Women working in the technology sector have been urged to trust their instincts, back their ideas, and challenge barriers to change, as industry leaders gathered at the first Inspiring Women in Technology event in Birmingham.
The event, hosted by the School of Coding & AI (SOC), brought together innovators and senior professionals from across the Midlands to discuss how women can turn the challenges of AI into opportunities for leadership and impact.
Suki Gill, (pictured) Director of Education and Quality at SOC, was joined by Aditi Desai, Consultant in Maternity and Gynaecology at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and co-founder of the iCount surgical safety system, and Hollie Whittles, Information Security & HR Director at Purple Frog Systems.
Reflecting on her own career, which began at Marconi before retraining as a teacher, Gill shared her perspective on building confidence and resilience in an industry still seen as male-dominated.
“For all its advancements, the technology sector is still regarded as a male-dominated industry,” Gill said. “But there are countless opportunities for women, and I was delighted to join others in the field to discuss this.
At School of Coding & AI, one of our key missions is to increase opportunities for women and girls, regardless of background.”
The School of Coding & AI, headquartered in Birmingham, continues to play a prominent role in national efforts to boost digital literacy, AI education and gender diversity in technology.
During Birmingham Tech Week, the organisation hosted CyberVerse Unmasked – Shaping the Future of Digital Resilience, a major conference exploring cybersecurity, innovation and the future of AI.
The event brought together cybersecurity professionals, entrepreneurs and academics to discuss emerging digital threats and how to strengthen resilience across public and private sectors.
SOC founder and CEO Manny Athwal also addressed the ScaleUp Summit at Birmingham’s STEAMhouse, where he shared his entrepreneurial journey — from starting the company in his bedroom to building a multi-million-pound enterprise operating in 17 countries.
“The road to creating a successful business is never straight,” Athwal said. “I built School of Coding & AI from a single idea into a global organisation.
Success doesn’t come from the idea alone — it comes from execution, leadership and resilience. If my journey can help others succeed, it’s a story I’m proud to share.”
The Inspiring Women in Technology event is set to become a regular fixture in Birmingham’s technology calendar, part of a growing effort to encourage more women into STEM careers and leadership roles within AI, cybersecurity and data science.
Organisers said the next event will expand its focus to include female founders, investors and educators, with the goal of creating a national platform for women driving innovation in tech.