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TechGirl Festival

Empowering Future Female Leaders.

Become a mentor

28th August at Cambridge United FC

The HotTopics TechGirl Festival 2025 is a high-energy, hands-on event designed to inspire, challenge, and connect the next generation of female leaders in technology.

in partnership with
Ping Identity

Inspiring the next generation, led by today’s leaders

In partnership with Cambridge United FC, the festival brings together ambitious young women aged 16+ in education and senior technology leaders to solve real-world digital transformation challenges.

As a mentor, you’ll have the opportunity to guide, inspire, and collaborate—helping participants develop practical solutions, sharing your leadership insights, and shaping the future of the industry.

The winning ideas won’t just stay ideas. They’ll be developed with Cambridge United FC across 2025 and 2026, turning inspiration into lasting impact.

This is your chance to give back, connect with future talent, and leave a leadership legacy.

TechGirl Awards
TechGirl

Get involved at TechGirl Festival

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Mentor a team

Guide a team as they develop real solutions, offering advice along the way.

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Be a judge

Join the panel, hear their ideas, and help choose the winners.

 

 

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Share your story

Lead a session or chat—pass on what you’ve learned.

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Meet future talent

Connect with the next generation and fellow leaders on the day.

Our community’s purpose in action

At HotTopics, we believe leadership is about action. Our community of 19,000+ senior executives thrives on connecting leaders and inspiring action—and TechGirl sits at the heart of that purpose.

We know many in our community want to give back, support rising talent, and help close the diversity gap in technology. TechGirl is how we make that happen—providing a platform to mentor, champion, and empower the next generation.

As members of the HotTopics community, we don’t just talk about the future of tech—we actively build it.

TechGirl

TechGirl Festival agenda

28th August at Cambridge United FC

09:30 → 10:00
Welcome to the TechGirl Festival
Cambridge United Football Club
  • Arrivals
  • HotTopics and CUFC Welcome
  • Event agenda rundown and digital challenge rules
10:00 - 13:00
Creative Sprint: Innovate and build
Cambridge Football Club
  • Introduction and challenge briefing
  • Team formation and strategy sessions
  • Hands-on mentorship and idea development
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch
Cambridge Football Club
14:00 - 14:45
Presentations and winner(s) selection
Cambridge Football Club
  • Team presentations to the judging panel (5 mins each)
  • Thought leadership panels and networking
  • Work experience sign-ups with HotTopics mentors
14:45 - 15:30
How to Build the Skills of Tomorrow, Today
Panel
Cambridge Football Club
Listen to executives, graduates and students compare notes on the skills needed to thrive in the modern workplace, how those are evolving, and the first hand accounts of what it's like to learn them.
15:30 - 16:30
A Better Industry Requires Inter-Generational Effort. How?
Fishbowl
Cambridge Football Club
What generational perspectives shine a light on how the industry works, and doesn't work, today, and how can they work better together to ensure the former?
17:00 - 17:30
Closing remarks and future vision
Cambridge Football Club
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The Challenge

Hosted at Cambridge United Football Club (CUFC), teams will tackle a real-world digital transformation problem:

How can technology improve CUFC’s ticketing, fan experience, and food & beverage systems?

With guidance and mentorship from senior technology leaders, teams will develop innovative, practical solutions and present them to a panel of industry experts and CUFC decision-makers.

The winning idea will be developed with Cambridge United FC across 2025 and 2026.

Cambridge United Women's Football Club
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TechGirl mentors attending

TechGirl is built by the leaders who power today’s tech industry. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Avril Chester

Avril Chester

Chief Technology Officer, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Lauren Dally

Lauren Dally

Director of Application Delivery, Ardonagh Group

Indhira Mani

Indhira Mani

Chief Data Officer, RSA UK

Mariana Reis

Mariana Reis

Enterprise Head of Data Governance, WPP

Nareni Hourican

Nareni Hourican

Digital Transformation Director - Global Head of Digital & Innovation, Brown-Forman

Lydia Nicola

Lydia Nicola

Head of IT Operations, Amnesty International

Lauren Wilson

Lauren Wilson

Field CTO & Strategic Advisor, Splunk

Sara Mubasshir

Sara Mubasshir

Head of Digital Change, London Business School

Steve Brown

Steve Brown

Vice President, Cybersecurity & Resilience, Mastercard

Rubi Kaur

Rubi Kaur

Chief Enterprise Architect, Lloyds

Jevern Partridge

Jevern Partridge

CIO, Rexel UK Limited

Helen Rabe

Helen Rabe

CISO, BBC

Alex Butler

Alex Butler

Transformation Director, United Response

David Thomas

David Thomas

CIO, Magellan Point

Christina Tueje

Christina Tueje

Strategy Director: AI, Data and Technology, GRC Information Management

Priya Bhola

Priya Bhola

Technology Service Owner, Ericsson

Grace Tattersall

Grace Tattersall

Partner, Anderson Quigley

Lara Burns

Lara Burns

Chief Digital Officer, Former Scouts

Nadia Volkova

Nadia Volkova

Global Digital Commercial Director, Diageo

Eugi Bartolo

Eugi Bartolo

CPTO, Sifted

Rich Corbridge

Rich Corbridge

CIO, Segro

Eileen Jennings-Brown

Eileen Jennings-Brown

Chief Operating Officer, Exergy3 Limited

Danny Attias

Danny Attias

CDIO, London Business School

Rachel Scully

Rachel Scully

Digital Capability Director, Shell

Ann Walker

Ann Walker

Senior Vice President, Major Programmes and Strategic Initiatives, Mastek

Anna Barsby

Anna Barsby

Founder and Managing Parnter, Tessiant

David Germain

David Germain

NED, Board Advisor,

Giles Lindsay

Giles Lindsay

Chief Information Technology Officer, Lif3away inc

Darryl Beckford

Darryl Beckford

Director of Architecture, BT Group (EE, Plusnet)

Gregory Dumont

Gregory Dumont

CISO | DPO, SBE

Teskeen Nasser

Teskeen Nasser

Technology Portfolio Manager, Chelsea Football Club

Graham Thomson

Graham Thomson

Chief Information Security & Innovation Officer, Irwin Mitchell

Helen Cocks

Helen Cocks

Assistant Director of Digital Transformation and Engagement, University of Exeter

Kimberley Miles

Kimberley Miles

Head of AI Governance, Howden

Chelcie West

Chelcie West

Head of IT, Chelsea Football Club

James Grove

James Grove

Director of Technology, Chelsea Football Club

Stephanie Tajbhai

Stephanie Tajbhai

Group Head of IT Services Management, FirstGroup plc

Thanks to our partners

Ping Identity
Cambridge United FC

Partner with TechGirl

Join an initiative shaping the future of tech by empowering the next generation of female leaders. As a partner, you’ll align your brand with a purpose-driven mission, gaining visibility among the world’s top tech executives.

Your support—whether through mentorship, sponsorship, or resources—creates real impact, opening doors for young women in technology. Partnering with TechGirl also connects you with future talent, helping build a stronger, more diverse industry.

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This event now now passed, but you can still join the

TechGirl Mentor community below