Upwardly Mobile: navigating a career as the underrepresented in tech
Details
Tech has a diversity problem. Let’s talk about it.
Join us for an evening exploring what it really takes to build and progress a career in tech as a woman or someone from an underrepresented background.
Hear from speakers sharing their experiences, challenges and advice on navigating the career ladder, followed by networking, drinks and pizza.
Good conversations, useful connections and a few different perspectives on what it takes to get ahead.
OPEN TO WOMEN, LGBTQ+ AND ALLIES! WE NEED YOU ALL 🫶
Thanks to our sponsor MosAIc for providing food and refreshments for our event: Scotland's community for AI governance, https://mosaic-community.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaic-ai-community/
Speakers: I am delighted to announce our speakers
Bethany McKenzie, Principal Recruitment Consultant, Harvey Nash
Bethany works with a wide range of clients, specialising in commercial recruitment across Technical Leadership, Product, Programme Management and Business Analysis. She supports organisations from start-ups through to large multinationals, across sectors including SaaS, FinTech, consulting, public sector and financial services.
Her passion for women in technology started at home. Her mum spent over 40 years as a Software Engineer and often spoke about both the challenges of being a woman in tech and the importance of backing yourself. That’s something Bethany has carried through into her own career.
While she’ll be the first to say she’s not the technical one in the family, she thrives on working with people. She’s known for being straight-talking and supportive, and is particularly passionate about helping women progress in their careers, build confidence and secure the salary and opportunities they deserve.
She’s an active ally within the Scotland Women in Technology community and a proud supporter of LGBTQ+ inclusion. A former theatre kid, Bethany grew up surrounded by a wonderfully diverse community, and many of her closest friends and family are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Those relationships have helped shape her belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued and able to bring their whole selves to work.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-mckenzie
Samantha Leeman, Product Owner, Career Coach and Writer
Samantha left school at 16, with no degree and no plan. Her path has taken her through start-ups, co-founding a business that didn't work out, building her own business solo, and now product leadership at Lloyds Banking Group, where she leads on Backup, Recovery and Data Vaulting for Public Cloud. She's been shortlisted for a Women in Tech award, and has spoken at universities and tech conferences.
She's built her whole career on one belief: back yourself first, and the rest follows. She's proved it to herself again and again: leaving school at 16, moving to cities where she knew no one, and crossing the finish line of 10 marathons. Alongside her day job, she coaches women to trust that same instinct in their own careers, and she's currently writing a book about her own journey, to help anyone who's ever questioned theirs.
At Upwardly Mobile, she'll be talking honestly about lessons she's learned... including the choices that didn't go to plan.