In November, our DevOps & Platform Consultant Emma Hume and Head of Customer Success Emma Pegler had the privilege of attending Women of Silicon Roundabout, held in London. As the UK’s largest tech event for women, it brought together over 4,000 innovators, leaders, and pioneers in technology. With its expert-led sessions, keynote speeches, and workshops, the event aimed to lay the building blocks for the future while empowering participants to secure their positions as futurist leaders in tech and strategy. We asked Emma and Emma to share their thoughts and key takeaways from the event.
What were you most excited to learn or discuss at the event?
Emma P: I was excited to explore actionable insights and trends shaping the industry. One key takeaway? Leveraging technology and AI to free up creative capacity for more meaningful work.
Emma H: After hearing the initial introduction to the conference, you could feel everyone was eager to get started and there was a great atmosphere around us. Just seeing so many women coming together to talk about their passion for the industry was inspiring.
What stood out to you during the keynote speeches?
Emma P: The event featured a great lineup of keynote speakers, including representatives from Tesco and Deloitte. They delved into transformative themes such as the role of AI in driving innovation and operational efficiency, the importance of diversity in technology for fostering creativity and problem-solving, how leading companies are using emerging technologies to adapt to evolving market demands, and fascinating revelations included groundbreaking technology like voice-based diagnostics for diabetes, showcasing how AI can impact healthcare access.
A standout quote that resonated with me: “Let technology handle the busy tasks, so we can focus on creating meaningful impact.”
Emma H: It was interesting to hear Nazma Ali talk about the different approaches men and women take towards leadership. It may not be applicable to every woman; however, I found it very relatable that women often feel they have to tick every box before putting themselves forward. This is something I will be mindful of in future when I am ready to take the next step.
We often hear “we need more women in the industry”; however, hearing this alongside practical and meaningful examples of why, really demonstrated the value and importance of encouraging more women to join.
How did the workshops shape your experience?
Emma P: Our day included two interactive workshops that left a lasting impression.
The first was Bridging Communication Gaps Across Mixed Audiences where we practiced effective pitching and explored frameworks to improve clarity and alignment. This was great! It’s important to avoid jargon overload and provide clear business context, begin with the big picture before diving into details, and deliver concise messaging tailored to diverse audience needs.
The second was Low Code, No Code, AI, Oh My! where we discussed the future potential of tools and AI. Amazing insight.
Emma H: I felt the workshop Bridging Communication Gaps Across Mixed Audiences was really valuable. Isabel Walker handed out a helpful template “The PREP Model” to break down your thoughts and ideas into a constructive dialogue to take forward. We practiced this in the workshop with our neighbours and a select number of volunteers presented to the group. Isabel gave further feedback on how to really deliver the points we want to say in a clear and concise manner.
The workshop Low-Code, No-Code, Ai, Oh My! really grabbed my attention when I saw it on the agenda. Samer Naqv spoke about the different mindsets that people have towards AI which I’m sure we have all often heard at some point whether it be “AI will steal jobs” to “AI can’t replace me!”. Whereas we should sit somewhere in the middle and think “I will be insanely productive” with a positive mindset about AI instead. Using AI to aid us in our jobs and to embrace it.
What was your biggest takeaway from the event?
Emma P: Attending Women of Silicon Roundabout was an inspiring experience. The hands-on workshops stood out as practical and immediately applicable to my role as Head of Customer Success. The Bridging Communication Gaps session, for instance, provided a framework I can embrace daily to better align with customer needs, ensuring clearer communication and more impactful meetings. The concept of using AI to automate repetitive tasks and create space for more strategic, high-value work was particularly powerful.
Emma H: I’m very grateful for the opportunity to attend Women of Silicon Roundabout and I am hopeful I will be able to attend future events too. Being in the presence of many like-minded women was inspiring. I found the event thoroughly enjoyable and would recommend it to others. The conference was jam-packed with a variety of workshops and speeches, there was something for everyone to take away from the day. Personally, I have a lot to reflect on after the conference and it gave me food for thought.
Round up
The insights gained from this event are directly applicable to challenges faced by senior technical decision-makers:
- AI and Productivity: By automating routine tasks, we can dedicate more time to innovation, strategy, and delivering exceptional customer value.
- Effective Communication: Leveraging clear, structured frameworks ensures alignment with stakeholders and drives better outcomes in cross-functional collaborations.
- Emerging Technologies: The advancements discussed, such as voice diagnostics, exemplify how technology can break barriers and create equitable solutions for global challenges.
For organisations navigating digital transformation, these insights offer actionable strategies to enhance scalability, innovation, and long-term impact.
The Women of Silicon Roundabout event was a powerful reminder of the importance of innovation, diversity, and practical frameworks in technology. As both Emmas shared, the lessons learned here have real-world applications for organisations navigating digital transformation, driving innovation, and building scalable solutions.