working together and this is why I would
working together and this is why I would say thank you to that person who wrote
say thank you to that person who wrote
say thank you to that person who wrote insert female speaker here now if you’re
insert female speaker here now if you’re
insert female speaker here now if you’re thinking about it this way why why do we
thinking about it this way why why do we
thinking about it this way why why do we need diversity well it’s quite simple
need diversity well it’s quite simple
need diversity well it’s quite simple when we come together we are forced to
when we come together we are forced to
when we come together we are forced to think of new ideas new ways to
think of new ideas new ways to
think of new ideas new ways to collaborate new information we are
collaborate new information we are
collaborate new information we are taught to face a new thought process and
taught to face a new thought process and
taught to face a new thought process and because of that we need to come together
because of that we need to come together
because of that we need to come together and really this is what helps boost the
and really this is what helps boost the
and really this is what helps boost the economy
economy
economy it’s not easy always to come up on stage
it’s not easy always to come up on stage
it’s not easy always to come up on stage and talk about diversity and talk about
and talk about diversity and talk about
and talk about diversity and talk about gender etc etc it can feel like this is
gender etc etc it can feel like this is
gender etc etc it can feel like this is an old message just being repeatedly
an old message just being repeatedly
an old message just being repeatedly hammered but it’s not the reality is
hammered but it’s not the reality is
hammered but it’s not the reality is that in 2017 only 17% of startups have a
that in 2017 only 17% of startups have a
that in 2017 only 17% of startups have a female founder currently 56% of women
female founder currently 56% of women
female founder currently 56% of women leave tech halfway through their careers
leave tech halfway through their careers
leave tech halfway through their careers after about 10 years or so we see in the
after about 10 years or so we see in the
after about 10 years or so we see in the UK 70% of women which you can stem
UK 70% of women which you can stem
UK 70% of women which you can stem qualifications aren’t working in those
qualifications aren’t working in those
qualifications aren’t working in those fields clearly there’s a problem and
fields clearly there’s a problem and
fields clearly there’s a problem and tokenism can help change this
tokenism can help change this
tokenism can help change this if I want to punish phrase it another
if I want to punish phrase it another
if I want to punish phrase it another way for you so hopefully you can grunt
way for you so hopefully you can grunt
way for you so hopefully you can grunt grass where I’m going with this but I
grass where I’m going with this but I
grass where I’m going with this but I think it’s pretty obvious from what I’ve
think it’s pretty obvious from what I’ve
think it’s pretty obvious from what I’ve said so far if you’re looking at it in
said so far if you’re looking at it in
said so far if you’re looking at it in terms of economics it makes good
terms of economics it makes good
terms of economics it makes good business sense to add more voices to the
business sense to add more voices to the
business sense to add more voices to the mix it makes good sense to be thinking
mix it makes good sense to be thinking
mix it makes good sense to be thinking outside of the box a little we always
outside of the box a little we always
outside of the box a little we always hear about innovation but what do we
hear about innovation but what do we
hear about innovation but what do we actually do about it innovation is key
actually do about it innovation is key
actually do about it innovation is key if you want to diversify in terms of the
if you want to diversify in terms of the
if you want to diversify in terms of the economy in terms of the products and
economy in terms of the products and
economy in terms of the products and also if you want to make things more
also if you want to make things more
also if you want to make things more efficient as I said earlier diversity
efficient as I said earlier diversity
efficient as I said earlier diversity makes us good teammates but it also
makes us good teammates but it also
makes us good teammates but it also helps improve efficiency and this is
helps improve efficiency and this is
helps improve efficiency and this is vital so if I’m looking at the terms of
vital so if I’m looking at the terms of
vital so if I’m looking at the terms of the UK statistics we noticed that
the UK statistics we noticed that
the UK statistics we noticed that there’s a huge drop offs along the way
there’s a huge drop offs along the way
there’s a huge drop offs along the way as I mentioned within college but also
as I mentioned within college but also
as I mentioned within college but also after about 10 years women will start to
after about 10 years women will start to
after about 10 years women will start to drop off and later they’re not hitting
drop off and later they’re not hitting
drop off and later they’re not hitting c-suite so you’re kind of stuck in these
c-suite so you’re kind of stuck in these
c-suite so you’re kind of stuck in these execution over creator roles even if
execution over creator roles even if
execution over creator roles even if that’s not your background we see that
that’s not your background we see that
that’s not your background we see that women aren’t happy with gender bounces
women aren’t happy with gender bounces
women aren’t happy with gender bounces with biases in the workplace and then
with biases in the workplace and then
with biases in the workplace and then there’s harrowing tales of sexual
there’s harrowing tales of sexual
there’s harrowing tales of sexual harassment in fact one studies show that
