Managing Change and Engagement

Exploring the big impact of small actions
About this Event

Welcome to Women in Tech York's August event!

Who are we?

Women in Tech York is a community! We're made up of individuals studying, working in, or interested in technology. We run events where attendees can share their knowledge and interests, as well as encourage and empower one another whilst building their networks.

Our events are not exclusive to women; absolutely everyone is welcome. You don't need to be a coder or consider yourself technical to enjoy and benefit from our events. We welcome all students and career-changers who are interested in learning more about tech and careers in the industry.

Events run on the second Thursday of the month.

As always, there will be a free buffet (vegan options available) thanks to our amazing sponsors Isotoma, Genio and Jammed. Please let us know about allergies in advance.

Our Goals

Our monthly events are designed to compliment our goals:

⭐ Feel included – Join a space where everyone is welcome.

⭐Explore your options – Discover new paths, ideas, and technologies.

⭐ Grow your network – Connect with like-minded people

⭐ Learn something new – Gain insights from speakers, panels, and discussions.

Because we mix up the format each month, some events will be more social, while others might focus on talks or structured networking.

This month...

We're discussing the impact of change and the importance of managing stakehoders. We're joined by:

💡 an Engineering Manager at ITV, who lines manages 15 software engineers across three differnet products, working in a department that has faced significant change over the last two years, including redundancies and major outsourcing, but continues to maintain it's supportive culture throughout.
Prior to ITV, Emma has managed teams of up to 25 engineers through organisational change and job losses, as well as observing a range of change programmes rolled out across the University of York and the impact it had on the departments she worked with.
Emma is also a leadership coach, and regularly works with clients around periods of significant change, helping them to centre themselves and find their way through the change in a way that maintains relationships and honours the people at the heart.
⚖️ , a Product Owner with over 5 years experience and a mum with over 4 years experience. [Rebecca, you've said "More stuff to add here!" :D]

This month our event is designed to help you learn something new.

Speak for us!

Submit your talk details here - we review submissions monthly as a team and vote for the talks we'd most like to hear. All submissions are anonymised before voting to ensure a fair process.

Nervous about joining?

We're a very friendly group! If you'd like to chat to us beforehand you can join our Slack community or contact us directly via social media or email with any questions.

• Slack: https://wit-york.slack.com
• LinkedIn: Women in Tech York
• Instagram: womenintechyork
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.wityork.org.uk/contact

FAQS

Can you cater for allergies and dietary requirements?

We always do our best to cater for everyone. If you let us know about your requirements at least 4 days in advance we'll pass them on to the venue and ask them to accommodate. A vegan buffet is ordered by default.

If you have concerns about the food on the night then please speak to a member of staff. Nutritional information can be found on Revolution's website. We order a buffet which typically includes mini burgers, fries, salads, garlic bread and small snacks. If you need to know what food will be provided ahead of time please let us know.

Is this event accessible?

• The room booked for this event is upstairs, but can be accessed by a lift. Please contact Revolution to confirm access to the lift.
• We usually use Google Slides with captions
• We ask our speakers to use the microphones provided.
• We have exclusive access to the upstairs toilets - please note there are 2 steps up to access these toilets specifically, though other toilets are available.
• You know your needs best - we've added an option on our order form for any adjustments or requirements you want to let the organisers know about in advance. We will do our best to ensure a fair and comfortable experience for everyone.

Is this event inclusive ?

We try our best to make sure everyone feels included, welcome and comfortable at Women in Tech York events

• Pronoun stickers are available for everyone (if your pronoun isn't provided please let us know and we'll get more created to include you).
• Red camera badges are available to indicate that you don't want to be photographed.
• Music is kept to a low volume.

Getting here

If you're unsure how to get to Revolution check out thesection of our website - we've added information on car parks, buses and bike paths around York.

Code of Conduct

The short version of our code of conduct is be respectful. Everyone here is part of our community. We do not tolerate any form of harassment or abuse.

If you'd like to see the full code of conduct, please view it on our website https://www.wityork.org.uk/conduct or email [email protected] for more details.

Agenda

🕑: 06:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Registration opens

Info: You can arrive any time during registration. This is a chance for attendees to check in, grab a drink, and chat. The event will formally start at 18:30.

🕑: 06:30 PM - 06:40 PM
Welcome & Housekeeping
🕑: 06:40 PM - 07:20 PM
Little People, Big Lessons: What toddlers can teach us about working with stak
Host: Rebecca Rafferty

Info: Toddlers are hard to manage, stakeholders are hard to manage. In this talk we’ll explore the parallels between managing stakeholders and parenting toddlers.

We’ll look at how the skills and strategies used to navigate the world of tantrums, treats, and negotiations with little ones can be surprisingly effective in managing stakeholders.

🕑: 07:20 PM - 08:00 PM
Break & Buffet
🕑: 08:00 PM - 08:40 PM
Organisational Change As A Middle Manager
Host: Emma Brassington

Info: Having managed teams through major organisational change across several organisations—and coached others through similar experiences—I don't think people fully appreciate how tough change can be for managers. When change is poorly managed, middle managers often find themselves caught between leadership messaging and the concerns of their teams.

Organisational change creates uncertainty, stress, and anxiety for everyone, particularly when driven by cost-cutting or restructuring. But middle managers face a unique challenge: translating unclear messages, supporting their teams, managing their own concerns, and trying to remain authentic leaders throughout.

I'll share my experiences, offering a perspective on organisational change that is rarely heard. Middle managers are often overlooked in change conversations, yet they carry much of the emotional and operational burden. I'd like to shine a light on those challenges and share insights on navigating them with resilience and authenticity

🕑: 08:40 PM - 08:45 PM
Event close