Posting here as opposed to activism for traffic.
Has anyone done it? If so: how did you go about it?
Triggered by yet another appalling interaction between myself and a very senior male colleague, swiftly followed by a meeting in which a (female) client mentioned the most horrific episode with her boss, I think I've finally found the necessary impetus to actually go there, take ownership and set it up!
I'm looking to establish a regular, open to all locally residing or working women in the general field of 'tech', regardless of their role, employment situation etc. drinks-and-network kind of thing with the long-term goal of establishing it as something more formal eventually.
I'm currently looking at roughly the following 1st steps:
- Contact women in my personal network whom I judge to be sympathetic; invite for some initial regular drinks
- Leverage own (female) downline in order to get some initial organisational structure going
- Obtain C-Level sponsorship within own organisation from a female lead
- Identify influencers among initial attendees and get them to do the same within their own organisations
- Set up governance structures and obtain initial funding from employer via C-level sponsor & HR diversity officer
- Define formal organisation and goals, etc.
- Get the fucker off the ground
End goal: establish a formally organised, locally focussed network of professional women that provides mutual support, offers career opportunities for women who need to escape chauvinist bosses, organises events, training, etc.
Am I forgetting something? What else do I need as 1st steps?
I've never done anything like it before, but it needs doing - badly!