A recent event in Leeds has offered ethnic minority women in West Yorkshire a valuable opportunity to enhance their digital skills and confidence. Organised as part of Leeds Digital Festival 2024, the half-day event, titled ‘EmpowerHer: Digital Confidence’, was held at the Leeds Media Centre and brought together underrepresented women keen to develop their digital abilities.
The initiative, a collaboration between West Yorkshire Ethnic Minority Women in Tech and various partners, including Unity Enterprise, Yorkshire Asian Business Association (YABA), AD, Digital Enterprise, Transition Partners, The Coders Guild, and Trust Leeds, provided a platform for these women to learn, network, and connect with the region’s vibrant digital sector.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from AD’s Marketing and Events Manager, Daneile Moore, followed by a panel discussion featuring six successful women from the technology sector. The panellists – Olubunmi Fajuyigbe, Jordan Dargue, Paula Grizzard, Dally Kaur, Arifa Chakera, and Rebecca Padgett – shared their personal experiences navigating the digital world, inspiring more than 30 attendees with their journeys. Their stories highlighted the importance of overcoming barriers and encouraged participants to pursue their own paths in the tech industry.
An interactive presentation led by Faith Dada and Crispin Reed from The Coders Guild focused on building confidence and identifying transferrable skills. This was followed by a session from Liza Kellett, Chief Executive of Trust Leeds, who outlined the organisation’s work in supporting women through financial inclusion and community development initiatives.
The event concluded with closing remarks from YABA Director, Satvir Meen, before a networking lunch provided participants with a chance to meet like-minded individuals and discuss opportunities for growth.
Cedric Boston, Chief Executive of Unity Homes and Enterprise, praised the event’s impact on empowering women from BME communities to achieve their full potential in the digital landscape.
“Our doors will always be open to initiatives like this, especially those designed to encourage women from ethnic minority backgrounds to fulfil their business potential,” Boston said. “It was an ideal platform for them to connect with others and access the support needed to take the next step in their careers.”
Unity Enterprise, a subsidiary of Unity Homes and Enterprise, operates three business centres in Leeds, including the Leeds Media Centre, where the event was held. EmpowerHer: Digital Confidence was just one of many events the organisation has hosted in its ongoing commitment to supporting diversity in business.
Sharon Jandu OBE, Chair of Unity Enterprise and founder of YABA, added: “We are committed to fostering pathways into entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for BME women in the region. This event was a key step in assisting them to thrive in the digital sector, which is vital to the regional economy.”
Daneile Moore echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of addressing the unique challenges that BME women face in the tech industry.
“This was a wonderfully inspiring event, with many interactions and connections made,” she said. “EmpowerHer: Digital Confidence allowed women to voice their challenges in a safe and supportive environment.”
Plans are already underway for further events to build on the momentum generated, ensuring that more women across West Yorkshire have the tools and support to succeed in the ever-evolving digital world.
