What do we know women do in the coworking industry?
- Most of the podcasts in the coworking industry are hosted by women.
- Most of the books in the coworking industry are written or co-authored by women.
- Every week, women are writing about coworking in our industry publications.
- Most of the online coworking courses are created and hosted by women.
- Women create and host the majority of online membership communities.
- Women run A LOT of coworking spaces.
- Women have founded and own A LOT of coworking spaces.
Yet when we get to the opening keynote speakers and panels at a conference it’s just men EVERYWHERE!
This post is about “representation” at conferences rather than “diversity”, so please consider that as you read.
⍰ Does the data below represent the coworking industry in Europe?
One 2023 conference which has:
60 people speaking
-38 Men
-22 women
-ONE male person of colour
Another 2023 conference has
-10 people speaking in one day
-6 men
-4 women
-ONE male person of colour
Another previous conference
-20 White Men
-5 White Women (2 of those women were hosting the event!)
-0 people of colour
The under-representation in 2023 is devastating.
My call to action for my fellow males
If you’re a man and you're asked to speak at a conference, question and ask about the panel's diversity.
If you are not helping to create a diverse panel, please decline.
This is a super easy step we, as men, can take to help ensure gender representation.
We also need to consider race, gender, accessibility and differently-abled.
If you think you have tackled “diversity” and someone still needs to ask you about it, you’ve missed something.
I have organised over a thousand events, workshops, and meetups in my career. I often felt that my choice of speakers and topics was exceptional.
However, I have often found it necessary to reevaluate my decisions to place greater emphasis on inclusion, diversity, accessibility, and equity.
I still have blind spots in these areas that I need to have spelt out to me.
Bonus Pro tip!
Put this prompt into #ChatGPT and see what the answer is:
“Why are there always more male than female speakers at coworking conferences?”
