GIRLS TALK London, an award-winning agency that connects women with global brands, is partnering with Facebook and LinkedIn to launch a technology summit for young black British women aiming to work in technology or currently pursuing a career in technology. 

The first edition of the event will host over 100 young black women at the Facebook London technology office in Rathbone Square, on November 29.

Hosted by influencer and confidence coach Nissy Tee, the event welcomes young black women who have studied STEM subjects at any educational stage but have a strong passion and desire to work in technology. The tech summit sold out in three days and currently has over 200 black women on the waiting list.

Adwoa Baah, Content strategist at Facebook says: “I’m excited that we’ll be giving 100 young black women the information and tools they need to get a job, overcome the hurdles they will find throughout their careers, and be successful in the tech industry. 

“There are too few black people building and designing products, doing the marketing or running the business side of things – and that needs to change. This is not just a problem in the UK, but all over the world. We need to start harnessing the diversity of blackness that exists globally and build products that reflect our narratives too. It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s good for business.”

Girls Talk London founder Vanessa Sanyauke comments: “We are really excited to be partnering with Facebook and LinkedIn for our very first Black Girls Tech Summit. This partnership enables us to support black women who aspire to work in technology but do not necessarily have access to companies, recruiters and role models to offer them guidance, teach them new skills or offer them new opportunities. 

“In the past five years, there has been a 13% decrease in the number of black women working in technology. However, the demand for this event shows that the talent and interest is very much there. Our hope is that through connecting with black female talent at events like ours, this number starts to increase and we enable more black women to enter the field of technology.”

The event will be a day-long summit that will facilitate demos, talks, panels and an opportunity for attendees to meet with senior leaders and recruitment teams from Facebook and LinkedIn. Fostering and connecting female talent is integral to the Girls Talk London ethos, so women in the room will be encouraged to network with each other and meet new people who will help them begin a successful journey in the technology industry. 

Andrew Monu, Director of Field & Product Marketing, Marketing Solutions (EMEA & LATAM) at LinkedIn adds: “Creating economic opportunity is central to LinkedIn’s mission, so we are delighted to support Girls Talk London help talented young black women fulfil their potential.

“Through our participation at this event, we aim to encourage more young black women that a career in the tech industry is absolutely within their grasp, by providing them with access to successful role models who have overcome similar challenges, sharing best practices on personal branding, as well as our unique insights on how to use LinkedIn’s network to help land their dream job.”

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