Event Report: Review of Women in Tech: Unfiltered

Digital Officer Becky McMillan and volunteers Chiara Bassini and Hyeran Lee attended a day of empowering talks at Women in Tech 2024!

Missed out on Women In Tech 2024? No worries, we've got you covered! In this series of three instalments, digital Strategy Officer Becky McMillan and volunteers Chiara Bassini and Hyeran Lee describe their main takeaways of the day. In this article, we follow volunteer Hyeran Lee as she mediates on overcoming challenges of identity, and shares reflections on how her personal experiences as an Asian woman have influenced her outlook and future ambitions.

On March 8th, I was privileged to attend the Manchester Tech Festival's Women in Tech: Unfiltered alongside the Manchester's Digital Strategy team. Would you like to hear about the conference's content, which broadened my horizons and my story?

On the occasion of International Women's Day, and in keeping with the festival's title, I heard about experiences that focused on the stories of women.

The event was about hearing  women's challenges providing a platform for discussion, fostering a supportive environment, and empowering the many women here and everywhere who are fighting for their place.

Toni Phoenix-Coles' “The Silent Struggle” was an enlightening lecture for me. It made me rethink the stereotypical, conventional image of a woman. At a certain juncture, I found myself ensnared by societal norms and expectations of femininity. Societal norms and expectations of femininity dictate how women should look, behave, and fulfil societal roles, often emphasising beauty, passivity, caregiving, and emotional sensitivity while limiting opportunities for authentic self-expression and advancement in various spheres. After listening to her lecture, I thought about how to break free from these constraints and cultivate self-assurance, and I’m still thinking about it.

Kanika S.'s “Pet to Threat” talk greatly made me think. As an Asian, the prospect of leaving the place where I was born and raised and living alone in a foreign land was both a challenge and a fear for me. I've encountered unexpected racism in a lot of places, and I'm sad to say that I think it will continue to be the case.

I can't say I'm not scared of the many challenges I've faced as a woman and the many challenges I will continue to face. However, Kanika’s talk changed my mind so I would not just be scared. While the obstacles I have encountered throughout my life are challenging, my progress will make me a stronger and more independent woman.

At all times, I will carry my identity as an Asian with a fear that someone else may not understand.

But the important thing is that I and other women, including women of Asian origin, support and cheer each other on, dream of change, and move forward together.

Thankfully, I could feel this experience first-hand from the Manchester Digital Strategy Team. I'm so grateful to be part of a project that centres on diversity and inclusion and to be a part of that change.

As Chiara Bassini mentioned in her article I've been working on a smart city project for the past few weeks.

It's a bit sad, but I mentioned that the reason I was scared in this society was that I was "Asian," which is my identity and something I can't change. Born and raised in Korea, that fact became the reason for racism and the wall I faced. As in Vernon Richards , Sobia Iqbal and Kanika S.’s “Fighting the system” fireside chat, race, gender or sexual orientation can is become the standards by which people judge me, but at the same time, they are characteristics that represent me.  I'm going through this myself. My identity, which I thought was the cause of the negative things I go through, has become my guide, contributing to the idea of providing diversity and inclusivity in the Manchester Digital Strategy team.

We realised inclusivity and diversity in this project by getting ideas based on Korea's intelligent cities and finding elements to benchmark against Manchester's Smart Cities.

That’s right! Perhaps my identity, which caused all my pain or the 'wall' I had to go through, was helping me to challenge and change societal constructs. And, of course, this is because of the support of the women on my team who understand and support me.

As Chiara says, we have five out of six women on our team, two of whom are women of colour, and we cheer each other on, understand each other, and build on that.

“Women in Tech: Unfiltered” was a forum to address and discuss women's challenges in underrepresented communities across the tech industry. We must support and cheer for every woman's challenges and have the will to continue to change.

Once again, I would like to thank Chiara Bassini for valuing my story, the Manchester's Digital Strategy team, and kirsty leigh for allowing me to participate in Women in Tech. Also, thank you, Amy Newton, for organising this absolutely perfect and exceptional festival. Thanks to you guys, this opportunity allowed me to undergo many changes in my thoughts about how I understand and live my life and broadened my horizons.