Georgia Merrington’s Post

Excited to have just registered for the Panel Discussion: Women in Tech! 💻🌟 Looking forward to learning from and being inspired by amazing women leaders in the industry. Let's continue to support and empower each other in tech! #WomenInTech #TechLeadership #DiversityInTech

Am dealing with this myself. By being the “vision” person, CEO, the face and voice who can create, pitch, recruit, sell, write grants, I am not the one who is primarily focused on making the trains run on time internally and need to delegate that role. Wheras I have played that project manager or manager role many times, now, I need the right right-hand person or deputy for that. Women with my so-called “masculine” strengths, but who might be characterized as “bubbly” instead of “charismatic” then sometimes are not respected as women leaders. Being approachable, affirming, compassionate can be mistaken for “weak” or “pushover” or “easy to manipulate”, especially in certain international (student) groups or people from other cultures used to authoritative, hierarchical, strongman, command-and-control leaders or professors. Deeply flawed male leaders are given far more leeway, especially if they are successful, but definitely if they are brilliant. There are some very, very oddball CEOs, professors, leaders. Whereas men will often complain women are “controlling”, when I have a flat, non-hierarchical structure, am not authoritative or mean, expect others to be adults, certain behaviors can develop that I then need to go back and address. I do not enjoy projecting angry, controlling dominatrix, nor being the way I see many women in COO or HR or compliance roles may be, and it drains me of energy to be that way. The more I need to be a stern schoolmarm or addressing team dysfunction because trusting others to deliver results over micromanagement can come across as “nice” or “easy”, the more I am pulled into weeds instead writing grants, meeting investors, recruiting the team.

As Women in Tech Week comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on my journey over the last three years in SaaS... I’ve seen firsthand what it’s like to work in a male-dominated industry, and those experiences have shaped my perspective on the importance of change. That’s why I feel incredibly fortunate to now be part of a company where over 50% of the workforce is female. 💪 It’s a powerful reminder that times are changing (for the better!!), and I’m constantly inspired by the talented, driven women around me. They’re pushing boundaries, innovating, and redefining what’s possible in tech every day. 🚀 And because no reflection is complete without a few takeaways: 1️⃣ Resilience is key. Navigating challenges with confidence and grace has helped me grow both personally and professionally. 2️⃣ Representation matters. Seeing more women in leadership positions shows that change is happening, and it’s inspiring. 3️⃣ Support networks are invaluable. Having strong allies, both male and female, makes all the difference. Here’s to the incredible Swap ladies (picture included!) who motivate me daily, and to continuing to break barriers and lift each other up. 💪👩💻 #WomenInTech #SaaS #Swap #ECommerce

Think of a tech leader... I bet you thought of these... Jeff Bezos Steve Jobs Elon Musk Bill Gates Mark Zuckerberg Pioneers in tech - no doubt! 👏👏 But... How many WOMEN can you name? The stats? Not good 👎 Only 16% of women have had... → A career in tech suggested to them. 78% of students can't name... → A famous female working in technology. Only 5% of leadership positions → In tech are held by women. So here are a few BRILLIANT women to follow... 👩💻 Milda Mitkutė - Co-founder of Vinted 👩💻 ⚡️Jordan Marie Brompton - Co-founder of myenergi 👩💻 Anne Boden - Founder of Starling Bank 👩💻 Whitney Wolfe Herd - Founder of Bumble 👩💻 Melanie Perkins - Co-founder of Canva 👩💻 Sharmadean Reid MBE - Founder of Beautystack The first step to levelling the playing field? Proving there are women who CAN. 💫 And TALKING about them! Know any fab women in tech? Tag them below 🔗

Celebrating 100 Women in High-Impact Tech ⚡ We’re thrilled to launch a campaign that shines a spotlight on the incredible women shaping the future of technology! Do you work with or know someone who’s making a big impact in the tech world? Now’s your chance to recognize their achievements by nominating them to be featured in our upcoming report. We’re looking for inspiring women across four key categories: 🧠 Founders: Pioneers who have established tech businesses from the ground up. We are looking for visionaries - the opportunity seekers who are redefining the industry with their bold ideas. 📈 Leaders: The women steering the ship. From guiding teams to making strategic decisions to push the organization forward, they are the role models setting the tone and inspiring excellence. 🖥️ Builders: Engineers, developers, product managers - the creators bringing ideas into fruition. Their proficiency and diligence is the driving force of tech innovation, building the technologies that power the future. 🤝 Connectors: These are the skilled networkers and collaborators who bring it all together. Their ability to drive growth through uniting people, ideas, and resources within the tech ecosystem is an unsung hero of success. Know someone who fits the bill? Nominate and help us celebrate the women who are leading the charge in high-impact technology! 🌟 Nominate here: https://bit.ly/3Mrr4WJ #TimeForParity #WomenInTech #TechLeaders #Innovation #TechAwards Kesi

