Why we still need Women in Tech events in 2024

What was the most inspiring experience you had at the conference?

Manon: "The most inspiring thing for me was just being there together and seeing all these women of different backgrounds around me. It was inspiring to see so many women being successful as themselves and being proud of who they are. Seeing yourself represented and recognizing yourself in the stories of others is a very powerful experience. Everyone needs role models and I didn't realize how much I was missing female role models until I started attending women in tech events. As Rachel van Bommel said: "If you can see it, you can be it". At EWIT, I was particularly inspired by the stories of Lucie de Nooij and Sherifa Hady, who are working moms achieving the top while combining work and family. Lucie as director of data at booking.com and Sherifa as GM & VP at HPE Aruba."

What was the most inspiring for you, Claire?

Claire: "I totally agree with Manon, it was very remarkable to see these executives’ positions being filled in by mums. My friends always joke that we have to hurry up with our careers, because it stops when you become a mom. Subconsciously that puts a limit on my dreams .Seeing these women on stage, made me realize that you don't have to be ashamed to aspire both. You can enjoy maternity leave, be a mom and still have an amazing career. One of the speakers, Sherifa Hady, wisely said: "Know your negotiables and non-negotiables." By doing this you are in control and you will make it work."

How do events like this one support women in tech?

Manon: "As we all know, there is still a very big gender gap in tech. It is proven that it is more difficult for women to network in a male dominated field. Women are also impacted by the lack of role models. Not recognizing yourself can lead to the feeling that you could never achieve the same position. Communities for women and role models have been proven to increase diversity and inclusion in tech. Seeing role models like Corence Klop, our very own CISO (Chief Information Security Officer), sharing their story on the stage of EWIT and how they overcame these challenges is very important to bridge this gap. That's why these events are so important. They help to level out an unequal playing field for women in a male dominated industry."

Any final thoughts about the event?

Claire: “Advocating for women is crucial. I was skeptical about the main focus of a gender oriented event. However, EWIT did a great job in not only focusing on gender inequalities but also emphasizing the great strengths of being a woman in tech and therefore EWIT surpassed my expectations. There were times that I struggled to balance my high ambition with a healthy personal well-being. It was amazing to be surrounded by such talented and ambitious individuals who overcame similar challenges. I felt inspired and energized as they showed us how emotional intelligence, emphatic leadership and bringing different perspectives were fundamental to their great careers. Embrace differences and never forget to surround yourselves by people that support you to unlock your full potential.”

What advice would you give to other women that are thinking of joining such events?

Claire: “Don’t hesitate, just go. Even though EWIT had less technical talks than I expected, the event inspired and energized. The stories of others strengthen your internal ambition and clarify your thoughts. I promise you; it will be worth it!”

Manon: "I agree, just try it out! I came to this event because I was really excited about the topics of the talks, but unfortunately I didn't get as much out of those as I would have liked. But I realized just as Claire that the most powerful thing that we get out of these events is not the content, but the connections and inspiration. At Rabobank we also have an amazing Women* in Tech community that brings together and supports women from the whole organization. I really recommend joining such communities as well!"

* We write women here to include all people who identify themselves as women, those who don't like binary gender definitions, and anyone else interested in supporting women in tech.