12th Women in Technology Leadership Summit

Understand the importance and key characteristics of assertiveness 

-Introduction to assertiveness and how it is linked to successful negotiations

-Typical obstacles encountered by women when asserting themselves

-Building self-confidence

Assertiveness Techniques

-Using body language to communicate effectively 

-Getting comfortable with expressing opinions and feelings 

-Learning how to set boundaries and say "No"

Negotiation Essentials and Strategies for Women

-Introduction to negotiation strategy and structure

-Learning practical techniques for optimum success

-Overcoming challenges and cultivate resilience  

Taking things to the next level

-Analyse performance, identify strengths and weaknesses

-Debriefing and self-assessment

-Create an action plan - Implement strategies for future negotiations

Join Liquid Learning for this kick-off session as we prepare for two days of incredible speakers, senior leaders, expert deep-dives and unmissable panel discussions!

Starting a career in a leadership role can often be daunting and as with any other job, some trial and error needs to happen for you to find your feet. When you’re in leadership though, those trials are often on display and can have more of an impact on others. Finding your leadership identity is an ongoing process with ebbs and flows along the way. In this session, join Leeanne as she candidly shares the lessons in leadership she has learnt and the practical tips she has used to overcome challenges. 

- Pave your way to success

- Lead with an open-mind 

- Reflect on your leadership journey and set goals for the future

Have you ever been in a meeting and not felt confident enough to contribute, or perhaps you’ve overheard a conversation which you find inappropriate but don’t feel like you can challenge. Confronting this barrier to contribute is vital for change and being respectful and remaining professional is key to getting your voice heard. Join Kate as she talks about finding her leadership identity, speaking up professionally and how she pays her lessons learned forward in her work as a mentor. 

- Challenge professionally in a male dominated environment 

- Recognising your right to speak 

- Finding your professional voice

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

Becoming a master of your role has long been the gold standard when working in technology but when you achieve specialist status you can be so involved in the granular detail that you start to speak your own language. As you progress to leadership positions, you’ll start to build relationships with stakeholders and need to influence people that aren’t from the same background as you and need a translator for your specialist language. In this informative session, Liz gives you the tools to communicate with impact and influence your generalist colleagues. 

- Understand others needs to communicate more effectively

- Finetune your communication style to create impact

- Identify the benefits of generalist communication

We are now in the era of the information economy where data is analysed and shared like currency. Organisations are increasingly reliant on data to make decisions, so how can you use this to your advantage and help influence your stakeholders through the use of data? Join Bhavika, one of the top 100 innovators in data as she shares her helpful tips to getting the most out of data and how you can use this to your advantage.

- Harness the power of data to increase your influencing skills

- Recognise different types of data and how you can use them

- Enhance your leadership potential by learning from one of data's key women

Enjoy a midday lunch break. Time to refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

Technology is transforming the world of work - whether it's automation, analytics or the imminent rise of AI, the future is looking increasingly uncertain, but there are exciting possibilities for leaders who can stay ahead of the trends. So how can we use technology to our advantage and what impacts will the use of technology have on the way we lead our teams? 

- The benefits of using AI to support you as a leader

- Remaining people focused, can technology replicate the human experience? 

- Ensuring women are at the forefront of change

At first glance being vulnerable and confident don’t seem to go together but being brave enough to voice your challenges can really educate those around you. In the early stages of her career, Grace feared the changes she would go through as a woman and how to voice them in a heavily male workplace. Over the years she has built her confidence and now uses her experience of the menopause to educate her male and female co-workers of the mental and physical effects and how to navigate this at work. Join Grace in this educational session about building your confidence to find your wellbeing at work. 

- Find your confidence in voicing your vulnerabilities 

- Navigate your wellbeing and regain work/life balance

- Understand the effects the menopause can have on you at work

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders. Enjoy a light refreshment before finishing day one.

One of the less favourable jobs as a leader is dealing with conflict but it's a necessary challenge to tackle. In these situations, some of us shy away from having the conversation, and some of us jump in head first to find a resolution. Whatever your natural tendency is, dealing with conflict is a crucial skill to succeed at work - It can lead to higher job satisfaction, stronger relationships with colleagues, and innovation. Join Caroline for this expert session to uncover strategies, tools and frameworks for navigating conflict and dealing with those difficult conversations at work.

- Identify the barriers that prevent people from having difficult conversations

- Define your objective and remain solution-focused

- Develop active listening strategies to preserve your professional relationships

Join us for our end of day one networking. Enjoy canapés and drinks whilst getting to know your peers further, build ongoing relationships, and share your highlights of the day.

