Rather, she thinks about her days as having 24 hours that she can balance between her personal and work lives, and her weeks as seven days that can also be carved up. 

Working across different timezones for Microsoft, she still works more than a 40-hour week but will take time out during the day for a few hours to do something else and catch up on the weekend.

Once a quarter, she blocks out a week where she puts herself on “leave from meetings” to focus on the big picture. She uses the time to focus on strategy, as well as team development and getting across the latest trends in the industry. 

As Director, Specialty Technology Unit at Microsoft, this approach to work is one Wise shares with her team, encouraging them to find what works best for them and being honest about how it’s working out for her.  

“I’m transparent about my challenges and success, and this gives them permission to do the same,” Wise tells Women’s Agenda.  

Microsoft’s approach to hybrid work and flexibility is bucking the trend of the push to get employees back to the office Monday to Friday. Team members can choose between working remotely for less than 50 per cent of their normal work week, or they can work remotely 100 per cent of the time if they have manager approval. 

The flex work policy is centred around recognising individual needs and promoting work-life balance. It also aims to support employees to work during the hours that are best for them in delivering according to expectations. It supports wellbeing and adaptability, but also productivity in recognising that people have individual approaches to getting their best work done. 

A blog post published more than four years ago by Kathleen Hogan, Executive Vic President and Chief People Officer, outlining the approach to flexibility still stands – again bucking the trend of some other tech firms to increasingly get people back to working in more traditional ways. “Moving forward,” she wrote in October 2021, “it is our goal to offer as much flexibility as possible to support individual workstyles while balancing business needs and ensuring we live our culture,” 

Increasingly, we’re seeing how workers want the best of both worlds when it comes to remote working and time spent in the office. Microsoft describes this as the “hybrid paradox”, noting figures from its 2021 Work Trends Index, a study of more than 31,000 workers in 31 countries, finding that 70 per cent of workers wanted flexible work to stay, but more than 65 per cent craved having more face to face time with their teams. 

For Elena Wise, staying flexible on how and when she works enables her to get the most out of her time, and to be constantly thinking about the future. She’ll dedicate headspace for planning, thinking and learning, and try to block out Mondays as meeting-free days – unless she needs to travel or there’s an urgent issue. “I use this time to get on top of key actions for the week ahead, and to upskill on some of our latest AI training, which really helps given how quickly the technology is moving.” 

With a career spanning some of the world’s largest organisations and biggest markets, including AMEX, PayPal and Google and ten years spent in Japan, Wise has developed her work style to be able to respond to needs across international borders. 

Asked how she establishes herself in new cities and markets, she recalls making her first international move and being given the advice always to give such a move at least six months because wherever you go, you’ll need time to adjust culturally and there will be times when you just want to pull the pin. “Patience is key,” she says. “Building relationships and trust is crucial and learning from different perspectives enriches your experience.” 

Wise says she spends time meeting people one-on-one both in work and social contexts, joining local business chambers, clubs and expat groups, and notes the importance of staying connected with current past colleagues and contacts. 

Wise is a pioneering woman in tech, now one of Microsoft’s most senior leaders in Australia and having spent years in senior leadership positions, including as country manager and GM Japan of PayPal and Country Manager of Google Technical Services in Japan and Korea. 

Looking broadly across the tech industry, she wants to see more companies pushing the focus beyond diversity and hiring to focus on inclusion, and understand women’s needs and perspectives. 

“There is a need to provide flexibility and tools for women to work in ways that suit their personal and professional goals, and not expect them to fit into rigid or traditional, often male-dominated or male-created, models,” she says. 

Wise wants to see more male allies getting involved in women’s networks and agendas to understand the experiences women have. She highlights one particularly positive experience of this at Microsoft, where she is seeing strong interest from male employees seeking guidance or support for partners experiencing menopause, which is one of the areas their Families Employee Resource Group is currently focusing on. 

“Companies in all sectors need to support women throughout their life cycle better, not just when they are having children, but also when they are caring for elderly parents, managing illness, or experiencing menopause, for example,” she says. 

Just as there is no one working style that will work for everyone, there is no set communication style for leading a successful team. 

“As leaders, we need to adapt our language and approach for different audiences/team members to help get the best outcomes – be those different genders, cultural backgrounds, or generational adjustments.”

Women’s Agenda spoke to Elena Wise to learn more about flexible work, thanks to our partnership with Family Friendly Workplaces.

This year Microsoft will be measuring their policies against the National Work + Family Standards as part of the Family Friendly Workplace Certification, having been certified for the previous two years already. Microsoft says it’s important employers pursue family-friendly workplace accreditation to demonstrate a commitment to work-life balance, gender equality, and employee well-being, and also for attracting and retaining the best talent and enhancing a company’s reputation. 

The post Take ‘leave from meetings’, block time for thinking: How this Microsoft leader thrives with flexibility  appeared first on Women's Agenda.

The Members Connect Series will provide a platform for women to engage in discussions concerning industry trends and pioneering programs, offering them unique insights and opportunities. The aim is to advance the careers of women and increase female participation in the sector.

