The Black Girls Tech and Finance Summit 2024 London
Black Girls Tech and Finance Summit London 2024:
The Grounding: A Safe Haven for Black Women in Tech and Finance
Black women in tech and finance face unique challenges, both in society and the workplace. We see you, and we've got you.
Welcome to The Grounding—a dedicated space for Black women to recharge, learn, connect, and thrive. This empowering event offers a supportive environment to uplift and inspire, featuring a rich mix of breakout sessions, workshops, roundtable discussions, and talks, alongside meeting recruiters from leading employers in tech and finance.
For the first year, we are combining our tech and finance summits AND hosting two separate days so that we can welcome more of our community.
Wednesday 27th November 2024: Professionals
Thursday 28th November 2024: Early Careers
Gold Sponsored by Palantir Technologies and BT Group
Silver Sponsor: HSBC
Supporting Partner: Linkedin
Please ensure you book for the right day!
Delicious African Caribbean lunch will be provided on both days and refreshments.
Our diverse program covers essential topics designed to nourish your personal and professional growth, including:
The Eight Pillars of Wellness: Explore holistic wellness strategies to enhance your overall well-being.
Boundaries and Self-Care: Learn practical tips to integrate self-care into your daily routine and establish healthy boundaries.
Effective Networking: Discover how to build meaningful connections that can advance your career.
The Glow Up: Unlock your potential and embrace your journey to success and self-love.
Generational Love: Celebrate and honour the strength and wisdom passed down through generations.
Tech Empowerment: Showcase of AI tools that can support and enhance your work and entry into tech and finance.
Managing Up: Strategies for effectively managing your relationship with your line manager.
Connecting with recruiters (Early Careers): Meet tech and finance recruiters at Palantir and BT Group to understand how to unlock entry level roles.
Join us for a transformative experience where you can connect with like-minded professionals, gain valuable insights, and enjoy a range of activities designed to rejuvenate and empower.
Wednesday 27th November 2024: Professionals
Agenda
09:00-9:30 Arrivals and refreshments
9:30-9:45 Welcome from the Host of The Black Girls in Tech and Finance Summit
9:45-10:00 Fireside chat with Catherine Wright; Director, Corporate Finance at HSBC Innovation Banking
10:00-10:20 Q&A with Catherine Wright; Director, Corporate Finance at HSBC Innovation Banking
10:20-11:20 Roundtable Discussion: What tech tools can help Black women progress in the workplace?
Speakers:
Akua Opong, Senior EUC Engineer at London Stock Exchange Group
Pritanya Fritz, Back-End Engineer at Atom Bank
Gabriella Ezeani, Senior Manager-Information Governance at Chanel
Deborah Debre, Software Engineer at JP Morgan
11:20-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 Delivered by the Linkedin Team: Cutting Through the Noise: Elevating Your Personal Brand in a Crowded Digital World
Priscillia Mudiaki, EMEA Creator Manager at Linkedin
Jamila Campbell-Allen, Content Coordinator – International Editorial at Linkedin
Daniela Zwick, Lead Client Solutions Manager at LinkedIn
Shay Loko, Enterprise Account Director at Linkedin
12:30-13:30 Lunch Break
The Linkedin team will be hosting drop in sessions during the lunch break for those who wish to have their Linkedin profile reviewed!
13:40-14:40 Roundtable Discussion: What are the realities of being the Boss and how to manage up effectively
Speakers:
Anita Egbune, Head EMEA Investment Banking Finance at
Nomura
Stephanie Betant, Managing Director HSBC UK-Head of Global Trade Solutions
Stefan Johnson, Deputy Area Director, HSBC Business Banking
14:45-15:30 Break Out Session One: The Playbook: How to effectively develop impactful relationships with key players in tech and finance?
Speakers:
Chloe Oladipo, Brand Strategist
Mabintou Kolley, Entrepreneur and Senior Product Designer at SANS Institute.
15:40-16:25 Break Out Session Two: How do you show up at work during turbulent times of global racial trauma?
