Friends of Equate Launch: Welcome to our new peer-to-peer network!
On Wednesday 5th March Equate held an event, in collaboration with Making Work Work and The Challenges Group, to launch our new Friends of Equate Network. The event focused on the benefits of professional networks, and how communication and leadership skills can bolster a career in STEM.
The session started with an ‘in conversation with’ session with Lynn Houmdi, the founder of Flexible Working Scotland and the co-creator of Making Work Work, and Dilraj Sokhi-Watson, the Programme Director of Equate Scotland. The panelists told audiences about their experiences with networking, and gave advice from their lived experience about how to navigate challenges in male-dominated spaces and how to find professional allies and mentors. The panel was followed by insightful and thoughtful questions from the audience.
In the afternoon there were two interactive breakout sessions. Participants took part in sessions about assertive communication and inclusive leadership.
The people who attended the event appreciated the opportunities to meet other likeminded women to begin their professional networks with, and attendees left feeling more confident, motivated, and understood.
The Friends of Equate Network has launched on LinkedIn as an online network for women in STEM in Scotland to find connections and peer-to-peer support. The network will also be a place to find out about more events to network in person, or in structured online events, with other STEM women. It’s totally free, inclusive, and friendly. If this sounds like something you’d benefit from, please join the network via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13180252/
