To enhance event inclusivity for women, start with a diverse planning team for broad insights. Implement a clear anti-harassment policy, offer childcare support, and ensure diverse speaker representation. Create women-focused networking, offer scholarships, ensure venue accessibility, run pre-event surveys, educate on diversity, and gather post-event feedback for continual improvement.
How Can We Ensure Our Tech Events Are Truly Inclusive for Women?
To enhance event inclusivity for women, start with a diverse planning team for broad insights. Implement a clear anti-harassment policy, offer childcare support, and ensure diverse speaker representation. Create women-focused networking, offer scholarships, ensure venue accessibility, run pre-event surveys, educate on diversity, and gather post-event feedback for continual improvement.
Empowered by Artificial Intelligence and the women in tech community.
Like this article?
Cultivate Diverse Planning Teams
To ensure events are truly inclusive for women, start with a diverse set of minds in the planning stage. A planning team that includes women from various backgrounds can offer insights into what an inclusive event looks like, helping to identify potential barriers that might not be obvious to all.
Implement a Robust Anti-Harassment Policy
An explicit, well-publicized anti-harassment policy sets the tone for the event. It assures attendees that their safety and comfort are a priority, and it provides clear steps for addressing any issues that may arise, fostering a secure and welcoming environment for everyone, especially women.
Offer Childcare Support
One of the barriers to participation can be family obligations. Providing onsite childcare or stipends for offsite childcare services can make it easier for parents, particularly women who often bear a larger share of childcare responsibilities, to attend and fully engage with the event.
Ensure Diverse Representation Among Speakers
Representation matters. Having women speakers, particularly in leadership or technical roles, can inspire and attract more female attendees. It also ensures that the content and perspective of the event are diverse and inclusive.
Create Networking Opportunities for Women
Networking events or sessions specifically designed for women can help in building a supportive community within the broader event. These should encourage connections and mentorship opportunities among women attendees.
Provide Scholarships or Reduced Fees
Financial barriers can limit who is able to attend tech events. Offering scholarships, reduced fees, or free tickets to women and underrepresented groups can make events more accessible and diverse.
Accessibility and Amenities
Ensure the venue is accessible to everyone, including mothers who need private spaces for nursing or pumping. Having amenities like gender-neutral restrooms can also make the event more inclusive for all genders.
Conduct Pre-Event Surveys
Gathering feedback from potential attendees, especially women, about what they hope to see and experience at the event can guide organizers in making informed, inclusive decisions. This feedback can also highlight potential areas of improvement that may not have been initially considered.
Continuous Education on Diversity and Inclusion
Offering workshops or sessions on diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of the event programming can educate all attendees on the importance of these issues within the tech industry and beyond. This education can foster a more inclusive and supportive environment at the event.
Post-Event Feedback and Action
Collecting and acting on feedback from attendees after the event is crucial for ongoing improvement. This should include targeted questions about inclusivity and specific experiences at the event to understand what worked well and what needs improvement, ensuring future events are even more welcoming for women.
What else to take into account
This section is for sharing any additional examples, stories, or insights that do not fit into previous sections. Is there anything else you'd like to add?