Speakers:
Patience Chigodora, Psychospiritual Therapist & Founder of The Innerverses
Jenny Okolo, Psychiatric Forensic Therapist
16:35-17:15 Fireside chat: How she did it: A chat with Jonelle Burkett, Finance Director at Openreach (BT)
17:15-19:00 Networking and drinks
Thursday 28th November: Early Careers/University Students
Agenda
09:00-9:30 Arrivals and refreshments
9:30-9:45 Welcome from the Host of The Black Girls in Tech and Finance Summit
9:45-10:00 In Conversation with Abisola Barber Sherwood, Global Head of Program Oversight, AML KYC at Citibank
10:00-10:20 Audience Q&A with Abisola Barber Sherwood
10:20-11:20 Roundtable Discussion: Breaking into tech & navigating your first steps
Chinemerem (Neme) Enumah, AIP at Palantir Technologies
Fatou Diop, Developer Experience Frontend Dev Lead at Palantir Technologies
Charlotte Whittington, Recruiting Lead at Palantir Technologies
Sandra Knighton, Executive Assistant at Palantir Technologies
11:20-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 The Playbook: How to develop relationships with key players in tech and finance
Speakers:
Deborah Olatunji, Technical Delivery Manager at BT
Keisha Berry, Senior Information Technology Operations at Snap Inc
Monica Goyal, Product Manager at BT
Vannesa Nyathi, Data Services and Analytics Specialist at Vodafone
12:30-13:30 Lunch Break
13:40-14:40 Roundtable Discussion: Generational Love: Multi-Generational Women in tech and finance share their career and life lessons
14:45-15:30 Break Out Session with Palantir: How to prepare for the future roles and skills of the workplace and opportunities at Palantir
Sarah Donald, Recruiting Program Manager at Palantir Technologies
Charlotte Whittington, Recruiting Lead at Palantir Technologies
Sheridan Irain, Recruitment Co-ordinator at Palantir Technologies
Ronette Yeboah, Recruitment Co-ordinator at Palantir Technologies
15:40-16:25 Break Out Session with BT Group: How to curate your pathway into tech and finance and opportunities at BT
16:35-17:15 Fireside chat: How she did it: A chat with Danielle Cherubin, Relationship Director at HSBC
17:15-19:00 Networking and drinks
Please note that all attendees will automatically be given a free account on our platform, The Hill, to access jobs, opportunities and community. Look out for an invitation from The Hill.
FAQs
What do you mean by "professional"?
These are individuals who currently work or have previous work experience and are not looking for an entry level or first role. Typically these are individuals who have 1-10 years+ of working experience. This is so that our content is focused more on career development and progression. The early careers day is focused on securing your first role.
How do I get to the venue?
The nearest station is Leyton Tube Station which can be accessed via the central line and is a 5 minute walk to the venue. Please note there is no parking so we advise you take public transport.
Why are Early Careers tickets free?
We appreciate the economical challenges students are facing in the UK and therefore have made these tickets free for these attendees on the 28th November 2024. Student ID will be required to show at registration.
How accessible is the venue?
Please email info@girlstalkcorporation.com to discuss your requirements
Why is the event on two seperate days?
We want to accommodate more women this year and in order to provide the ultimate experience for our attendees comfortably we decided to host this event across two days. This gives us the opportunity to tailor content to women who are at different life stages and provide the most appropriate opportunities.
Will this event be recorded and photos taken?
Yes, by attending this event you give us full permission to use your image for promotional purposes. If you do not want to be filmed or have your image visible, we kindly ask that you do not attend. This is due to the logistical challenges of running an event of this size and the expected numbers attending on the day. We cannot guarantee that your likeness will not be captured. We will be hosting our virtual event on 21st November and tickets can be reserved here: https://events.zoom.us/e/view/tpnQwZmjQaa57JyfzUQbFw/purchase
Do you offer refunds?
We understand that plans can change, but unfortunately, we don’t issue refunds. The ticket price helps cover the costs of food that we need to pay for in advance. Issuing refunds would put us in a difficult position financially.
We appreciate your understanding, and we hope you can still join us for a great experience!