August 2011 Update

Tuesday 9th August 2011 - Update from Maggie Berry, Managing Director, Women in Technology

As we enter the last furlong of 'summer', activities and offers for our members continue to pile in and there are lots of things to get involved in this month. The Guardian and City University are interested in speaking to mobile news apps users, Women in the City begin their search for the 2011 Technology Woman of Achievement and an e-book about how companies deal with mergers and acquisitions is available to download for free - to name but a few. In addition, details of our autumn/winter training courses are now online with a variety of workshops starting in September taking you straight through to November. Click here for more information.

Please get in touch with the relevant contacts directly and feel free to forward the link to this page onto friends or colleagues who might be interested in the items. If you have any questions about Women in Technology or would like to make a submission for the next newsletter, please don't hesitate to contact Maggie Berry - thanks so much!

1. Women in the City searches for the 2011 Technology Woman of Achievement
2. Do you use mobile news apps?
3. Could you write to your MP about women in SET?
4. The Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowship Opportunities
5. Maternity Survey
6. Mentoring as an effective tool to grow future leaders, 5:30pm on Wednesday 23rd August 2011, London
7. Wellbeing of Women - Adidas 5K Run, Sunday 11th September 2011, Hyde Park
8. Every CIO’s Guide to Demonstrably Outstanding Performance – 4pm on Tuesday 13th September 2011, London
9. Re-launch of the Hoxton Apprentice Restaurant and Bar, 7pm on Thursday 15th September 2011
10. The 2011 WISE Annual Awards - nominations deadline is 5pm on Friday 16th September 2011
11. Power of Profile, 6pm on Thursday 29th of September 2011, London
12. The Women in Business Superconference on Friday 11th November 2011, London
13. Sisters Roar - raising funds and awareness for three great women's charities
14. Free e-book - "Top Mistakes Companies Make When Dealing with Cross Border M&As"
15. The Catalyst Club: a free members-only club within The Hoxton Apprentice, London
16. The CARE New Media Challenge - Saturday 3rd September 2011, Staffordshire
17. Weekend Prince2 courses in London or Croydon?


1 - Women in the City searches for the 2011 Technology Woman of Achievement
Launched in 2007, these awards recognise senior level women, working in London’s business hubs, who are actively promoting and encouraging the progress of women above and beyond their everyday job. The Technology Category, a new category for 2011, is endorsed by the Information Technologists' Company and sponsored by Google and Women in the City are looking forward to receiving nominations for women who are leading IT practitioners whether they're working in an ICT organisations or other business sectors such as finance, accountancy, law, health, personnel, marketing and PR. Applicants will compete firstly to win their Category Award and then the winners of all seven Category Awards go head-to-head for the coveted Woman of Achievement Award which will be announced at the Women in the City Annual Celebration Lunch on Friday 25th November. On-line nominations are open now and the closing date for application forms is Friday 23rd September. More information can be found here.

2 - Do you use mobile news apps?
The Guardian and City University would like to have a chat with you about what you think about them. If you happen to be around King’s Cross London, they’d be glad to meet you over coffee to find out more about what you think. You will also receive a £15 Amazon voucher for helping them out. Please contact Karen Loasby at karen.loasby@guardian.co.uk for more details. You must own a mobile phone and have basic experience downloading and using mobile apps.

3 - Could you write to your MP about women in SET?
In last month's newsletter we featured the launch of Unlocking Potential: Perspectives on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology by the Smith Institute. If you would like to contribute further, could we ask you to write to your MP asking the Government to set up a commission to look at this issue. A draft letter for you to send can be found here. You can find out who your MP is by putting in your postcode on the front page of the parliament website.



4 - The Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowship Opportunities
The Daphne Jackson Trust is an independent charity dedicated to returning talented scientists, engineers and technologists to careers after a career break of two years or more. There is a commitment to support a Daphne Jackson Fellowship from the Royal Meteorological Society and so the DJT is seeking candidates in the field of meteorology to take up a fellowship at a UK university/research establishment. Daphne Jackson Fellowships are usually two years part time, paid during which the Fellow undertakes a challenging research project and a tailored retraining programme. Fellows must have had at least two years break and a degree in a SET discipline and three years research experience prior to the break. The Fellowships are designed to help returners who have been out of the workplace for two years or more and are intended to significantly increase employability and remove the disadvantages inherent in a career break. For more information please see the website or call on 01483 689166. In addition, the Trust always welcomes applications from returners with a background in science, engineering or technology, who meet the criteria mentioned above.


