Women in Tech Conference 2024: A Transformative Experience in Amsterdam

At the end of June, I got the chance to attend the European Women in Tech Conference 2024 in Amsterdam. Even though I’ve been with Pega for almost 9 years, this was my first tech conference. I’ve always been around tech at Pega, but I never really saw myself as a “techie” since that’s not my background. I was a math major who went into Media Relations and journalism. But somehow, I ended up at Pega (in Resource Management for Pega Consulting) in October 2015.   

I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect at #eWit24, but the event was a melting pot of innovation, inspiration, and invaluable networking opportunities. Here’s a recap of the highlights, from the captivating speakers to the diverse array of vendors, and what you got for the price of your ticket. 

Captivating Speakers 

The conference boasted an impressive lineup of speakers who are trailblazers in their respective fields.  

Keynote sessions included: 

• The Chief Executive Officer of Ricoh, Nicola Downing, was hands-down my favourite presenter and session of the conference. She had a great passion for topic and kept the audience engaged the entire time. Each member of the audience was meant to discover how to lead business transformation in global settings by prioritising your team. It was a fantastic people-first approach. 

My biggest takeaway from her session was: Be Brave. Be Bold. Be Visionary. 

• An account manager from BT, Rhoda von Below truly spoke to me as she discussed how to thrive in tech when you don’t speak tech. 

• Anna Pavlovskaia spoke to my inner crime documentary heart as she discussed exploring psychological profiles of cybercriminals on the Dark Web. She is a Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst at Kaspersky, and she was riveting to watch.  

This year, like everywhere else, the conference was all about AI. The speakers were diverse, but the main points were often the same. I was hoping for more variety in the topics, but since this was my first conference, I didn’t really have anything else to go on except my own expectations. 

One big takeaway for me was this: women don’t need wings or encouragement – they need funding! It’s so true. While encouragement is nice, there are plenty of driven women out there who just need the money to really chase their dreams. 

Diverse Array of Technology Companies 

The exhibition hall was bustling with vendors showcasing the latest in tech innovations and services. Some notable booths included: 

• Code First Girls: Providing interactive demos of their newest coding bootcamps designed to bridge the skills gap in tech. 

• A few of our clients: Booking.com, Rabobank and ING

The vendors were not only there to sell products but also to engage with attendees through interactive displays, live demos, and hands-on activities. This provided a unique opportunity to explore new technologies and services in an immersive environment if you were able to be quick on the sign up. Most of the booths were limited to a handful or a dozen participants at a time leaving many attendees like me unable to take advantage. 

What Was Included in the Price of the Ticket 

The conference ticket came with a comprehensive package that ensured a fulfilling experience for all attendees. Here’s what was included: 

• Access to All Sessions: Entry to keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops across the two-day event.* 

• Networking Opportunities: Several networking events, including a welcome reception and a gala dinner, designed to connect attendees with industry leaders and peers. 

• Exclusive Content: Post-conference access to session recordings and presentation slides, ensuring attendees could revisit the wealth of information shared during the event.

*Note: you only accessed the workshops if you were on the Premium ticket. Even then you were not guaranteed access to the workshops due to capacity limitations. 

Final Thoughts   

Imposter syndrome was hitting me hard as I walked into the conference, but by the end of Day 2, I knew I belonged there. I met so many women from other companies who were making a mark in the tech world without being engineers, just like me.   

The Women in Tech Conference 2024 in Amsterdam wasn’t just an event; it was a celebration of diversity, innovation, and community. The inspiring speakers, cool vendors, and everything included with the ticket made it unforgettable. It was a great reminder of the amazing impact women are having in tech and a call to keep supporting and empowering each other in our careers.   

I left feeling so inspired, with new knowledge & connections. I know as women at Pega, we are eager to participate next year – with a booth, on stage, and in the room.