harassment in fact one studies show that
harassment in fact one studies show that one in three women are afraid to go into
one in three women are afraid to go into
one in three women are afraid to go into their own workplace just think about
their own workplace just think about
their own workplace just think about that for a second think about that being
that for a second think about that being
that for a second think about that being that individual he was afraid to go to
that individual he was afraid to go to
that individual he was afraid to go to work
work
work not necessarily afraid of the work but
not necessarily afraid of the work but
not necessarily afraid of the work but afraid to sit with their peers and their
afraid to sit with their peers and their
afraid to sit with their peers and their colleagues at the table tokenism can
colleagues at the table tokenism can
colleagues at the table tokenism can help to change this because we add more
help to change this because we add more
help to change this because we add more voices to the mix so clearly we’re
voices to the mix so clearly we’re
voices to the mix so clearly we’re working with a flawed model a model in
working with a flawed model a model in
working with a flawed model a model in which one segment of society is
which one segment of society is
which one segment of society is repeatedly favored over the other to the
repeatedly favored over the other to the
repeatedly favored over the other to the detriment of us all and this is the
detriment of us all and this is the
detriment of us all and this is the problem so what can we do about it well
problem so what can we do about it well
problem so what can we do about it well in the u.s. women hold more
in the u.s. women hold more
in the u.s. women hold more undergraduate and graduate degrees than
undergraduate and graduate degrees than
undergraduate and graduate degrees than men currently women make up between
men currently women make up between
men currently women make up between seventy eighty percent of consumer
seventy eighty percent of consumer
seventy eighty percent of consumer purchasing and ninety percent will take
purchasing and ninety percent will take
purchasing and ninety percent will take sole ownership other finances at some
sole ownership other finances at some
sole ownership other finances at some point in their lives we were talking
point in their lives we were talking
point in their lives we were talking about a powerful market one that has not
about a powerful market one that has not
about a powerful market one that has not been represented one that is not being
been represented one that is not being
been represented one that is not being listen to you and most vitally one that
listen to you and most vitally one that
listen to you and most vitally one that does not have its own voice and tokenism
does not have its own voice and tokenism
does not have its own voice and tokenism can help be a building block for change
can help be a building block for change
can help be a building block for change if I we were thinking of a product think
if I we were thinking of a product think
if I we were thinking of a product think you want to say I don’t know something
you want to say I don’t know something
you want to say I don’t know something very mundane something that we use every
very mundane something that we use every
very mundane something that we use every day what a razor for example if you’re
day what a razor for example if you’re
day what a razor for example if you’re designing a razor for women would be
designing a razor for women would be
designing a razor for women would be better off listening to a man but why
better off listening to a man but why
better off listening to a man but why women will buy this razor why they want
women will buy this razor why they want
women will buy this razor why they want to shave etc
to shave etc
to shave etc or a woman the very individual that a
or a woman the very individual that a
or a woman the very individual that a product is designed for now not only are
product is designed for now not only are
product is designed for now not only are it taken their voice into account but of
it taken their voice into account but of
it taken their voice into account but of every single stage from concept to
every single stage from concept to
every single stage from concept to design to execution to market and beyond
design to execution to market and beyond
design to execution to market and beyond that they were encouraged to get
that they were encouraged to get
that they were encouraged to get involved in the actual process
involved in the actual process
involved in the actual process encouraged to take leadership roles
encouraged to take leadership roles
encouraged to take leadership roles encouraged to speak up would we get a
encouraged to speak up would we get a
encouraged to speak up would we get a razor that is shaved with the CGI legs
razor that is shaved with the CGI legs
razor that is shaved with the CGI legs of a hairless model probably not but we
of a hairless model probably not but we
of a hairless model probably not but we wouldn’t get is one that can do its job
wouldn’t get is one that can do its job
wouldn’t get is one that can do its job and might be shaving a bear but it’ll do
and might be shaving a bear but it’ll do
and might be shaving a bear but it’ll do its job so we’re not looking at things
its job so we’re not looking at things
its job so we’re not looking at things that are pink things being pink is not a
that are pink things being pink is not a
that are pink things being pink is not a USP we’re over that we’ve gone beyond
USP we’re over that we’ve gone beyond
USP we’re over that we’ve gone beyond that and what we want is actual
that and what we want is actual
that and what we want is actual diversity in the workplace so how do we
diversity in the workplace so how do we
diversity in the workplace so how do we go beyond this well I would suggest
go beyond this well I would suggest
go beyond this well I would suggest allowing people to have their voice