Rewriting the Narrative, Redefining Leadership As a business leader, I've been keenly observing the dynamic business landscape, where women leaders don't just rewrite rules; they are crafting a compelling new narrative. By leveraging technology and shaping industries, their stories have personally inspired, motivated, and redefined leadership beyond Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Global Impact, Diverse Achievements: Sallie Krawcheck, championing financial literacy and economic empowerment, fosters inclusion in the financial world through Ellevest. Allie K. Miller, leading Pinterest, proves purpose and profit go hand-in-hand, amplifying diverse voices and driving positive impact. Alyssa Henry, Chief Diversity Officer at Salesforce, ensures inclusivity by guaranteeing "a seat at the table" for everyone. From Boardrooms to Breakthroughs: Marissa Mayer's resilience and innovation shine through, transitioning from leading Yahoo to building Lumi Labs in the ever-evolving tech landscape. Aishwarya Srinivasan, championing social impact at Microsoft, empowers rural communities through technology. Helen Yu, leading transportation powerhouse Didi Chuxing, navigates a complex industry with grace and vision. Michelle Zatlyn, building Bumble into a dating app giant, empowers women to take control of their relationships. Kate Strachnyi, co-founder of Built In, connects tech talent and fosters innovation across industries. Beyond Success, a Legacy of Change: Anne Wojcicki, through 23andMe, empowers individuals with genetic information, promoting health awareness and personalized medicine. Whitney Wolfe Herd, building a supportive community through Bumble Bizz, redefines networking with empowerment. Jenny Just, spearheading Canva's global expansion, empowers creators and democratizes design. Rana el Kaliouby, Ph.D., leading Affectiva, pioneers emotion AI, unlocking new frontiers in human-computer interaction. And countless others: Meg Whitman, paved the way for women in tech and venture capital, leading HP and eBay. Shivani Siroya, revolutionized mobile advertising and empowered Indian entrepreneurs This isn't just about celebrating success; it's harnessing their collective power. Let's amplify their voices, support their ideas, and create a world where leadership knows no gender boundaries. Who are the women leaders who inspire you? Share their stories in the comments! #womenleaders #RewritingTheNarrative #globalimpact #DiversityInAction

During an interview today, the candidate asked me what it's like being part of a company led by a woman. My answer? Proud 💅🏻 Few SaaS businesses achieve the monumental milestone of $200M CARR. To do it as one of the world’s only woman-founded, 70% women-led, and predominantly women-owned SaaS unicorn companies made it even more special. We’ve celebrated many milestones, in my 4 years here @ Insider. But nothing will beat the feeling of being part of the remarkable women leaders over Times Square on #InternationalWomensDay. Here’s why stories like ours matter:  ♀️ Female-founded companies account for under 3% of venture capital funding deals involving AI.  ♀️ Women make up just 28% of leadership positions in the Customer Experience industry globally.  ♀️ Women hold only 30% of STEM roles. Insider continues to defy all norms, but we still have more work to do - and we will not stop. This month, as always, we recognize the talented women in our community, the #OutstandingWomeninCX, and beyond 👏 What the news means for the industry > https://bit.ly/3uZkj9q

Woman founded. 70% female executive team. Predominantly female-owned. @Insider announces 4.5X growth in Australia, and unlocks $200M USD CARR globally, on International Women’s Day, following notable customer wins including Samsung, Spotlight Retail Group, Dan Murphy’s. 🚀🔓 How did we do it? 🏔️ We focused on anticipating marketers' biggest challenges,  🤖 Delivered against the most aggressive product and #AI roadmap to be a first-mover,  ❤️ Obsessed with our customer's problems to create the ultimate vendor experience. Announcing this milestone on #InternationalWomensDay is even more significant. As one of the few woman-founded, 70% women-led, and predominantly women-owned SaaS unicorn companies, we’ve unlocked a milestone few reach. Thank you, @NASDAQ, for celebrating with us. Happy #IWD to all outstanding women in CX and beyond! Find out more: https://bit.ly/3PbFID9

In November, when #24WIP was in the roughest-of-rough outlines, a conversation with a friend sparked a flash of "wildest dream lineup" vision. The vast majority of the content that comes to the Women In Product stages is driven by our CFP process - soup to nuts community run. Our keynote process is a little different. Here, we collect themes, names, and ideas that percolate from feedback collected across all of our programs and platforms. We survey the community after every event, asking who they most would like to hear from. We ask participants which women, which companies, which 'firsts' are top of their lists. We compile notes, float names to our board, ask for introductions. We do cold outreach, which is something like fly fishing, with a mission of landing powerful messages from women + gender diverse changemakers. So, back to November. In November, when hiking with Sonia Wong - a leader and friend I've learned so much from over the years - we cooked up a "wouldn't it be cool if..." vision. A leader in product fundamentals, representing the thru line that evolves but doesn't shift from dedication to the craft. A gen ai insider, from a leading company among those that introduced easy-to-use ai tools to everyone, all at once, and changed the cultural conversation. The newly minted C-suite duo that hails from the company that, in many ways, defined "pivot" before the pandemic made that term tech's most overused verb. Fast forward to now. (Sonia, thanks for dreaming big with me.) TL/DR: I could not BE more excited about this lineup. 🤩 #productmanagers - Not subscribed for Women In Product updates? This will not be the only exciting announcement; some of what's coming up will be limited capacity and first-come tickets. Avoid FOMO and stay tuned: https://lnkd.in/gjckRU6j

Bold Moves: Women in Tech, This is Your Time Over the past week, I've participated in conversations focused on empowering women in tech. We've explored the limitless potential that women bring to the table and the critical need to cultivate environments where their talents are recognised and elevated. One thing is clear: progress demands boldness. Too often, the fear of failure, societal expectations, or self-doubt create barriers that hold us back. But after reflecting on these discussions, I want to encourage every woman—whether you're embarking on a tech journey, learning new skills, or transitioning into a new role—to go for it. We've witnessed the transformative power of women in industries through innovation and leadership. However, this impact can only be realised when we move beyond hesitation. Don’t wait for the “right” moment or the perfect skill set. Growth begins with action. As the Nike slogan says, “Just do it.” Trust in your ability, and let your courage lead the way. Let’s embrace empowerment in its truest form: stepping forward, seizing opportunities, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. As we make these bold moves, we shape our future and pave the way for others. Together, we will redefine the landscape of technology. Mabel the Maven #WomenInTech #TechWomen #Empowerment #Leadership #BoldMoves #WomenInSTEM #JustDoIt #WomenEmpoweringWomen #TechLeadership #Inspiration