TechGirl

TechGirl Festival

Empowering Future Female Leaders.

Become a mentor

Inspiring the next generation, led by today’s leaders

In partnership with Chelsea 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.

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 20,000+ 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

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
17:00 - 17:30
Closing remarks and future vision
Cambridge Football Club
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The Challenge

Hosted at Chelsea Football Club, teams will tackle a real-world digital transformation problem:

How can technology improve Chelsea'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 Chelsea decision-makers.

Cambridge United Women's Football Club
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TechGirl mentors

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

Joanna Pamphilis

Joanna Pamphilis

SVP, CIO Global Head of Investments and Securities Digital Products, UniCredit

Lara Burns

Lara Burns

Chief Digital Officer, Former The Scouts

Alex Butler

Alex Butler

Transformation Director, United Response

Laura Kendrick

Laura Kendrick

CIO, Elior

Elizabeth Akorita

Elizabeth Akorita

Deputy Director, Digital Delivery, Government of the United Kingdom

Sara Mubasshir

Sara Mubasshir

Head of Business Analysis & Change, London Business School

Lydia Nicola

Lydia Nicola

Head of IT Operations, Amnesty International

Anna Verdian

Anna Verdian

Founder, Axelrod.ai

Sabah Carter

Sabah Carter

Chief Data, Intelligence and Technology Officer, Financial Services Compensation Scheme

David Germain

David Germain

NED, Portfolio Career

Mathew Mallett

Mathew Mallett

Chief Digital and Information officer, Chartered Insurance Institute

Anna Barsby

Anna Barsby

Founder and Managing Partner, Tessiant

Nareni Hourican

Nareni Hourican

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

Lauren Wilson

Lauren Wilson

Cybersecurity Leader, EDF Energy

Paul Smith

Paul Smith

CIO, Amnesty International

Georgina Owens

Georgina Owens

NED, OLA CAB

Lauren Dally

Lauren Dally

Director of Application Delivery, Ardonagh Group

Krenar Muhidini

Krenar Muhidini

Director of Engineering, EML Payments

Giles Lindsay

Giles Lindsay

Chief Information Officer, Lif3away Inc.

Jyotsna Chandrani

Jyotsna Chandrani

Director, Operational and Resilience Risk Tooling, HSBC

Darryl Beckford

Darryl Beckford

Director of Architecture, BT Group (EE, Plusnet)

Srilakshmi Tella

Srilakshmi Tella

VP, Products, McKesson

Claire Deuchar

Claire Deuchar

CIO , RNLI

Dianna Pieper

Dianna Pieper

CEO and Founder, Innovus Techne

Eugi Bartolo

Eugi Bartolo

CPTO, Sifted

Jess Evans

Jess Evans

Former CIO, Vanderbilt University

Tanya Hannah

Tanya Hannah

CIO, AON UK LIMITED

Laura Gilbert

Laura Gilbert

Director of Data Science, 10 Downing Street

Randi Levin

Randi Levin

White House Advisor, Former White House

Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson

CIO, Digital - Retail

Christo Gouws

Christo Gouws

Technology & Data Director, Marine Stewardship Council

Dia Nag

Dia Nag

Director of Digital, BetterGov

Jevern Partridge

Jevern Partridge

CIO, Rexel UK Limited

Bridgid Nzekwu

Bridgid Nzekwu

Moderator, Presenter, Executive Coach,

Christina Scott

Christina Scott

Chief Product and Technology Officer, RWS Group

Jason Parkhouse

Jason Parkhouse

CIO UK&I, Experian

Deborah Haworth

Deborah Haworth

CISO, Penguin Random House

Louise de Beer

Louise de Beer

Director of Software Engineering, JVR Solutions

Joanna Drake

Joanna Drake

CIO, THG

Alison Davis

Alison Davis

CIO, GE Healthcare

Carol Chen

Carol Chen

CMO, Shell

Jacqui Lipinksi

Jacqui Lipinksi

CIO, Royal College of Art

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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Register for the TechGirl Festival