Women working in technology were urged to trust their instincts, support their ideas and overcome barriers to change as industry leaders gathered at the first Inspiring Women in Technology event in Birmingham.
Hosted by the School of Coding & AI (SOC), the event brought together innovators and senior professionals from across the Midlands to discuss how women can turn the challenges of AI into opportunities for leadership and impact.
Suki Gill, (pictured) Director of Education and Quality at SOC, was joined by Aditi Desai, Maternity and Gynecology Consultant at Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and co-founder of surgical security system iCount, and Hollie Whittles, Information Security and HR Director at Purple Frog Systems.
Reflecting on her own career, which she began at Marconi before retraining as a teacher, Gill shared her perspective on building self-confidence and resilience in an industry still considered male-dominated.
“Despite all its advancements, the tech sector is still considered a male-dominated industry,” Gill said. “But there are countless opportunities for women and I was happy to discuss it with others in the field.
One of our main tasks at the School of Coding & AI is to improve opportunities for women and girls regardless of their background.”
Headquartered in Birmingham, the School of Coding & AI continues to play a prominent role in national efforts to promote digital literacy, AI education and gender diversity in technology.
During Birmingham Tech Week, the organization hosted CyberVerse Unmasked – Shaping the Future of Digital Resilience, a major conference on cybersecurity, innovation and the future of AI.
The event brought together cybersecurity experts, entrepreneurs and academics to discuss emerging digital threats and how to strengthen resilience in the public and private sectors.
SOC founder and CEO Manny Athwal also spoke at the ScaleUp Summit at STEAMhouse in Birmingham, where he shared his entrepreneurial journey – from starting the company in his bedroom to building a multi-million pound business operating in 17 countries.
“The path to starting a successful business is never straight,” Athwal said. “I built School of Coding & AI from a single idea into a global organization.
Success comes not just from the idea, but from implementation, leadership and resilience. If my journey can help others succeed, it is a story I am proud to share.”
The Inspiring Women in Technology event aims to become a regular fixture in Birmingham’s technology calendar and is part of a growing effort to encourage more women to pursue STEM careers and leadership roles in AI, cybersecurity and data science.
Organizers said the next event will expand its focus to include female founders, investors and educators, with the goal of creating a national platform for women driving innovation in technology.