5 - Maternity Survey
Author of 'Mothers Work! How to Get a Grip on Guilt and Make a Smooth Return to Work', Jessica Chivers, is inviting women currently on maternity leave and those who have returned within the last two years to take part in an anonymous survey about their experiences. The aim of the survey is to illuminate the type and level of support/contact women wish to have with their organisation during this time. The survey will form the basis of a report to be published in November 2011 and will shape the work Jessica and her team do with organisations and private clients. The survey is open until Friday 30th September and there is a £25 prize for the person who ‘recruits’ the most participants. If you would like to complete the survey, please click here.


6 - Mentoring as an effective tool to grow future leaders, 5:30pm on Wednesday 23rd August 2011, London
Mentoring is a powerful personal development and empowerment tool and an effective way of helping people to progress in their careers. It is a partnership between two people (mentor and mentee) normally working in a similar field or sharing similar experiences. It is a helpful relationship based upon mutual trust and respect. While having a mentor is very beneficial, the benefits of being a mentor are often overlooked. Mentoring provides development opportunities for mentors as well as great personal satisfaction. Being a mentor can improve your leadership skills and enable you to learn from alternative approaches and different ways of thinking. It can be challenging, inspiring and enlightening. This is suitable for all MentorSET mentors/mentees or anyone (male or female!) who'd like a practical overview of the benefits of mentoring. This interactive seminar/workshop aims to show the benefits of an effective peer mentoring programme to individuals and to the organisation as a whole. The event is free for members of MentorSET, WES, CIHT and WTS. The cost for non members is £20. More information can be found here.


7 - Wellbeing of Women - Adidas 5K Run, Sunday 11th September 2011, Hyde Park
Run, jog or walk 5km for Wellbeing of Women (WoW), who raise funds to invest in medical research and the development of specialist doctors and nurses working in the field of reproductive and gynaecological health. There is a great atmosphere at the Adidas 5K Run with around 17,000 participants each year all making their way round the 5km course in Hyde Park. Online entry for this year's event is now open - sign up to the race here - please then let WoW know that you are running for them so that they can send you a t-shirt and information on where they are meeting up on the day (they do not get this information automatically from your registration). The 5km (three and half mile) distance is suitable for serious runners, fun runners, joggers and those who would just like to walk - there will be people from their team going at all paces so you won't be on your own. Entry in 2010 was £15 - £5 of which comes to Wellbeing of Women if you choose to run for them - they then hope that you will raise additional sponsorship to aid them in raising funds to continue their work. If you would like more information on taking part in this event this year, or any other running challenge please send an email to Hannah Leaton: hleaton.wellbeingofwomen@rcog.org.uk


8 - Every CIO’s Guide to Demonstrably Outstanding Performance – 4pm on Tuesday 13th September 2011, London
This seminar examines how two organisations used reliable and robust information to make radical improvements to the way in-house services and IT vendors were managed which resulted in huge cash savings, quality improvements and enhanced credibility for the IT function. It will also be a practical session outlining how to get started with gathering and using better evidence about your IT service. This is a two hour seminar, free to attend for CIO's and senior IT leaders. Through case studies and expert guidance you will learn: how a major global IT operation saved £millions through more effective measurement and management of vendor contracts; what is possible – how to get started with gathering the information and measurements you will need to make decisions; how to gain credibility for IT through robust, 100% objective measurement of what matters to your customers; how to check and challenge what your suppliers and partners are doing in order to get the best performance and why some CIOs and IT functions are able to deliver on time, on budget projects, and manage productive, cost saving vendor contracts and how you can start to apply their ways of working in your own organisation. More information can be found here.


