SEP launches Women in Tech Leadership network

Last week we were delighted to welcome inspiring women from across our investment portfolio to our inaugural Women in Tech Leadership event. Introduced by Partner Jan Rutherford, led by Principal , Alizeh McClelland, and with guest speakers Carolyn Jameson, Chief Trust Officer of Trustpilot and Karen Slatford, Senior Independent Director at Micro Focus, the discussion covered female representation in the technology sector, from the need for more women on tech boards to diversity quotas in the workplace.

Although 34% of management roles across SEP’s portfolio companies are now held by women, there is more work to do to improve diversity at board level and we are keen to support women in reaching the highest levels within their organisations.

Against the backdrop of the broader technology sector, where only 19% of employees in UK-based technology businesses are female, the event aimed to bring together women with a range of functional expertise, backgrounds and levels of experience to have a discussion around the challenges faced by women moving into tech leadership positions.  Major themes included common misconceptions around working in tech, how to attract and retain female talent, the role of mentors in facilitating confidence and growth, and the qualities of a great board member.  The panel discussion was followed by an open Q&A with over 30 women from across SEP’s network, raising their views on the topics discussed and offering advice based on their own experiences.

SEP’s far-reaching network offers a meaningful platform to bring together women from across the European technology landscape, and the intention is that this will be the first of many SEP Women in Tech Leadership events.