'We need to remove the antiquated mindset of fighting each other to the top.'

On International Women's Day 2023, Stacy Lyden-Sauppe, events manager at the Workspace Group and a 2022/23 Fast Forward 15 programme mentee, talks to us about being a woman in events and why we need to support each other...

What does it mean to you to be a woman in this industry?

Being a woman in the events industry means being in great company!

We’re an industry vastly dominated by women (around 75 per cent) but the downside is that we’re still an industry led by men, less than 20 per cent of top-level positions are filled by women, and we have a real lack of diversity of voices.

The good news is there are loads of women in the industry who are helping to change this- to diversify our voices and to help other women make it to the top.

FastForward15 is just one of the great programmes aimed at mentoring new and growing events professionals but there are plenty of opportunities for us to learn from each other if we just look. 

How can women support women to be the best versions of themselves?

We need to remove that antiquated mindset of fighting each other to the top. Truly great women leaders aren’t stepping on the backs of others to fight their way to the top, they’re supporting their fellows in the industry and helping each other grow.

One very obvious lesson I’ve learned from FF15 is that our group is so much better when we’re working together and helping each other out, whether it's with contacts, connections, ideas or support. I hope all women in our industry and beyond can change this mindset and focus on supporting each other. 

How can the industry better support women?

Mentorship programmes are a great start, but I think really it’s just about building connections across our businesses. For individuals, it can be about finding courses to gain more knowledge and attending industry events to grow your network.

Are there any changes you’d like to see in the event industry?

We need to talk more about parenthood and how to balance care responsibilities with this career choice. For an industry dominated by women, I don’t think we talk about parenthood enough!

We know statistically women will make up the majority of primary caregivers, and biologically women will be the ones most affected by the decision to have children, yet we don’t talk about this in a practical way. 

Events can be notoriously unsociable hours, can be physically taxing, and is known for being one of the most stressful industries to be in – so how do all the mothers manage that balance along with childcare? 

As a mum of a two-year-old with another on the way, I’m constantly wracked with guilt about my choice to have a family and how it will inevitably impact my career. Women lose between five-10 per cent of earning potential per child, a University of PA study found.  What can we do to change this in our industry and for all working mums?

We need to ensure there is a better balance of responsibility alongside a manageable work and life balance for all working parents.

I’m not sure of the answer but I suspect lots of it has to do with the affordability of childcare, which is a whole other topic entirely!