Speaking Event: Inspiring Women in Tech
Kinkajou regularly delivers talks to underrepresented groups, such as women in technology and leadership.
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According to the UK 2025 Lovelace Report, women are leaving tech in droves. ​
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Kinkajou founder Nancy Maher was invited to take part in two panel discussions for Lloyds Banking Group’s women in tech talent programme, sharing her insights from 25+ years in tech leadership.
Client
“Nancy was a fantastic panelist recently for Lloyd’s Banking Group women in tech talent programme Elevate.”
"You Are Enough and You Belong in Tech"
Industry: Financial Services
Size: Large
Location: United Kingdom
Services: Speaking
40-60k
50%
UK Women leaving tech annually
Women earn below average pay for their level
£2-3.5 billon
Value of keeping Women in Tech
Lovelace Report 2025
The Challenge
Lloyds Banking Group were looking for speakers from outside the company to inspire members of their career acceleration programme, Elevate. Launched in 2021, Elevate is an award-winning programme designed to support women in tech, data and security roles to progress in their careers..
The Solution
The team from Lloyds reached out to Nancy Maher and invited her as a speaker to join two panel discussions, Being the Only Women in the Room and Building Confidence in Your Tech Career.
Lived Experience
Real stories of global career in tech and product both in the UK and overseas.
Myth Busting
Challenging the narrative around women leaders and imposter "syndrome".
Tailored
Talks were tailored to the community for maximum value.
Client and context
Women are leaving tech in droves.
According to the 2025 Lovelace Report, as many as 60,000 women leave tech and digital roles each year in the UK alone, costing the country billions.
Why? Reasons include lack of career progression, recognition and gender pay gaps, workplace culture, and balance.
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The numbers in the Lovelace Report paint a stark picture:
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40-60k women leaving tech and digital each year
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More than 50% earned below the average pay for their level
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25% left due to lack of career advancement
Client
“...she brought such insight and credible experience to inspire others
Inspirational Storytelling for Women in Tech
With a 25+ career in tech leadership, Kinkajou founder Nancy Maher has a special interest in helping and inspiring people from under-represented groups, and is an experienced, genuine and engaging speaker.
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The Only Woman in the Room
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Nancy shares her personal journey in tech, starting as a software engineer in the 1990s, working internationally, and eventually founding Kinkajou. (Read more about Nancy’s story). She speaks candidly about her experiences as a woman in tech, including feeling like an outsider due to gender and socioeconomic background, and being mistaken for being more junior despite holding senior positions.
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🔗 Read Nancy’s blog on Women Leaders: Being The Only
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Imposter Syndrome Feelings
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Many women (and men) report feeling like an imposter at work sometimes. But Nancy argues against calling those feelings a ‘syndrome’ when in fact they often stem from systemic issues rather than individual shortcomings. She distinguishes between impostor feelings and self-belief, advocating for understanding the broader context and not internalising systemic barriers.
Nancy also draws parallels between personal growth and agile software development: the importance of learning from failure, embracing imperfection, and seeking support from a community. She encourages reframing negative thoughts and focusing on continuous improvement.
🔗 Read Nancy's blog: Goodbye Imposter Syndrome.
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You Are Enough and You Belong in Tech
Nancy’s big message to the women from Lloyds and to all under-represented groups is this: “you are enough and you belong in tech”. She encourages individuals to recognise the value they bring to their current roles and more broadly the importance of their presence in the industry.
🔗 For more inspiration, try these blogs for size:
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The Results
The client welcomed Nancy's sharing of her experience to the Elevate Community
Client
Nancy…brought such insight and credible experience to inspire others. She’s thoughtful, articulate and passionate about sharing knowledge and brought brilliant expertise and challenge on imposter syndrome as a concept.