With a history of working in IT departments and jobs where the majority of my colleagues are male walking into the Women in Business and Tech Expo was an exciting experience. I’ve been to a number of IT conferences in my time and at every one the majority of delegates (and speakers) have been men. That wasn’t the case at Karren Brady’s 4th Women In Business & Tech event.

IN my 20s I went to events from large sales conferences to invite only Gartner management events. I was rarely approached by people wanting to talk to me. Networking sessions? I had to make the first step. What would a young female have that these older men might possibly be interested in (of a work nature). I was dismissed quickly based on my appearance. 

Working in IT it’s not just the events which have an over representation of men. In most meetings at most companies I worked the meetings were male dominated. It wasn’t unusual for me to be the only woman in the room. 

A crowded keynote session listening to Karren Brady OBE

Some of you will be reading this is in the early stage of starting a business, blog or social media account. You don’t have a following yet, but you are full of ideas and you are looking for the best way to get established.  Others will have invested a large amount of time and effort already. Writing posts, engaging, building your digital brand and you’ve reached a point where you don’t know what to do next. 

You might be considering a change in direction, you might feel your digital world no longer reflects who you are and where you are going or you might be feeling happy with what you have done so far, but are feeling a little exhausted and don’t know how to grow and move forwards.

In some ways already having a base is harder because you have invested so much, you don’t want to feel that has been wasted. I get that, I’ve been there too.