9 - Re-launch of the Hoxton Apprentice Restaurant and Bar, 7pm on Thursday 15th September 2011
The re-launch of the Hoxton Apprentice Restaurant and Bar – with host for the night Prue Leith – has sponsorship opportunities available – would your firm like to be involved? Hoxton Apprentice is part of a group of apprentice restaurants owned by the charity, Training For Life, which has returned over 15,000 people, previously long-term unemployed, back into full time education or employment. Hoxton Apprentice is managed by industry professionals and staffed partly by trainees - their apprentices. They are a social enterprise combining two purposes: to serve great modern European food at affordable prices and to give people who have rather lost their way in life a chance to get their lives back on track by learning skills that will secure them employment in the hospitality industry. 100% of all its profits are reinvested to help unemployed people. There are three opportunities to contribute to the re-launch of the Hoxton Apprentice on the 15th September 2011 – they all include a table of eight for the re-launch dinner: Visionaries - £5,000 - your contribution provides the underwriting of an Apprentice’s training and sponsors six months employment; permanent commemoration on plaque; feature on Hoxton Apprentice website and a private event for 8-10 guests – date of your choice. Architects - £2,500 - your contribution provides the underwriting of an Apprentice’s Training; recognition on permanent plaque and an honourable mention on Hoxton Apprentice website. Designers - £1,500 - your contribution provides several Apprentices with an equipment pack – the tools of the trade; recognition on permanent plaque and listing on Hoxton Apprentice website. Please consider supporting this very worthwhile initiative - for additional information, please contact Jan Halper - 07904 121 864 or janhalper@btinternet.com


10 - The 2011 WISE Annual Awards - nomination deadline is 5pm on Friday 16th September 2011
WISE - Women into Science, Engineering and Construction - works with industry and education to inspire girls and attract them into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers. They advise on a range of initiatives, from running an outreach day to advising on new careers literature, challenging stereotypes in innovative and effective ways. The WISE Annual Awards are given in recognition of companies and individuals who have actively addressed the issue of promoting science, engineering and construction to girls and young women, so supporting the aims of WISE. The award ceremony will held on the 19th October 2011 at the Institute of Engineering and Technology, London. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal will present the awards to the successful candidates. The WISE Excellence Award is open to women who are in the early stages of their career, scientists and those working in construction. She must have demonstrated a high level of commitment to her chosen profession and to the promotion of science, engineering and construction to girls and young women. The winner will receive a cheque for £1,000 and an engraved plaque. The WISE Champion Award is open to schools, industry, universities, colleges, charities and professional bodies who have taken steps to actively address the WISE mission to encourage girls and young women in to STEM education and related careers. The winner will receive an engraved plaque. The WISE Advisor Award is open to career advisors, teachers, ambassadors, mentors and educators who have motivated and enthused girls and young women to pursue STEM related subjects. The winner will receive an engraved plaque. Deadline for nominations is 5pm Friday 16th September 2011. For any further information, to nominate or to sponsor the WISE Awards 2011, please click here.


11 - Power of Profile, 6pm on Thursday 29th of September 2011, London
Nowadays you need a little bit more to get ahead than just the experience you have obtained through your employment or the qualifications you studied so hard for at school or university. In a world where competition is high and opportunities are scarce, we all need to do a little more than our day jobs to get noticed and obtain the recognition we deserve. You may well have a myriad of skills to offer, but if no one else knows they are there, opportunities to demonstrate your true capability will rarely come your way. Raising awareness of your skills through profile building is probably one of the most powerful tools in your career armoury, however, you have to know what tools and techniques to build it, protect it and use it for success. If you are interested in building your profile and finding out more, WeAreTheCity.com and flagship consultancy Navigant would like to invite you to their “Power of Profile” event where you will hear from WeAreTheCity’s founder, Vanessa Vallely, about her own career journey from Analyst to Chief Operating Officer. She will also share with you what she has learnt about the importance of profile and the tools and techniques she has used to raise her own profile both inside and outside her corporate environment. They will talk about the pros and cons of social media and hear an abundance of ideas and tips you can use to grow your own profile and brand. They will also be joined by leading networking expert, Heather White, who will explain how networking can also help you to build your profile. The evening will start and end with the opportunity to network with other WeAreTheCity members over drinks and canapés. Tickets cost £20 and more information can be found here.