allowing people to have their voice
allowing people to have their voice heard at the table allowing your
heard at the table allowing your
heard at the table allowing your colleagues the space and the room to
colleagues the space and the room to
colleagues the space and the room to maneuver when they’re asking a question
maneuver when they’re asking a question
maneuver when they’re asking a question allowing them to speak up at times of
allowing them to speak up at times of
allowing them to speak up at times of crisis we need to have a way that
crisis we need to have a way that
crisis we need to have a way that everyone can talk that everyone has
everyone can talk that everyone has
everyone can talk that everyone has their chance to speak that everyone has
their chance to speak that everyone has
their chance to speak that everyone has their moment to shine if you will for
their moment to shine if you will for
their moment to shine if you will for The Economist’s among you adding gender
The Economist’s among you adding gender
The Economist’s among you adding gender equality makes good business sense if
equality makes good business sense if
equality makes good business sense if you’re thinking about it this way we can
you’re thinking about it this way we can
you’re thinking about it this way we can see that it just adds trillions of
see that it just adds trillions of
see that it just adds trillions of dollars to the global GDP in fact by
dollars to the global GDP in fact by
dollars to the global GDP in fact by encouraging gender equality we could
encouraging gender equality we could
encouraging gender equality we could expect to add an additional 18 trillion
expect to add an additional 18 trillion
expect to add an additional 18 trillion US dollars to the GDP by 2025 if we got
US dollars to the GDP by 2025 if we got
US dollars to the GDP by 2025 if we got to the scenario where gender equality
to the scenario where gender equality
to the scenario where gender equality was 50/50 that would be an additional
was 50/50 that would be an additional
was 50/50 that would be an additional twenty eight trillion dollars imagine
twenty eight trillion dollars imagine
twenty eight trillion dollars imagine what could be done with that imagine
what could be done with that imagine
what could be done with that imagine what we could do to advance our society
what we could do to advance our society
what we could do to advance our society imagine all that money that’s being
imagine all that money that’s being
imagine all that money that’s being wasted right now from the first rounds
wasted right now from the first rounds
wasted right now from the first rounds 10-year project we saw that 63 percent
10-year project we saw that 63 percent
10-year project we saw that 63 percent of teams with a female founder
of teams with a female founder
of teams with a female founder outperform those with are solely male
outperform those with are solely male
outperform those with are solely male it’s clear that diversity makes good
it’s clear that diversity makes good
it’s clear that diversity makes good business sense it’s clear that tokenism
business sense it’s clear that tokenism
business sense it’s clear that tokenism makes good business sense so what we
makes good business sense so what we
makes good business sense so what we want to do is look to a future where
want to do is look to a future where
want to do is look to a future where there are more female voices where there
there are more female voices where there
there are more female voices where there are more voices on minorities of trans
are more voices on minorities of trans
are more voices on minorities of trans people LGBT people are disabled right
people LGBT people are disabled right
people LGBT people are disabled right across the board it’s not just a woman
across the board it’s not just a woman
across the board it’s not just a woman male issue it’s an issue of humanity
male issue it’s an issue of humanity
male issue it’s an issue of humanity it’s an issue that we all need to get
it’s an issue that we all need to get
it’s an issue that we all need to get behind and it’s an issue that can add
behind and it’s an issue that can add
behind and it’s an issue that can add money add value add common sense to the
money add value add common sense to the
money add value add common sense to the world that we are living in Ireland we
world that we are living in Ireland we
world that we are living in Ireland we wield a great deal of power and unlike
wield a great deal of power and unlike
wield a great deal of power and unlike our colleagues across the
our colleagues across the
our colleagues across the we are at the crux of our society we can
we are at the crux of our society we can
we are at the crux of our society we can do something now to make a huge and
do something now to make a huge and
do something now to make a huge and powerful shift in the way that people
powerful shift in the way that people
powerful shift in the way that people perceive us despite our size we hold
perceive us despite our size we hold
perceive us despite our size we hold enormous wage across a variety of
enormous wage across a variety of
enormous wage across a variety of sectors from pharmaceuticals to the arts
sectors from pharmaceuticals to the arts
sectors from pharmaceuticals to the arts to culture to science to tech you name
to culture to science to tech you name
to culture to science to tech you name it for example did you know that all the
it for example did you know that all the
it for example did you know that all the Botox in the world is made in county
Botox in the world is made in county
Botox in the world is made in county mayo or that all the viagra in the world
mayo or that all the viagra in the world
mayo or that all the viagra in the world is made in County Cork
is made in County Cork
is made in County Cork we have bargaining chips people we have
we have bargaining chips people we have
we have bargaining chips people we have bargaining chips and we’re not using