Founder and Director of Franklin Women, Dr Melina Georgousakis says that members of Franklin Women bring diverse experiences and skills to the sector, so bringing them together through the Members Connect Series is a special opportunity. 

“By connecting these women outside of their day-to-day and linking them with innovative ecosystem partners, we are facilitating opportunities for them to thrive,” she said. 

Franklin Womn is a leading social enterprise championing women in the health and medical research fields.

The inaugural Members Connect event will be hosted by Organon, a the only global healthcare company of its size focused primarily on the health and wellbeing of women, at their Sydney office.

Managing Director of Organon ANZ, Nirelle Tolstoshev, says that the global healthcare company believes in this series’ ability to “drive real change” by investing in women in the sector. 

“Just 34 per cent of CEO and Head of Organisation roles in our biopharmaceutical sector are held by women – and whilst women tend to be well represented in middle management, they seem to be passed over for more senior opportunities,” says Tolstoshev. 

“At Organon, we believe that by investing in the bright pipeline of innovators and empowering these women through collaborations such as these, we can drive real change in this area.”

Following the Federal Government’s Senate Inquiry into Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and the recent announcement of an Australian-first inquiry into women’s pain in Victoria, the initiative’s goal to support women in the health and medical research sector is particularly critical. 

The Members Connect meetups are free to attend, and those who participate will be able to contribute to emerging women’s health priorities. Franklin Women and Organon say the events will “be instrumental in breaking down silos between different stakeholders and contributing to the improvement of health outcomes in communities”.

Interested members can register for Members Connect meetups here. 

The post Franklin Women and Organon launch meet up series for women in health and science appeared first on Women's Agenda.

These women will be agenda setters, thanks to their leadership positions, their talent and their sheer tenacity. 

We’ve selected these women according to our news coverage over the past 12 months or so and following editorial meetings and research regarding what we can expect from 2024. 

They are, of course, just a sample of the women who will be establishing new agendas and new paths forward. And, just like in 2023, we know there will be women and new names that will emerge throughout the year. Also, just like in 2023 and every year before it, we are also well aware of all the women who lead and establish agendas in their own essential spheres of influence, leadership that doesn’t make the headlines but is just as important regardless. 

We have chosen the below categories to focus on, based on the key areas we cover on Women’s Agenda.

Politics

Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs

As a humanitarian crisis in Gaza threatens widespread war in the Middle East, all eyes will be on Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong, who will drive Australia’’s foreign policy response to the unfolding situation.

Jacinta Allen, Premier of Victoria

Jacinta Allen has not yet served six months as the Premier of Victoria, the second woman to lead in the state’s history. She will play a key role in meeting the goals and objectives set out in Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023-2027.

Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women

The NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison was behind the establishment of the NSW Women’s Advisory Council, which met for the first time in December 2023. She, along with the twelve community leaders who sit on the council, will ultimately shape the political agenda for women in NSW.

Zoe Daniel MP, Independent Member for Goldstein

Zoe Daniel is one of the “teal independents” who sits on the crossbench in the House of Representatives. The Member for Goldstein, along with other independent MPs, has been very vocal on climate action, integrity in polics, women’s safety economic equality and health, as well as sexual violence on university campuses. She shows no signs of slowing down in 2024.

Sussan Ley, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Sussan Ley is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Women. Although last year she came under fire for her views on strip clubs, she ended the parliamentary year by launching a domestic violence awareness drive. As domestic violence took the lives of 63 women in 2023, Ley will be vital in putting pressure on the government from the Opposition to turn these statistics around.

Tech

Luli Adeyemo, Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation

The tech industry is evolving ever so rapidly, and we need diversity in the sector now more than ever. As Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation and the winner of the 2023 Women’’s Agenda Emerging Leader in Tech award, Luli Adeyemo is on a mission to do just that.

Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva

Melanie Perkins is leading the charge in Australia’s tech industry, as the co-founder of Canva topped the list of the Australian Financial Review’s Young Rich List for the third year in a row.

Ashi Bhat, founder of the INSIDER app

Ashi Bhat describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. Over a year ago, the TEDx speaker and marketing leader founded INSIDER, an app that revolutionises brand loyality programs using blockchain technology.

Shirley Gwynn, CEO of TALK5

Shirley Gwynn was appointed as CEO of TALK5, Australia’s first AI-powered, voice enabled Work Health and Safety (WHS) software platform, at the end of last year. Heading into 2024, Gwynn will play a key role in breaking down cultural, literacy and language barriers to bridge the gap between safety protocols and frontline workers.

Prof. Svetha Venkatesh, co-director, A2I2, Alfred Deakin Professor at Deakin University

As the leading Australian computer scientist, Professor Svetha Venkatesh has already made headway in activity and event recognition in multimedia data. Her work, which has been recognised internationally, will be vital in Australia’s tech industry coming into 2024

Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa, chief investigator, Gender Legislative Index

Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa is the woman behind the Gender Legislative Index, the first comprehensive IT-based tool to improve legislation for women in Australia. Her passion and expertise in women’s rights and gender equality is much needed in Australia’’s tech scene.

