Creating Welcoming Spaces for Female Attendees

Every time I walk into a cybersecurity conference networking session, the same thing happens: Step 1: Scan the room. Out of 500 people, I spot the 5 women instantly like we share some kind of radar. Step 2: Beeline. I head straight to them. Within minutes, we’re swapping career stories, laughing about conference coffee, and comparing notes on which talks are overhyped vs. which are must-attends. Meanwhile, I’ve barely said more than “hi” to many of the others. It’s not that I don’t want to network broadly, I really do. But here’s why I (and many women I’ve talked to) often end up sticking to that safe zone: A. It feels like walking into a group of men mid-discussion might mean interrupting or being ignored. B. Sometimes I think, “Will this be taken the wrong way if I approach one person alone?” C. And, there are times I just feel tired of being the only woman around and would rather connect with someone who gets it. Here’s the hard truth: networking should not feel like breaking into a locked room. It’s part of growing, learning, getting opportunities and right now, for many women, it’s not that. What I think could help: For conference organizers: Build formats where people don’t have to force their way in. Think small roundtables, structured networking, pre-event meetups where introductions are facilitated. For everyone else: When you see someone alone, pull them in. Invite them into your group. It costs almost nothing, but it matters a lot. Here's what I hope: That next time I walk into a networking room, I won’t need to scan for the few familiar faces first. Instead, I’ll feel like every circle is one I can walk into. Because the goal isn’t to create separate tables it’s to make sure every table has a seat for everyone. I’m curious what you think: Do you see any of this happen in your networking journey? Did someone do something that made networking more comfortable for you? Let’s make these rooms truly open. #NetworkingTips #WomeninCybersecurity #InclusionMatters

Despite equal talent, women still face unequal access to networks, capital, and visibility. That’s why women-only spaces matter. I used to wonder why “women-only” events exist. After attending a few, here’s what I learned: 💜 People shared salary strategies and feedback candidly- no performance tax. ✔️ Mentors and sponsors formed quickly because the trust barrier was lower. 🙍♀️ Women practiced high‑stakes conversations without the double bind. Key takeaways: ✔️ Mixed rooms aren’t always neutral. Women still experience more interruptions and higher standards to prove competence, often with lower pay. When we provide these spaces, we create: 😊 Psychological safety → honest conversations, real problem‑solving, and tangible outcomes (open salary talk, tough‑conversation practice, real sponsors). 📞 Dense networks → mentorship, sponsorship, and role models at every level. Founders meet investors without the performance tax, and mentors can be direct about the playbook. Leaders: fund and legitimize them. Allies: support outcomes and referrals. Organizers: share takeaways so the whole org benefits. #supportwomen #mentorship #boss #leadership

"I can’t find any women to present at our next event" "150 people submitted themselves to speak. Guess what? 140 of them were MEN" "Women don't attend anyway" I call bullsh*t on these excuse! There are countless talented women and community groups advocating for women in various fields. So, I say, try harder! Let me help you out with some amazing contacts doing great work: 💜 Melissa Moody 🍵 and Leslie Greenwood from Wednesday Women 💜 Julia Goelles and her team from Women of SaaS 💜 Eniko Tarkany-Szucs and her effort for Women at LinkedIn 💜 Izzy Bishop and her work at Making Moves 💜 Shameless nod to myself and Laura Erdem from Saleswomen Unite Here are some tips to ensure diversity at your events: 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: Actively seek out and connect with women in your industry. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Make sure women don't feel like a minority by having events specifically for them. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Women appreciate being asked personally. A personalised invite goes a long way. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: Plan events at times that don't force parents to compromise their responsibilities. Working Mum here 👋 What other initiatives can you recommend to make SaaS and tech a more diverse and inclusive space? Let's bring more awareness to amazing women and organisations 👇 👇 p.s - the photo shared was from Tony Rush 🇸🇪 🇬🇧's post, and it's a stark but true representation of not only the lack of women but also the ethnic minorities. p.p.s - Off of Tony's post, I had the most wonderful conversation with Alex Cook who's now on a mission to invest in communities that empower women. We need more men like them, rather than us women preaching to our own choir 😍 🙏 #womeninsales #genderequality #workingmum