We're back! Another day and a whole lot more learning to come - time to check back in with your fellow leaders.

Tick off any goals you scored on Day One, develop an implementation plan for your new goals and set yourself up for another exciting day!

Investing in young women in technology is crucial for fostering innovation, diversity, and socioeconomic progress. Historically, the technology sector has been predominantly male-dominated, resulting in a significant gender gap. By actively supporting and empowering young women in this field, we can break down barriers, bridge the divide, and create a more inclusive tech industry. In this explorative interview, Leanne shares her passion for developing early careers in technology and gives you the tools for investing in your team.

- Develop strategies to attract female talent in your team

- Harness your passions to create a career that you love

- Explore the benefits of developing young leaders within your organisation

Visibility is not just about being seen; it's about being remembered for the right reasons. It's about building a positive reputation, establishing trust, and creating a personal brand that sets you apart from the crowd. In this session Sam McIntyre shares her tips for building a brand in the technology space.

- Stay true to yourself and increase your visibility

- Develop and market a personal brand that stands out from the crowd

- Understand the concept of visibility and stay ahead of the game

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

As leaders we are continuously looking for ways to improve, understand our team more and increase engagement. Leaders who understand the principles of behavioral science can utilise this to create environments that foster employee success, productivity, and satisfaction. In this expert session, Leanne Elich shares with us the key biases of behavioural science that you can use to enhance your leadership skills. 

- Uncover tools and strategies to overcome barriers through the lens of behavioural science

- Explore employee motivations and help your team reach self-actualization

- Develop habits that put trust and psychological safety at the core of leading

Is there something you wish you had known when you first started out in your career? Or perhaps there are experiences you're having right now that you want to remind your future self of? The course of anyone's career is a journey and sometimes the twists and turns can provide us with experiences and information we should hold onto. In this reflective session, Dominique shares with you the challenges she has faced and barriers she’s overcome throughout her extensive career in IT. 

- Reflect on past experiences

- Understand the value in your unique journey

- Allow yourself the opportunity to celebrate all of your achievements

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

With an increased flexibility of work and the ability to work anywhere and everywhere, there is a heightened expectation that people are always available, especially in technology roles. This bears the need to be clear with your boundaries, take time for yourself and switch off at the end of the day. In this immersive panel we hear from senior leaders on how they encourage their teams to take back their work/life balance. 

- Build confidence in saying no

- Tips and tricks for managing availability expectations

- Identify your wellbeing needs

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders.

“But that’s the way we’ve always done it” - Challenging a restrictive mindset can be extremely difficult. The first hurdle is gaining credibility and getting people to buy into the change you are trying to drive. In this session Dr Kim Oosthuizen reflects on the hurdles she has had to overcome throughout her career and how she builds relationships to challenge the mindset of others.

- Build confidence in challenging a limiting mindset

- Share your strengths to build credibility

- Improve your teams performance 

We wrap up our two days of insight and inspiration with this interactive roundtable session. This is your chance to table any topic or trend for a final group discussion. Network with your peers, reflect on your journey so far and create an action plan to carry you forward!

Develop self-awareness and authenticity

- Values-based leadership: what it means to be an authentic leader

- Identify personal strengths and potential de-railers as a leader

- Determined the most effective way to utilise your optimal leadership style within the context of your organisation

High level communication, influence and negotiation skills

- Manage emotions for positive and assertive communication and relationships

- Develop effective techniques of persuasion, negotiation and influence using coaching skills and “conversational intelligence”

- Build confidence to prepare for and successfully navigate difficult conversations 

Develop self and others with “reflective leadership”

- Understand the benefits of reflective practice 

- Develop skills to engage in reflective practice

- Using reflective practice to improve organisational culture and relationships 

Strategic career progression

- Everyday career management practices and creating a personal leadership plan

- Maximise relationships and build new ones for professional opportunities

- Manage personal branding and visibility effectively 

Transformational leadership strategies to accelerate team performance

- Leverage team dynamics to optimise performance

- Challenge, support and empower others to excel 

- Develop strategies to manage uncooperative team members

Drive change and innovation as a leader

- Recognise and overcome obstacles to change

- Learn to trust your intuition, take risks and step outside your comfort zone

- Create a culture of positive change 

Remain productive in a crisis

- Build resilience to thrive under pressure

- Support your team and engage others to deliver

- Debrief after crisis - Provide and accept feedback

Action planning for leadership

- Develop a personalised approach to development that spans short and long-term goals

- Identify and understand personal and organisational challenges 

- Share approaches to move your career forward