Business

Michele Stanfield, founder of Cauldron

Climate change, overpopulation and other environmental issues has elicited food insecurity in many parts of the world. Michele Stansfield is set to change that with her biochemistry start-up Cauldron, a fermentation business creating nutritious and sustainable compounds for new and innovative plant-based foods.

Michelle Simmons, founder of Silicon Quantum Computing

Michelle Simmons, the 2018 Australian of the Year and Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales, is still at the forefront of Australia’s quantum computing discipline. Now, her new startup Silicon Quantum Computing has the potential to advance the field even further.

Vandana Chaudhry, founder of Andisor

Vandana Chaudry has been an executive at Deliveroo, Crocs and now has founded her very own business, Andisor. The e-commerce platform seamlessly connects retailers and wholesalers on an easy-to-use digital platform, revolutionising the sector.

Mundanara Bayles, founder of BlakCast

At the end of 2023, Australia’s first ever network of podcasts highlighting stories of First Nations Peoples and people of colour launched. The woman behind BlakCast, Mundanara Bayles, has certainly given opportunities for First Nations Peoples to reclaim their narratives and strengthen cultural identity, starting in 2024 and beyond.

Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO of Macquarie Group

The managing director and CEO of Macquarie Group Shemara Wikramanayake ranked number nine in Fortune’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2023. This impressive accolade makes her one woman to watch in the business world – both in Australia and worldwide.

Vanessa Hudson, CEO of Qantas

Vanessa Hudson stepped up as CEO of Qantas last year in what was certainly the ultimate “glass cliff” situation. After a horror year for the aviation company, Hudson will determine how Qantas will bounce back.

Lacey Webb, founder of Resource Hub

Lacey Webb’s female-led small business Resource Hub has revolutionised waste management for businesses in Australia. As the winner of the 2023 Women’s Agenda Small Business Leader of the Year award, she is certainly one to watch, setting the agenda in the Waste and Resource Recovery sector.

Suzie Betts, founder of Boob Armour

Women’s sport had its biggest year yet in 2023 – and interest is only getting stronger. Suzie Betts’ revolutionary product Boob Armour will help sport for women become safer and even more accessible. Betts was the 2023 Women’s Agenda Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year.

Tara Croker, founder of Yaala Sparkling

Tara Croker is a proud Wiradjuri woman and the founder of Yaala Sparkling, non-alcoholic beverages that honour the true flavours her Ancestors have enjoyed for generations. In 2023, Croker, a finalist in the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, received investment from Shark Tank’s Dr Catriona Wallace, which will surely boost the success of what is already a successful business in 2024.

Health

Sam Mostyn, Chair of Beyond Blue

Accomplished business leader and advocate Sam Mostyn is set to play a pivotal role in the mental health space this year, as she settles into her new role as Chair of Beyond Blue. Mostyn has replaced former Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the role, and says she is focused on increasing digital and other accessible support for mental health and wellbeing. She is also the Chair of the government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce.

Samantha Payne, founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network

As the founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network, Samantha Payne is a leader in the national conversation on miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. Named Agenda Setter of the Year at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, Payne will continue to push for policy reform to improve the lives of women and families going through the devastation of pregnancy loss.

Professor Gita Mishra, NHMRC Leadership Fellow, University of Queensland

Professor Gita Mishra first came onto our radar last year when she was a senior author in a University of Queensland study that found women with endometriosis are likely to experience high rates of other health conditions. The longitudinal research was the first of its kind, and will help support the improvement of women’s quality of life. We expect Professor Mishra to be a central figure in endometriosis research this year.

Dr Danielle Wilhour, neurologist, UCHealth Neurosciences Center

As a board-certified neurologist who specialises in headache medicine, Dr Danielle Wilhour, has written about gender differences in migraines – more than three times as many women experience migraines – and the importance of bridging the gender gap in migraine research to empower women and advance our understanding of the condition.

Associate Professor Anna Boltong, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia

Associate Professor Anna Boltong was appointed CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia towards the end of last year, and will continue to play an influential role in the health sector this year as she looks to develop the organisation’s strategic plan. Ovarian Cancer Australia is focused on bridging gaps to ensure everyone has equal access to timely and comprehensive support for ovarian cancer.

Sport

Ariarne Titmus, Australian Olympic swimmer

One of Australia’s hottest prospects at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ariarne Titmus is one of the key athletes to keep an eye on this year. She excelled at the Swimming World Championships last year and is expected to do the same in Paris.

Kelsey Lee Barber, Australian Olympic athlete: javelin

Kelsey Lee Barber is the reigning world champion in javelin and will be one of the key Australian athletes to know at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Jade Melbourne, WNBL player for University of Canberra Capitals

WNBL and UCCapitals player Jade Melbourne has been named in the Australian Opals extended squad ahead of the Olympic Qualifying tournament in February, where the Opals will look to secure their spot for the Paris Olympics. At just 21 years old, she was the youngest player in the WNBA in the US last year.

Zarlie Goldsworthy, AFLW player for GWS Giants

GWS GIANTS’ Zarlie Golsworthy was named the Rising Star at the 2023 AFLW awards, and at just 19 years old, also made her maiden appearance on the All-Australian side for the AFLW. As we head into the next season, she is one to keep watching.

