Tech Talk: Together in DEIB – Give to Empower, Gain to Inspire

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Cavendish Professionals hosted a powerful Tech Talk session titled ‘Give to Empower, Gain to Inspire. Bringing together leaders from across the technology industry, the discussion explored how we can collectively build more inclusive, equitable and supportive environments. At its core, the conversation reinforced a simple but impactful idea: empowerment is not a solo journey, it’s something we create together.

A special thank you to our mentors for taking the time to share their wisdom:

Dr Sasha Göbbels (she/her): Senior Engineering Manager at Overleaf
Corina Dumanovschi (she/her): Senior Product Management Lead at refurbed
Lisa Pollmann (she/her): HR Manager at TUI
Irina Tugui (she/her): Head of Engineering at Just Eat Takeway.com
Linda Kohl (she/her): Director Field Engineering at Databricks

Why DEIB matters more than ever

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) goes beyond representation. As highlighted in the session, it’s about:

• Access to opportunities
• Support systems and advocacy
• Creating pathways for growth

The panel emphasised that real change happens when individuals are not only present in the room, but are heard, supported and given the opportunity to thrive.

The power of support: Mentorship, sponsorship & allyship

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the transformative role of support networks.

Many speakers reflected on pivotal moments in their careers where someone:

• Took a chance on them
• Advocated for their potential
• Opened doors that otherwise may have remained closed

These stories highlighted the importance of:

• Mentorship – offering guidance and sharing experience
• Sponsorship – actively advocating for someone’s growth
• Allyship – using your voice to amplify others

Practical allyship, as discussed, can be simple but powerful:

• Ensuring quieter voices are heard in meetings
• Advocating for colleagues when they’re not in the room
• Intentionally creating opportunities for underrepresented talent

Creating equal opportunities in tech

The conversation moved beyond individual actions to organisational responsibility.
To truly enable equal access to career growth, companies must embed fairness across the entire employee lifecycle:

• Inclusive hiring practices
• Transparent and metric-based promotions
• Structured feedback frameworks
• Mentorship and development programmes
• Diverse leadership pipelines

One key takeaway: everything is connected. From hiring to progression, every stage must be designed with equity in mind.

The panel also highlighted impactful initiatives that are already making a difference, including:

• Pay equity reviews and transparent salary banding
• Gender-neutral job descriptions
• Feedback coaching to reduce bias
• Mentorship and community-building programmes

The role of intersectionality

A particularly important discussion centred around intersectionality is recognising that women are not a homogeneous group.

Factors such as these all shape individual experiences in the workplace:

• Nationality
• Ethnicity
• Neurodiversity
• Socioeconomic background
• Care responsibilities

This perspective challenges organisations to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and instead:

• Offer flexibility in working styles and benefits
• Focus on outcomes over presence
• Creating inclusive policies that reflect diverse realities

Personal ownership meets organisational support

While organisations play a crucial role, individuals are also encouraged to take ownership of their growth.

Key themes included:

• Being curious and proactive
• Seeking mentors and networks
• Pursuing stretch opportunities
• Understanding your own strengths and goals

As one speaker noted: “You are the steward of your own career.”

Key takeaways: How to take action

The session closed with practical actions anyone can take to drive impact:

• Get involved – mentor, volunteer, or join internal communities
• Build networks – connect with others to amplify collective voices
• Listen actively – empathy builds trust and inclusion
• Challenge bias – in feedback, hiring, and daily interactions
• Step outside your comfort zone – growth happens beyond it
• Share knowledge and opportunities – lift others as you grow

Final note

The Tech Talk reinforced that empowerment is a ripple effect. When individuals support one another, advocate for fairness, and challenge the status quo, they don’t just transform their own careers—they reshape entire organisations and industries.
The message is clear: Give to empower, and you will gain the power to inspire.