As a women group co-organizer, I am constantly concerned that my events and all event I support and promote from Microsoft side are not inclusive enough from a gender diversity perspective.
I have had the conversation with one of our co-organizers recently. She is a full time working in IT mum with two kids. She is a great professional, an exceptional presenter, potentially great MVP material with her knowledge and passion for technologies and teaching. The only "small" problem she's got for the moment is a spare time. Which she's not got at all.
I appreciate it's a common issue. Which doesn't mean we shouldn't try to improve the situation and try to enable more working women with families and kids to participate and run community events.
We came up with the plan. First of all, we will be running more virtual events. Although, I don't believe they can replace live events and provide the same level of he engagement and energy exchange. Live events are incredibly powerful that's why we run them.
There some notes taken which I am happy to share with you, below:
Face to face free events for women - best times
For a good turn out face to face, some options for the best times to run free events to attract more women & career mum attendees participants:
Breakfast - Tues, Wed (highest turn out), Thurs or Friday
Day time - lunch, Wed or Thurs 12 for 12.30-2pm
Evening - Wed & Thurs evenings from 5.30/6pm to 7.30/8pm
1st, 2nd or 3rd week of the month on a Wed or Thurs night time works well
When setting dates for free events, try to avoid these times where possible
Mondays and Tues evening - a lower turn out for free events early in the week.
Avoid Friday evenings, unless it is a social event.
Avoid school holidays if you want parents to attend as they may be away (i.e. you were away in July and same in Oct)
Avoid Dec/Jan and Easter holidays as many people are have lots of other christmas functions to attend or on AL (unless we are hosting a xmas party)
Note: If parents have kids in private schools, the kids' last week of school is the Thursday the 1st week in Dec. For both public and private schools there are often school presentation nights and functions to attend in the evenings on the last week of Nov and 1st week in Dec on the Tues, Wed or Thurs evenings, depending on the schools.
Also, @Sonia Cuff , @Cathy Moya as passionate leaders of the community could you please assist with starting conversations regarding organizing kids care facilities for big Microsoft events running at weekends. Most of community events don't cover it either (including my own). Where do I start? Who do I talk to about this?
Please let me know your thoughts. Do you agree/disagree we need to look at the issue? Any other suggestions regarding the topic? Working mums - community leaders, could you please share your tips and tricks? How do you manage everything?
Thank you very much!