Cortnee Vine, Australian soccer player for Sydney F.C. and the Matildas

Matildas up-and-comer Cortnee Vine was one of the most exciting players to watch at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 – memorably scoring a winning penalty against France – and is a player to watch at the upcoming Olympics as the Matildas look to secure a medal.

Leadership

Katherine Berney, Director of the National Women’s Safety Alliance

Katherine Bearney is a central figure in the sexual, domestic and family violence sector, and uses her platform to drive change to create better outcomes for women across Australia. She was recognised last year as Women’s Agenda’s Emerging Leader in the NFP sector.

Prabha Nandagopal, founder of Elevating Consulting Partners

Human rights lawyer Prabha Nandagopal, the founder of Elevating Consulting Partners, has worked with employees across Australia who have faced sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment and racism. She recently spoke to Women’s Agenda about the importance of employers implementing positive duty properly and has a background as the Director of Legal for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces review in 2021.

Charmaine Hunzwi, President of Incubate Foundation

Charmaine Hunzwi is the President of Incubate Foundation, an organisation supporting young African Asutralians to reach their fullest potential; and Founder of Safe Space Media which creates content that challenges the narratives of under-represented communities. She was named an Agenda Setter finalist at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, and is a changemaker to watch this year.

Angelique Wan, co-founder and CEO of Consent Labs

Co-founder and CEO of Consent Labs, Angelique Wan was named Agenda Setter of the Year at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, and is continuing her work to help young people develop a better understanding of consent through education.

Arts/Culture

Shankari Chandran, author, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

In 2023, Shankari Chandran won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. This year will see her fourth novel, Safe Haven, published, a story highlighting the plight of refugees seeking asylum in Australia. Her book no doubt will help change the narrative around asylum seekers in this country.

Bri Lee, author, The Work

The arts industry continues to battle with the struggles of funding, cost of living and more. Bri Lee, author of Who Gets to be Smart and award-winning Egshell Skull, explores these struggles plus so much more in her new book The Work, which will be published this year.

Gracie Otto, director, Ladies in Black

Ladies in Black is a television drama expected to hit screens this year. The female-led production team created the series to explore the lives of women in Australia in the late 1950s, where although much has changed, some challenges are still relatable even today. The show was directed by Gracie Otto.

Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, writers, Lesbian Space Princess

Lesbian Space Princess is an animated television series, written by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese. The show will champion greater representation for LGBTQIA+ identities, plus so much more, for 2024.

Cathy Randall, director, Red Rock Run

Cathy Randall is well-known for directing Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueberg (2008) starring Toni Collette. This year, she will be directing the feature film Red Rock Run, following the story of a young girl pursuing to run a gruelling 120km race.

The post Who will define 2024? These are our top picks for women to watch appeared first on Women's Agenda.

A seasoned business transformation specialist and CX pioneer, Gwynn has been at the forefront of the Australian tech startup scene for almost a decade following a successful international career as a corporate and government analyst and advisor.

“I really believe in TALK5’s mission,” said Gwynn. “We’re here to make safety universally comprehensible and accessible, irrespective of language or culture.”

Gwynn met TALK5’s founder George Bancs through a mutual friend in late 2022. Impressed by Gwynn’s track record in growing and scaling successful tech startups alongside some of Australia’s most impressive tech founders, Bancs invited her to join the organisation’s advisory board. 

In recent months she has taken on the role of CEO, and said she’s excited to work alongside George and our growing team to not only scale the business, but to lead the charge in AI-powered safety technology empowering a wide range of industries”.

In November 2023, TALK5 launched ‘Mina’ – the world’s first virtual safety, health coach and assistant, delivering voice-to-text and text-to-voice tools, in over 15 languages. This technology delivers essential safety instructions in each worker’s preferred language, eradicating potential misunderstandings caused by language differences. 

It’s a project close to Gwynn’s personal background as a migrant, having emigrated from Beijing to Sydney with her family as a teenager. She says going directly into an English-speaking high school was “a very scary process”, and she understands the impacts of cultural, linguistic and language barriers on learning and comprehension. 

Alongside Bancs, Gwynn’s vision is for TALK5 to redefine how language and safety intersect in the workplace. 

“What I love is the early-stage building part of an exciting young business, making an impact,” she says. 

Back in 2015, Gwynn was the first key go-to-market hire for global tech company SafetyCulture. 

“My years with Safety Culture gave me a really solid introduction to the work, health and safety space and instilled in me an obsession with safety and the importance of developing (and constantly evolving) an incredible product that delivers the best customer experience,” she said. 

 As their Global Head of Customer Success Gwynn achieved 40x MoM revenue growth and scaled the company from less than $1 million ARR to over $45 million, before joining recruitment disruptor Hatch in 2020. At Hatch, she led the industry-shaping development of their COVID-19 Labour Exchange, which placed thousands of workers in temporary employment in 2020.

Following Hatch, Gwynn joined Immutable, an NFT and blockchain technology platform, to lead all partnerships efforts. 

Now, as TALK5’s CEO, Gwynn is passionate about the software platform, saying it may ultimately “help save lives” as there’s “an increasingly diverse workforce, who are largely operating in high-risk sectors, with a sophisticated and efficient approach to work, health and safety training”. 

