This is an exclusive Digital Union Members-only event, where we will be discussing the topic of gender bias, what we can do to challenge this on the workplace and where there is still learning to be done.
Diversity and Inclusivity in the industries we work in is a priority for many right now, and we’re starting our discussions on the topic of gender bias, what we can do to challenge this on the workplace and where there is still learning to be done.
Join us along alongside Paul Koshy (Co-Founder of Koshy Associates), Thea Van der Velde (Creative Communications Manager at Tyne Housing Group and member of Generator’s Youth Advisory Board), and Lyndsey Britton-Lee and Lynsey Harbottle (Co-Founders of 50:50), where we’ll be talking from our different perspectives and experiences on the topic, hearing about problems we have faced, positive strategies we have seen implemented, as well as looking at what the future should look like in order for us to develop a more gender equal workplace.
With an opportunity to ask questions of our panel and bring your own experiences to the table, we’d love you to join us as we continue to learn and reflect on what we can all be doing to challenge these issues.
This is a Digital Union Members event only. You can sign up to become a Member for FREE today using this link.
Our panellists:
- Paul Koshy – Paul is married to Fungying, and together they have two children. Having planned never to start a business (well, Paul at least), in June 2019 Paul and Fungying embarked on their entrepreneurial journey! They set up Koshy Associates to bring together innovators, investors and corporates using Paul’s knowledge and networks, built up from his prior 10+ years experience supporting technology commercialisation and innovation. They feel privileged to work with leading edge innovative businesses (from AI to vegan foods), helping them to grow and scale by connecting them to decision makers in large organisations and investors as needed. The lifeblood – and the joy – of the business are the high quality, high trust, collaborative relationships and the culture of mutual goodwill and partnership that it seeks to foster.
- Thea Van der Velde – Thea, 25, is a creative communications manager from Newcastle. She currently leads on marketing and communications for charitable housing association, Tyne Housing Group and is a member of Generator’s Youth Advisory Board. After leaving school at just 15, Thea’s been working in the North East’s creative and digital sector for almost a decade, and is passionate about amplifying the voices of young people and young women in the workplace. Thea said “I’m lucky enough to have found incredible female role models early on in my career who really lifted me up, and provided me with opportunities to develop and learn. I’m proud to be from the North East, and of our incredible creative sector, but I do believe we still have a long way to go in challenging gender bias to create more inclusive and supportive spaces for women.”
- Lyndsey Britton-Lee and Lynsey Harbottle – 50:50’s co-founders, Lyndsey and Lynsey, have an extensive background in the technology industry where they have set up organisations to foster inclusive communities and engage more diverse audiences in the STEM sectors. Their previous undertakings include the region’s first community-led coworking space in the digital sector where they engaged a wide-ranging group of people all aspiring to drive innovation, from large corporate sponsors to SMEs and startups. There was a large gap that needed to be plugged within the sector in both skills and diversity, the founders set up an education initiative to facilitate between STEM networks and education across these two core areas of focus. They received funding for both regional and national projects from some of the UK’s largest STEM foundations in the private sector. Seeing the clear need for more emphasis on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, regardless of size or sector, the duo decided to spin out their diversity strand ‘50:50 Future’ into its own entity in February 2019. Acknowledging the harsh reality of negative connotations and lack of awareness in this area, they felt strongly that they could deliver the right level of support and education to organisations to break down barriers and be a catalyst for inclusion.
