Where Are All the Women Speakers on Tech Stages?
The numbers don't lie and they’re not good enough. New research from Pomona Partners reveals that only 32.6% of speakers at tech industry events are women.
That’s less than one in four.
As a keynote speaker who's walked, hosted, and headlined some of the biggest stages in the world, I know this reality all too well. Rooms packed with brilliant minds and yet, when it’s time to hand over the mic, the same narrow slice of voices dominates. And its predominantly male.
This isn't just a momentary oversight. It's a systemic issue and one that limits innovation, growth, and true representation in the tech world.
It’s time to change that, and I am delighted to be fronting this campaign with Pomona Partners on the staggering gaps where women are not present on the world’s tech stages.
Why Representation on Stage Matters More Than Ever
When women’s voices aren’t present on major stages, entire industries lose out - on ideas, innovation, and opportunities for growth.
Here's why it matters:
Stages shape conversations
Conferences, panels, and keynote addresses are where the biggest ideas are shared and the future is imagined.Conversations shape industries
Without diverse voices, industries develop blind spots. They solve problems for a fraction of the people they should be serving.Representation drives opportunity
Seeing someone like you at the highest levels of an industry changes what you believe is possible for yourself and for the next generation.
As my research on gender acceleration confirms that companies that champion gender leadership advancement are more likely to outperform their peers. It's not just a social issue, it's a strategic one.
The Reality for Women Speakers in Tech
Walking into a room knowing you’re the “only one” is an experience many women in tech and on tech stages know too well. As someone who's been there more times than I can count, I can tell you: It’s a powerful platform and it’s also a heavy responsibility.
Being the only woman on stage isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a signal that something’s broken in the system.
Here’s what happens when we don’t address it:
Event lineups feel homogenous and out of touch.
Panels lack the full range of perspectives needed to truly innovate.
Young women in the audience don’t see anyone who reflects their future.
It's not enough to aim for "one woman per panel.” We need systemic change in how speakers are selected, supported, and celebrated.
Five Actions Event Organisers Can Take Now
If you're an event organiser, speaker booker, or conference producer, the opportunity and responsibility to lead change is in your hands.
Here’s what you can do:
Audit your lineups.
If your stage doesn’t reflect the industry you serve, it’s time to rethink your speaker selection process.Broaden your networks.
Relying on the same circles produces the same results. Actively seek out new voices through talent and speaker agencies with a talent roster of top tier women speakers like Pomona Partners.Work with speaker agencies that offer speaker development programs.
Sometimes the right speakers exist but haven’t been given opportunities to polish their stagecraft and develop into premier speaker talent.Commit to more than tokenism.
Diversity isn’t ticking a box by adding one woman or one minority speaker. It's about embedding representation throughout your entire event.Hold yourselves publicly accountable.
Publish your speaker stats. Share your diversity goals. Create momentum around doing better.
Tech moves fast. So should you.
How We Move Forward Together
I’m proud to stand alongside an incredible lineup of women keynote speakers featured in this new campaign from Pomona Partners. It’s not just about highlighting the numbers it’s about building the momentum for change.
Because here's the truth:
If we want industries to thrive, stages must reflect the full spectrum of talent available.
If we want real innovation, we need real inclusion.
If we want future generations to dream bigger, they need to see it happening now.
And that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by deliberate action, strong choices, and an unshakeable commitment to equity.
Let’s Raise the Bar, Not Just the Numbers
The tech industry prides itself on being forward-thinking. Yet on stages, too often it clings to outdated patterns.
Here’s what raising the bar really means:
More women delivering keynotes — not just joining panel discussions.
More women hosting, moderating, and leading from the front.
More intentional investment in discovering, preparing, and promoting diverse talent.
Harvard Business Review research shows that diverse leadership teams drive greater innovation and that logic applies directly to conference lineups too.
Diversity on stage isn't a "nice to have.” It's a business-critical strategy for any event that wants to stay relevant in 2025 and beyond.
Final Thoughts: This Isn't Just a Women's Issue — It's Everyone's Opportunity
If you’re planning events, building panels, or shaping the next big tech conference, here’s the challenge:
Look harder.
Choose wider.
Demand better.
Change doesn't happen passively. It happens because people decide enough is enough and they take real action.
Want to lead the future of tech events?
Book speakers that the world and women deserve to hear.
Let’s make stages as diverse, bold, and brilliant as the audiences they serve.
About The Author:
Fiona is in demand as a keynote speaker on the world’s biggest global stages for her unique insights, research and world leading expertise on growth in business and the boardroom for women execs and entrepreneurs. She is also the creator of the multi-award winning professional development method which ensures there is NOPAUSE™ to elite women’s leadership lives through menopause. She is known in the media as The Menopause Career Coach™ working exclusively to grow women’s C-suite exec careers and female founder led companies to scale through all stages of menopause. Fiona also holds a number of outstanding accolades and awards which include Women’s Keynote Speaker of The Year, Career Coach of The Year, Top 100 Business Advisor in M&A.
She was voted The Most Influential Women’s Health and Career Support Business Women and named by LinkedIn as one of the Top 25 Big Ideas Global Change Makers and Growth Innovators. She is also the CEO of Lightbulb, a renowned Value Creation Consultancy working with mid-market funds and portfolio leadership teams to deliver exceptional exit returns.