The post Shirley Gwynn appointed CEO of TALK5, an AI safety platform appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Having now grown to more than 60 staff and $30 million a year in revenue, A23 has appointed one of those initial eleven first starters as CEO, to lead the company’s bold plan to target another 75 per cent in growth over the next three years.

Proud Kamilaroi woman and entrepreneur Natalie Legg takes the CEO role, replacing Simon Metcalfe, who will move into a new Chief Growth Officer role.

On being replaced by Legg as CEO, Metcalfe said that her perspectives as an Indigenous woman were a significant asset to the company.

 “Having a First Nations woman move into this role really represents something for the company, it’s about advancing opportunities,” he said.

“This is an industry dominated by men, especially in senior leadership, that should change, and this reflects that. It is a chance to lead by example,” he said.

He described her as a strong leader who has already contributed significantly to getting the company to where it is today.

Legg also brings her entrepreneurial experience to the role, as she owns a cafe and bar in Canberra.

Legg said on her appointment that at a macro level, she wants to see the consultancy grow beyond Canberra to take on more private sector clients.

“At a cultural level, I want to lead a company with clear communications and positive culture. And I hope we can continue to be an employer of choice, championing diversity with more women and diverse cultural backgrounds,” she said.

“We are aiming for 25 per cent year on year growth over the next three years. With Simon in his new role we want to expand further into Sydney and Brisbane; do more work outside of Government and expand our offerings. There is still plenty to do in Canberra though, we’re only just getting started.”

Originally from North Western NSW, Legg has lived in Canberra for nearly twenty years.

Metcalfe described his decision to step back from the CEO role as also being about realising that he was personally ready for a change, and looking at what the company needed to do for growth.

“We recognise that to grow further we need a focused sales engine to drive our goals over the next three years. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build and drive this.”

The IT consulting firm helps organisations achieve digital transformation outcomes across business applications, data and analytics.

The post Natalie Legg appointed CEO of fast-growing tech firm appeared first on Women's Agenda.

As founder of Women of Web3 Lauren Ingram puts it, the revelation is a “wake up call” that women are at risk of being left behind in the next iteration of the internet. 

Developer conference DevTernity posted a photo of a woman under the name ‘Anna Boyko’ to their event website. She was listed as a staff engineer at Coinbase and a core contributor at Ethereum. 

The problem is that she’s never spoken at any events and her supposed employer, Coinbase, had never heard of her. She was a fake profile listed on a prominent conference website. 

The detective behind this discovery is a Netherlands-based software engineer, Gergely Orosz, who noticed the discrepancies and reached out to verify with other speakers from the conference, all of whom had never heard of an ‘Anna Boyko’. 

In a detailed thread on platform X (formerly Twitter), Gergely Orosz lays out the series of events leading to the discovery of the fake profile.

“To spell it out why this conference generated fake women speakers. Because the organiser wants big names and it probably seemed like an easy way to address their diversity concerns,” writes Orosz. 

Adding to the disgrace, Orosz points out that Boyko was not the only fake profile that the conference group had created. Of the 3 women speakers initially listed at the event, two of the women were fake profiles. The second woman, Alina Prokhoda, who is listed as a Senior Engineer at WhatsApp, also doesn’t exist. 

Another woman listed on DevTernity’s website (before it was taken down) was ‘Anna Boyle’s’ colleague Natalie Stadler– a fake person. 

Orosz also shares images of the website’s edit history as evidence of when the organisers created the fake Anna and subsequently removed her– 10 months after ticket sales had been ongoing. 

And at conferences from 2021 to 2023, DevTernity listed the fake profile Julia Kirsina using photos from a real person (a model who is not a software engineer). 

Adding to the discourse, Field CTO at honeycomb.io Liz Fong-Jones has called the story behind ‘Julia Kirsina’s’ fake profile “much worse” than it first appears. 

Fong-Jones says that the founder of DevTernity, Eduards Sizovs has been operating social media accounts pretending to belong to Julia Kirsina, a full-time conference organiser, “tech influencer” and “software craftswoman”. 

“The content that ‘she’ posts is the same as Eduards, except for the addition of winky/kissy emoji,” writes Fong-Jones. 

“The photographs on Instagram are racy/soft-core, use laptops/screens with code/tech tshirts as props, and mix sex appeal and business in a way that is reminiscent of catfishing or booth babery.”

Fong-Jones goes on to say that “if a man is dishonest to the point of trying to infiltrate women in tech communities” then he should be “ejected” from the industry entirely. 

“This kind of shit makes every single woman have to prove herself 100x harder to prove we’re not a ‘fake’ and that we got to where we are through hard work, not through sexy pics/flirting.”

The fallout

As these disturbing revelations continue to come to light, several people signed up to speak at the DevTernity conference have pulled out, and yet organisers of the event have continued to deny the problem of creating fake female speakers. 

Some speakers have even had trouble getting event organisers to remove their profile from the website after asking to be taken off the list. 

Support for Sizovs’ DevTernity has been rapidly collapsing as 404 Media reports that the last woman speaker, Kristine Howard of Amazon Web Services (a real person) scheduled for the conference has pulled out. 

