LMF Network at CogX Festival 2021
From June 14 to June 16, LMF Network participated in the CogX Festival. This event gathers CEO’s, entrepreneurs, academics, activists and policymakers to inspire positive change, celebrate innovation, discuss global topics, and share the trends that will shape the future.
The event consisted of 18 live stages with more than 1,000 speakers on topics such as Global Leadership, Cutting Edge, Future of Work, Ethics & Society, FinTech & Financial Services, EDTech & Education, among others. It also provided an opportunity to create a global community through conversations and networking opportunities.
During the festival, LMF Network had the opportunity to MC the Lab to Live stage, where we shared what we are doing through our mentoring programme, community support and diversity training to enable women into tech, digital and entrepreneurship.
But, most importantly, are the lessons and experiences the LMF team had during the event.
Our team’s perspective on CogX Festival
Eleonora Papini, Data & Impact Analyst
In mid-June, I had the pleasure to attend the CogX Festival. Besides the live stages, there was the opportunity to visit different live sessions every day, meet new people through the speed networking feature, and virtually visit the multiple booths.
During the three-day, I had the opportunity to meet 40 people, understand the technological trends of the future, and listen to different sessions, including “How to attract & retain diverse talent” presented by LMF’s founder, Sonya Barlow.
I found in CogX an incredible opportunity to be personally involved in the interaction, a different way than the one we are starting to get used to since the beginning of this pandemic.
In addition to the joy of experiencing the thrill of networking, this global interaction also made me realise how diversity and inclusion and the importance of mentoring — topics that are so dear to the entire LMF community and me — are becoming increasingly important for everyone.
Mark Magowan, Business Intern
Attending the CogX conference was a great opportunity to gain an insight into the world of tech. What stood out for me was that the world is technologically, socially and politically evolving at a pace that has never been seen before.
It got me thinking. With so many changes taking place within our society, how can we ensure that D&I is at the centre of this?
One of the most significant talking points at the CogX conference was the increasing role of artificial intelligence. I wondered if it was possible for A.I. and D&I to work together since it is evident that A.I. has an essential role in introducing and maintaining corporate DE&I goals.
According to Fuel50, an AI-driven talent experience platform, there are four ways that A.I. can help with achieving corporate D&I goals:
2. Fair talent mobility.
A.I.-enabled tools can help mitigate or eliminate the many biases that arise during talent selection processes.
2. Tracking company data.
A.I. makes it much easier to track D&I initiatives by analysing company data.
3. Ensure equal growth opportunities.
Technology can help a company work with employees to develop their own skills and futures. These training and professional development opportunities enable individuals to raise their potential earnings and move up within an organisation.
4. Enable a positive experience for all employees.
Beyond systems for reporting misconduct, sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace, A.I. engagement tools help ensure a positive experience for all employees. This is because H.R. teams will get a better understanding of the work experiences of diverse employees and a heads-up on potential problems or negative trends emerging.
It was very inspiring to see the prominence of women in panel discussions surrounding issues of global leadership and political change.
One of the discussions I found particularly interesting was the growing power of big tech companies with Margrethe Vestager, European Union Executive for the digital area and Commissioner for Competition.
She explained the complex obstacles to holding big tech companies such as Facebook and Amazon accountable and the robust policies needed to ensure the equitable distribution of power.
Seeing so many women discussing such important topics reminded me of the importance of the LMF Network. Through one of the largest mentoring programmes in the U.K., the LMF network is enabling more women in the tech and entrepreneurial sectors.
Alex C Menendez, Press and Communications Lead
One of the things I enjoyed the most about CogX was the opportunity to hear from great speakers about current topics and the trends that will shape the next decade. With plenty of stages and sessions, It was tough choosing which conferences to attend. There were so many thought-provoking topics and speakers that it would have been great to listen to all of them.
I was particularly interested in hearing about issues related to allyship, DE&I and A.I., the future of work, regulating social media, how digital education is rising, and the impact of Covid-19 on immigration, wellbeing, and mental health.
Another thing that I found interesting was the hybrid model of the event. Since the beginning of 2020, we have been used to online and virtual events where interactions can be a bit monotonous due to just hearing people talking.
However, CogX did a fantastic job of incorporating a human element by having in-person sessions, providing a platform to network and connect with others, and interacting with the speakers in real-time.
It makes me wonder if this would be the future of events that target a broad audience. I believe hybrid models could make discussions around important topics more inclusive and enable diverse perspectives. People from all over the world could engage with individuals from different backgrounds, share experiences, and challenge ideas to enrich conversations.
I look forward to seeing whether the hybrid model thrives or dies when Covid becomes the new normal for us.
This blog contribution was made by Eleonora Papini, Alex C Menéndez and Mark Magowan.
Eleonora is a native Italian living in Greece. She is passionate about human psychology, sustainable development and international cooperation.
Eleonora is a multilingual Data & Communication consultant, 1+ years of international experience in the European Union Government sector.
In 2021 also became a Data Analyst for the LMF Network and content creator for their blog.
Alex is a Communications and Public Affairs Consultant with seven years of experience passionate about helping organisations tell their stories and engage with their stakeholders.
She has a master’s degree in Public Administration and Management from University College London (UCL).
Since March 2021, Alex is Press and Communications Lead for LMF Network (London).
Mark is a 19-year-old undergraduate Business Management BSc student at Queen’s University Belfast.
He is passionate about the role of enterprise as a mechanism in driving social change.
Since June 2021, he has been a business intern at the LMF Network.
Through this role, he has forged new partnerships and represented LMF on the global stage, most recently at the virtual CogX 2021 Festival.
How can you keep in touch?
Email — hello@lmfnetwork.com |LinkedIn |Instagram | Slack
What is LMF Network?
The LMF Network is a global social enterprise (not for profit) focused on empowering, enabling & educating women and marginalised groups into tech, entrepreneurship & digital. We specialise in designing and delivering accessible programmes and supporting a global community. We’ve gone from a brunch club to a social good brand based on what the community wanted. We are a real community run by real people.
