This year’s Women Entrepreneurship Breakfast will bring into focus the concept of the first-timer in relation to entrepreneurship and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) for an audience of women, minority founders and potential founders to be.
How can we address the challenges that first-timers with diverse backgrounds face? The learnings of first-timers and their ability to overcome challenges play a significant role in talent retention, talent development and innovative initiatives launched in any industry.
If we look at first-timers with diverse backgrounds, it is noticeable that they are exponentially more challenged. For one, even though they are qualified for the roles they fill, diverse first-timers go through personal and cultural challenges that are often deeper than the challenges of their peers. At the same time, societal bias adds confusion to the feedback these profiles receive. Overzealous feedback often affects the first-timer’s ability to recognise personal success.
Because the learnings gathered as a first-timer often shape the practices and self-confidence that they take with them in their senior career, it is an important moment for companies to focus on in their talent support initiatives.
Today, we can notice organisations working to address the effects of diversity challenges by focusing primarily on adopting quotas and branding as diverse employers. Could there also be ways to address the root causes of the challenges that diverse first-timers face?
Celebrating women entrepreneurship through breakfast events is an initiative of EIT Urban Mobility and Professional Women’s Network Copenhagen.
Programme
08.00-08.30: Opening & breakfast
08.30-09.15: Panel discussion
- Ash Wallington, Interim Director of Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship, Copenhagen Business School (moderator)
- Fredrik Hånell, Director of Impact Ventures, EIT Urban Mobility
- Sofija Bogeva, Program Lead of AgriFood, Rockstart
- Jakob Gaard, Senior Manager (Country Lead Denmark), Plug and Play Tech Center
09.15-09.45: Open discussion
09.45-10.30: Networking
Audience
The Breakfasts bring together women leaders, network members, innovators and entrepreneurs that initiate startups, drive economic expansion and enhance communities. We inspire action through workshops, self-development content, growth-oriented networking and panel debates for a community of like-minded individuals that any leader can join and leverage to create real impact in their sectors.
Organisers
EIT Urban Mobility is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, and Europe’s largest network for mobility innovation in cities. Our mission is to accelerate change towards a sustainable model of urban mobility and liveable urban spaces. We connect public and private actors and provide them with access to markets, talent, finance and knowledge.
PWN is a non-profit organisation that supports women advancing in their careers, be it as employees, leaders, entrepreneurs or change-makers in leadership positions. The network is present in +30 countries and has been active in Denmark for over a decade, supporting both locals and internationals. The network’s initiatives support women but are intended for the benefit, and inclusive of, all community members, regardless of their background, ethnicity, skin colour, orientation or gender.