Rather than take accountability for wrongdoing as the evidence mounts, Sizovs has issued statements blaming ‘cancel culture’ for ruining ‘all the good work’ he’s been doing. 

“I said it was a mistake, a bug that turned out to be a feature. I even fixed that on my website! We’re cool? Nooooo, we want blood! Let’s cancel this SINNER!,” writes Sizovs in his response to the situation. 

The post This tech conference listed women who don’t exist on their speaker lineup. How many others are doing the same? appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Jones will assume the role from January 2, 2024, and Wolfe Herd will stay on at Bumble as Executive Chair, according to a statement from Bumble.

“It’s a monumental moment, one that has taken a great deal of time, consideration and care, for me to pass the baton to a leader and a woman I deeply respect,” Wolfe Herd wrote in a statement this week. 

“This move to Executive Chair gives me the ability to step forward into a new and exciting role, get back to my founder roots and bring immense passion and focus to this next chapter of growth.”

Wolfe Herd launched Bumble in 2014, revolutionsing the dating app industry by allowing women to make the first move on the app. The company went public in 2021 and according to Bloomberg, made Wolfe Herd a billionaire for a brief period. She had previously co-founded the dating app Tinder.

“As I reflect on the past decade, I am moved by what our team has achieved and by the passionate community we have created. I am also incredibly optimistic about the future. I believe in Bumble Inc.’s significant potential today more than ever before,” Wolfe Herd said.

Wolfe Herd said she was “so pleased” to have found Jones to take over as CEO.

“Lidiane’s expertise and track record in product and technology is exceptional and having her leading the next chapter of Bumble Inc. is a major win for our company, customers and team,’ she said. 

“Our shared passion, complementary skill sets and long-term vision for what Bumble Inc. can achieve makes this an exciting time for us both.”

Before she was CEO of Slack, Jones was the EVP and GM for Salesforce Digital Experiences, and has also led Sonos’ software product team, and spent 13 years at Microsoft.

“I have long admired Bumble’s mission and it is truly a privilege to join Bumble Inc. as CEO and work alongside Whitney and such an amazing global team, and I want to sincerely thank Whitney and the Board for the confidence and trust they have placed in me,” Jones said in a statement. 

“As a woman who has spent her career in technology, it’s a gift to lean on my experience to lead a company dedicated to women and encouraging equality, integrity and kindness, all deeply personal and inspiring to me.”

The post Whitney Wolfe Herd steps down as Bumble CEO, handing over to Lidiane Jones appeared first on Women's Agenda.

With a combined wealth of $13 billion, the couple have transformed their small graphic design tool that they created more than a decade ago in Perth, WA, into one of Australia’s most successful tech companies.

More than 135 million people use Canva every month, and although rising interest rates meant the company took a hit, the platform is still worth around $39 billion in total.

Perkins, Australia’s second richest woman in 2022 behind Gina Rinehart, and her husband Obrecht now own 30 per cent of Canva, pledging to donate most of their profits to charity.

The couple first topped the AFR’s Young Rich List in 2021, after co-founders of Atlassian Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar turned 41 and no longer made the cut for the list. Perkins, 36, and Obrecht, 37, have remained at the top since.

Perkins is one of just 16 women included in the AFR’s Top 100 Young Rich List this year, and the only woman who cracked the top 10 richest.

At ranks 15 and 16, Jessica Sepel and Dean Steingold have a combined wealth of $454 million from Sepel’s vitamin brand and health blog, JSHealth. While her husband focuses on the business side of the company, Sepel, using her expertise in nutrition, works on formulations for the brand.

Familiar high-profile names feature on the Young Rich List this year, including Miranda Kerr (#25), Margot Robbie (#47) and Ash Barty (#97).

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There were two women that made their debut on the Young Rich List this year. The couple behind the women’s boutique fashion brand White Fox, Georgia and Daniel Contos, came in at ranks 62 and 63 on the list, with a combined wealth of $100 million.

Siblings Argylica and William Conditsis also debuted on the list at ranks 80 and 81 with a combined wealth of $60 million. They founded their women’s event wear brand Babyboo which has reached international success in the last few years.

While the technology sector has historically been the biggest booming industry to feature on the Young Rich List, this year’s list saw alternative energy, retail and property sectors as the most generative industries.

The 16 women to make the AFR’s top 100 Young Rich List are:

• Melanie Perkins, co-founder of Canva
• Jessica Sepel, co-founder of JSHealth
• Tahnee Beard, co-founder of Culture Kings
• Miranda Kerr, former Victoria’s Secret model and founder of Kora Organics
• Kayla Itsines, co-founder of Sweat
• Margot Robbie, Hollywood actor
• Natasha Oakley, model and co-founder of Monday Swimwear
• Jennifer Hawkins, former Miss Universe and television presenter
• Emily Skye Anderson, co-founder of James Cosmetics and Emily Skye Fit app
• Georgia Contos, co-founder of White Fox
• Mina O’Neill, Rethink Investing
• Jane Lu, founder of Showpo
• Matilda Murray, co-founder of Stax
• Argylica Conditsis, co-founder of Babyboo
• Tammy Hembrow, influencer and founder of Tammy Fit
• Ash Barty, former tennis player

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Today, I particularly see one area that demands our immediate attention: fostering an inclusive environment for women in the tech industry.