12 - The Women in Business Superconference on Friday 11th November 2011, London
Discover how you can jump start your career and double your earning potential by attending the Women in Business Superconference 2011! You too can have a guaranteed plan to excel in the corporate sector... And discover the real secrets that super successful business women use to climb the corporate ladder. This is the stuff they don't teach you in business school or any formal corporate training. This conference is a perfect match for you if you want to know the shortcuts even if you’re just launching your career or want to simply know the secrets to advancing to the next level. You will discover: the exact strategies and techniques to use in your annual appraisals that will give your boss no alternative but to promote you; the insider secrets that will save you seven years of frustration and confusion when climbing the corporate ladder; how you can gain confidence and multiply your productivity without working any harder and how to work the system in your favour and to be one step ahead of the competition. We have a special offer on tickets for Women in Technology members - £197 + VAT (instead of £297 + VAT). More information (including how do get discounted tickets) can be found here.


13 - Sisters Roar - raising funds and awareness for three great women's charities
On Saturday July 16th at Angel Studios in London, a gathering of inspirational friends recorded the single, 'I am Woman.' Every single penny raised will be shared amongst the charities - Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Star Support for Domestic Abuse - as the whole project was fuelled by donations. In three short weeks the CD and video have been professionally produced; thanks to the determination, enthusiasm and generosity of all the people involved. If you would like to be part of this amazing fundraising event it is easy! For starters download the single from iTunes NOW! for just 99 pence! Would you like to find out more? Or would you like to buy a video CD? Just click here.




14 - Free e-book - "Top Mistakes Companies Make When Dealing with Cross Border M&As"
Mergers and acquisitions are phenomena that affect businesses in all sectors and there is a high chance that you and your employer have gone through significant change over the past few years. One of our members, Isabella Brusati, has written an e-book called the "Top Mistakes Companies Make When Dealing with Cross Border M&As". The e-book aims to help CXOs and employees understand the main reasons why between 50% to 77% of deals fail to deliver value. Through her 15 years in this area, Isabella has come across behaviour that led to difficulties in reaching the strategic goals that the CEO and the shareholders expected from the merger or acquisition. Often the executive team focuses only on the financial and operational aspects of the M&A rather than also considering differences in international employment law, culture, retention of key employees and restructuring. The end result is that the deal fails to deliver value for the shareholders, the synergies are slow to be achieved (and more often are not achieved at all) but it is possible to avoid these mistakes. The e-book - "Top Mistakes Companies Make When Dealing with Cross Border M&As" - is available for free. If you would like to receive a copy, please send an email with your details to isabella@isabellabrusaticonsulting.co.


15 - The Catalyst Club: a free members-only club within The Hoxton Apprentice, London
Work in peaceful and trendy surroundings in the heart of Hoxton; arrange your business meetings, network or just relax on comfy sofas at The Hoxton Apprentice - open from 11am to 6pm. Meet their friendly apprentices when you order coffees and teas or sample their delicious British lunch menu. Member benefits include: exclusive discounts (10% off your food bill when you have lunch); free meeting space in the private mezzanine of the restaurant – book in advance to reserve; free WiFi use; regular news and updates on The Hoxton Apprentice and special rates for your exclusive networking events and social mixers. Simply email info@hoxtonapprentice.com with your name, home address and mobile and they’ll post your Catalyst Club membership card. Click here for further information. 

16 - The CARE New Media Challenge - Saturday 3rd September 2011, Staffordshire
Women in Technology is supporting the CARE New Media Challenge, which will see digital professionals challenging themselves and poverty by supporting poverty relief charity CARE International. On Saturday 3rd September, teams will go head- to-head to complete a marathon distance multi-activity course in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.  This includes biking forest tracks, canoeing on a river and completing a spectacular trail challenge. There will be with a few mystery challenges to solve along the way and a bonus stage for the super fit and ultra-competitive! With teams from a variety of digital agencies and IT departments already signed up the competition is hotting up. Every drop of sweat will be worthwhile as funds raised will support aid and development agency CARE International. The charity is hoping to top funds raised from the previous two years’ challenges, by raising more than £35,000 to support some of the world’s poorest people. If you feel inspired to get active for a day, then please click here to visit the website for more details, call 0207 934 9470 or email challenge@careinternational.org

17. Weekend Prince2 courses in London or Croydon?
Want to do some self-funded training at a time that's convenient to you? A member of our network has been speaking to a very highly recommended training provider who will run Prince2 weekend sessions. Costs are around £900+VAT for the Prince2 Foundation course and exam, but depending on numbers a discount could be negotiated. A minimum of 5 people are required to run the course, probably a weekend in November, December or maybe early next year. If you are interested, please contact info@womenin.co.uk and we will pass your details onto her.