Amanda Jenkins, Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer of 10x Banking, reflects on the 2025 International Women’s Day event and the evolving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) landscape.
As Chief Impact Officer and Co-Chair of the Women & Friends network at 10x Banking, I have been closely watching the evolving EDI landscape. As other companies roll back their initiatives, it was incredibly important to me and the network to show that diversity is as important as it’s ever been at our International Women’s Day event this year.
Our brilliant Sustainability and Community Partner, Lily Santurri, came up with the theme to encompass this commitment to diversity: we’re here to stay. While acknowledging the challenges that women face in today’s climate, we wanted to create a positive event that brought the community together and showed the industry that women are very much here to stay.
I am a firm believer in the power of a good conversation. So, when Amy Glynn from Hydrogen got in touch to discuss diversity with me and my team, I took the call. We soon realized we were aligned on the idea that there needs to be more spaces for women in the tech industry to connect, learn from and uplift each other.
50% of women will leave the tech industry before the age of 35, according to a report by Accenture and Girls Who Code. To retain women in tech, the report highlights the importance of inclusive networking opportunities and visibility of senior role models. With the mission to help change this statistic, Amy and the 10x team felt a large event that supported women and showcased great role models was a no-brainer.
Amy introduced us to the She Bytes Back community, set up by the impressive Amber Shand. Her aim is to create an empowering environment that encourages women in tech to take up space. Supporting this community was the right thing to do and a great opportunity for our 10x Women & Friends network to meet incredible women. See how far one conversation can take you?
With more than 100 fantastic attendees and five brilliant speakers, it was inevitably going to be an inspiring evening. Here are my top takeaways from the evening for women in the industry and those looking to support them:
Amber’s keynote delved into how to overcome the fear of being seen, using the BRAVE framework: Bold, Resilience, Action, Values, and Energy. Being brave doesn’t necessarily mean big bold steps; you can create low-stakes moments. If you don’t feel ready to make a bold step, try a smaller one to get you towards your goal. Want to start posting on LinkedIn but feel nervous? Try increasing the amount you comment on others’ posts until you become more comfortable to take a bigger step.
Amber called this building up your hype squad – in essence, surround yourself with people who want to root for you, it makes challenging times so much easier. If you work remotely, be proactive and reach out to people. For example, if you hear someone do a great company-wide presentation, message them and say what you enjoyed and build the conversation from there. Overcommunicate on Slack if you need to.
If you work in a hybrid environment, make the effort to go in on days with events. It’s much easier to forge lasting relationships that can carry on online after that initial face to face meeting.
As our Chief People Officer, Katy Rowlands, said on the panel: “say I, not we.” All too often in job interviews and other scenarios, women emphasize the collaborative aspect and not the incredible work they did. Be specific about what you brought to the table. Think about what it is you want to be known for. What is it you want to be the go-to person for? Home in on making progress in that area and own it!
Subomi Salami, Product Manager at Microsoft, emphasized the importance of being comfortable with not having all the answers during the panel discussion. Her manager fostered psychological safety by supporting her in finding solutions when she was unsure of the next steps in a project, rather than blaming her for not knowing.
I appreciated Subomi's suggestion that we should all extend this grace to those around us, as it encourages innovation and creates a better environment for everyone. Amber also highlighted asking lots of questions rather than having answers demonstrates critical thinking and genuine interest.
The current global narratives about EDI can sometimes make us feel anxious. As Amber mentioned, no one wants to be perceived as "the diversity hire." It's crucial to take time for yourself and find communities where you can truly be yourself and feel a sense of belonging—whether through online groups or local meetups.
Additionally, paying it forward by being a supportive ally to others who might need your help is both rewarding and beneficial to the community. By doing so, we contribute to a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.
Finding the right environment to thrive in can be challenging. When interviewing for a new role, don't hesitate to ask questions like, "Do you have clear career frameworks in place?" or "What's the percentage of women in senior roles?" Focus on what matters to you. You can also request to meet your potential team members or reach out to them on LinkedIn to get a genuine feel for the culture. If you're considering an internal move, reach out for a coffee chat with people on those teams.
The 2025 International Women’s Day event at 10x was a powerful reminder that diversity is not just a buzzword but a fundamental driver of innovation and progress. By fostering an inclusive environment and supporting communities like She Bytes Back, we can ensure that women in tech are empowered to thrive. The insights shared by our speakers underscore the importance of bravery, community, ownership, curiosity, self-care, and finding the right environment. As we move forward, let’s continue to champion diversity and create spaces where everyone can succeed.
We’re here to stay, and together, we can make a lasting impact.
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