So what is the one thing the industry needs to do to make it happen? Change.

By implementing specific changes internally, organisations can make substantial strides toward retaining and supporting women in tech.

Below are five pivotal changes that will help make it happen.

1. Revamp job descriptions

Traditional job descriptions often inadvertently deter qualified candidates. Research shows women tend to apply only when they meet 100% of the criteria, while men apply when they meet about 60%. Certain words such as “high pressure” and “drive” also unintentionally turn female applicants off. To counteract this, we should craft inclusive job descriptions that emphasise core skills and competencies rather than an exhaustive laundry list of qualifications, and be cognisant of using overly masculine terms. This adjustment alone can significantly broaden the pool of potential candidates.

For example, Adobe successfully revamped their job descriptions by using gender-neutral language and emphasising core skills. This led to a 33% increase in applications from women. Conversely, some organisations still cling to outdated language and extensive qualification lists, perpetuating the gender gap.

2. Prioritise flexible work arrangements

In a post-pandemic world, remote work has become a viable and desirable option for many. A study conducted by McKinsey in 2020 found 73% of employees prefer some form of remote work. Implementing flexible work arrangements can not only attract more women to tech roles but also retain them, as it addresses the work-life balance challenges that disproportionately affect women.

Salesforce has been at the forefront of prioritising flexible work arrangements. They have implemented a “Work from Anywhere” policy, allowing employees to choose where they work. This flexibility not only supports work-life balance but also opens doors for women who have additional caregiving responsibilities. On the flip side, companies that resist remote work options risk losing out on a diverse talent pool.

Creating a flexible policy is one thing, and certainly a step in the right direction. But it is meaningless if leaders don’t role model and normalise flexible working. This means being leaving early to do the school pick up, attend an awards ceremony, or watch a netball game. Unapologetically.

3. Foster mentorship and sponsorship programs

Research consistently demonstrates the positive impact of mentorship and sponsorship on career advancement. According to a study by Catalyst, women with mentors are 56 per cent more likely to have a seat at the decision-making table. Organisations should establish structured mentorship and

sponsorship programs, ensuring that women have access to guidance, support, and opportunities for career progression.

Many organisations expect internal mentors to somehow free up time in their already packed schedules for this. If it’s important, and an organisation is truly committed to improving D&I, then mentoring, like any other program, needs real commitment, real budget and real resources.

Intel has excelled in establishing robust mentorship and sponsorship programs. Their Women at Intel Network provides opportunities for mentorship, skill-building, and networking, contributing to a 25% increase in the retention of women over five years. In contrast, those without structured mentorship programs often struggle to retain and promote women, leading to stagnation in their career growth.

4. Address unconscious bias in hiring and promotion

Unconscious bias remains a significant barrier to gender diversity in tech.

A study published in the Harvard Business Review revealed that identical resumes with male and female names were evaluated differently, with the male candidates being perceived as more competent and hireable. Companies must implement bias-aware hiring and promotion practices, such as blind recruitment processes and diverse interview panels, to level the playing field.

Google has taken significant steps to address unconscious bias in their hiring process. They implemented a blind recruiting process, where candidates’ names and identifying information are removed from applications. This simple but effective change led to a 50 per cent increase in hiring women. Companies that fail to address unconscious bias risk perpetuating existing inequalities.

5. Invest in continuous learning and development

The tech industry is dynamic and ever-evolving. To empower women to thrive in this environment, organisations must provide robust opportunities for continuous learning and development. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, by 2025, over half of all employees will require significant reskilling. Offering accessible training and upskilling programs can equip women with the skills needed to excel in their roles.

Microsoft’s commitment to continuous learning is evident through initiatives like the Microsoft Leap program. It offers immersive learning experiences to individuals from non-traditional tech backgrounds, helping them transition into tech roles. This type of investment in upskilling and reskilling ensures that employees, including women, have the tools to adapt to a rapidly changing industry. Companies that neglect professional development opportunities hinder their employees’ growth potential.

The key to retaining and supporting women in tech is change. That is, changing internally to support women already employed but also to appear attractive to potential outside candidates.

By implementing these five crucial shifts, organisations can create an environment where women not only enter the industry but stay to advance their careers. It’s time for a transformation that will benefit not only women but the tech industry as a whole.

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Through the program, 17 girls and non-binary students in Years 9 to 12 completed work experience at leading organisations such as EY, Australian Federal Police, Microsoft, Pragma Partners, Verizon, CDC Data Centres and Emanate Technology. 

This allowed them to participate in a range of ICT roles, including operations, networks, penetration testing, cybersecurity, coding, human resources and consulting.

One Year 11 student, Briagha Elliott said the program broadened her perspective on the world of work after she was an EY ‘consultant for the week’.

“I was able to seek guidance from professionals who successfully navigated the consulting hiring process and now excel in their roles,” she said.

“Meeting everyone was a blast and immersing myself in the office environment was truly invaluable.”