bargaining chips and we’re not using
bargaining chips and we’re not using them so I don’t know why but what I want
them so I don’t know why but what I want
them so I don’t know why but what I want you to think about today is not just the
you to think about today is not just the
you to think about today is not just the viagra and the Botox while those are
viagra and the Botox while those are
viagra and the Botox while those are important they’re not the Coase or
important they’re not the Coase or
important they’re not the Coase or message that I want you to take away
message that I want you to take away
message that I want you to take away with what I want you to take away with
with what I want you to take away with
with what I want you to take away with is the idea that gender equality makes
is the idea that gender equality makes
is the idea that gender equality makes good business sense and tokenism is a
good business sense and tokenism is a
good business sense and tokenism is a good place to start so today I want to
good place to start so today I want to
good place to start so today I want to thank the person who took the time to
thank the person who took the time to
thank the person who took the time to think hmm maybe we should insert female
think hmm maybe we should insert female
think hmm maybe we should insert female speaker here because at that time at
speaker here because at that time at
speaker here because at that time at that moment in history a woman mattered
that moment in history a woman mattered
that moment in history a woman mattered her voice was represented and wasn’t
her voice was represented and wasn’t
her voice was represented and wasn’t entire the pale when it mailed stale
entire the pale when it mailed stale
entire the pale when it mailed stale that we always hear there was a new
that we always hear there was a new
that we always hear there was a new voice added to the mix and the culture
voice added to the mix and the culture
voice added to the mix and the culture was shifted instead we heard a new voice
was shifted instead we heard a new voice
was shifted instead we heard a new voice rise and because of that everyone
rise and because of that everyone
rise and because of that everyone learned something new so if you’re
learned something new so if you’re
learned something new so if you’re thinking well what can I do I mean I
thinking well what can I do I mean I
thinking well what can I do I mean I don’t run panels I don’t host events I’d
don’t run panels I don’t host events I’d
don’t run panels I don’t host events I’d I don’t do anything I’m just little ol
I don’t do anything I’m just little ol
I don’t do anything I’m just little ol me that’s not true this is not the
me that’s not true this is not the
me that’s not true this is not the reality the reality is that everyone in
reality the reality is that everyone in
reality the reality is that everyone in this room everyone in this world has a
this room everyone in this world has a
this room everyone in this world has a chance to make an amazing amazing change
chance to make an amazing amazing change
chance to make an amazing amazing change on the world around them if you’re
on the world around them if you’re
on the world around them if you’re hosting event think of the speaker list
hosting event think of the speaker list
hosting event think of the speaker list think carefully think thoughtfully are
think carefully think thoughtfully are
think carefully think thoughtfully are people being represented or are they not
people being represented or are they not
people being represented or are they not if you’re attending event look at the
if you’re attending event look at the
if you’re attending event look at the list and say is this reflective of the
list and say is this reflective of the
list and say is this reflective of the society that I want to live in is this
society that I want to live in is this
society that I want to live in is this reflective of the SIA tea that I
reflective of the SIA tea that I
reflective of the SIA tea that I actually live in possibly not if it’s
actually live in possibly not if it’s
actually live in possibly not if it’s not then say something do something
not then say something do something
not then say something do something tweet right do what you have to but the
tweet right do what you have to but the
tweet right do what you have to but the point is that it’s important for us all
point is that it’s important for us all
point is that it’s important for us all to stand up and at first all to say
to stand up and at first all to say
to stand up and at first all to say something when we see something is out
something when we see something is out
something when we see something is out of place at the moment we see that
of place at the moment we see that
of place at the moment we see that gender inequality is rife in our society
gender inequality is rife in our society
gender inequality is rife in our society so it’s as simple as that a tweet it
so it’s as simple as that a tweet it
so it’s as simple as that a tweet it used to be 140 but now it’s 240
used to be 140 but now it’s 240
used to be 140 but now it’s 240 characters that could be enough to say
characters that could be enough to say
characters that could be enough to say hey I’m sorry this is not good enough
hey I’m sorry this is not good enough
hey I’m sorry this is not good enough this is not reflective of where we want
this is not reflective of where we want
this is not reflective of where we want to go and because of that you can make a
to go and because of that you can make a
to go and because of that you can make a difference so just remember that
difference so just remember that
difference so just remember that azam makes sense tokenism is good for
azam makes sense tokenism is good for
azam makes sense tokenism is good for business and tokenism is good for us all
business and tokenism is good for us all
business and tokenism is good for us all thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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