Now, a program wrap-up event will be held at Parliament House on October 19, with Alicia Payne MP as the host. 

The program was run through WIC— a Canberra-based not-for-profit organisation tackling the gender equity challenge in the technology sector. 

WIC Pipeline and Advancement Sub-Committee Co-Chair Lynn White said she was proud of what the program had achieved in its first round. She sees it as “an extremely rewarding experience for both the students and the hosts.”

“It gave students a great insight into working in the ICT sector and the pathways they can pursue,” she said.

Part of one of the 15 host organisations, General Manager at Pragma Partners, Tori Sanderson described the experience as a “win-win” for the students and themselves.

“It was a delight to host students for work experience and play a part in nurturing the learning and development of Australia’s next generation of talent,” Sanderson said.

“We learnt a lot from mentoring the students and they gained valuable practical experience.”

Building on the program’s success, WIC plans to include an expo for high school and university students next year, with representatives from leading tech organisations to show what a career in ICT could look like.

“We want to show students who may not have considered studying or working in tech, that it’s a really fun and diverse industry,” said White.

Students will also receive resume and cover-letter writing guidance to apply for the 2024 re-launch.

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Roy received the award last night, securing first place in the IAPA’s Top 25 Analytics Leaders award program and becoming the first woman to be ranked first place since the program’s inauguration six years ago. 

The judges commended Roy’s forecasting and pricing models, which ‘enabled the Kmart merchandising team to deliver better business outcomes as a ‘everyday products at low prices’ retailer,” a statement read. 

Roy was join by two other women in the Top 5 — and another six women in the Top 25. 

Duhita Khadepau, Director, Analytics and Data Science at Assignar, placed third, while Elizabeth Moore, Head of Audience Data and Insights at the ABC placed fifth. 

Annette Slunjski, IAPA Managing Director, said that this year’s award was “marked by a maturing and genuine acknowledgement of the value of analytics to business.”

“This year’s Top 25, and especially the Top 10, have true c-suite support as analytics delivers real-world outcomes that move the needle in terms of revenue, cost containment or better business models,” she said. 

IAPA Chair, Antony Ugoni agreed, adding that this year’s list “saw a greater focus on impact and outcomes of analytics effort and the implementation of sophisticated analytics-driven solutions to business problems.”

“Selecting the Top 25 from the extremely strong field was challenging for the judging panel but also showed the maturity of analytics and data thinking in so many organisations,” Ugoni said.

It’s a promising win for women as they remain minorities in the field of analytics. One study from 2019 found that women occupied roughly 30 per cent of data and analytics roles across all industries— a figure that appears to be declining since. 

The post Women top Analytics Leaders Award for 2023 appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Her name is Christina Hammock Koch, and she already holds the world record for the longest spaceflight by a woman. Now, at 44 years old, she’ll become the first woman to ever embark on a lunar mission, having been assigned as Mission Specialist I of NASA’s Artemis II mission. 

Koch has also participated in six different spacewalks, including the first three all-women spacewalks. She’s previously worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre and has an extensive engineering background. 

“When I was young, I had a poster of the Earthrise picture- the famous picture that was taken on Apollo 8,” said Koch. “And the fact that it was a human behind the lens that made that picture so profound and changed how we all thought of our own home was so amazing to me. 

“The moon is not just a symbol of thinking about our place in the universe. It’s not just a symbol of exploration. It’s actually a beacon for science. It’s a beacon for understanding where we came from,” she said.

For this upcoming feat into space, Koch will be joining the three other Artemis II astronauts– Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Reid Wiseman.

Also making history, Glover will be the first person of colour to embark on a lunar mission, and Hansen will be the first Canadian to travel to the moon.

This space crew’s diversity is a welcomed move as, according to NASA stats, only 35.52 per cent of their workforce are women, 11.83 per cent are Black, 5.79 per cent are Latino and 6.25 per cent are Asian. 

Artemis II is a 10-day flyby mission and is the last test flight before NASA aims to land two astronauts on the moon by about 2025. 

The Artemis crew’s Orion capsule will launch atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Centre in Merritt Island, Florida in late 2024.

While the crew won’t be landing on the moon’s surface, they’ll be the first people in more than 50 years to leave Earth’s immediate vicinity and be near the moon. 

NASA has laid out some clear goals for the Artemis mission, including to inspire young people to explore space, to establish increased political and economic sustainability for the entire Artemis program and to encourage future international collaboration for missions. 

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden gave the four astronauts a call, saying “the world holds their breath when things like this happen” and that the work they’re doing “will inspire the next generation of explorers, and show every child– in America, in Canada, and across the world– that if they can dream it, they can be it”. 

Ready to inspire the next generation of female astronauts, Koch told Harper’s Bazaar that her message to other women wanting to enter the field is to “follow your passions to make sure that when you look at your life and you map it out and you’re at those big crossroads, you’re picking the path that really feels true to what you love.”

Koch also said it’s been her dream to become an astronaut for as long as she can remember, and she’s excited to be part of this historic mission.

“I am most excited about the teamwork,” said Koch. “I am most excited that this mission is the first time we’re putting humans on board the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft; we are going to find things that we don’t even know we’re going to find.”

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