Female Speakers Are Everywhere – If You Just Create Space!

We hear it all the time: “It’s so hard to find female speakers for tech events…” But is it really? Or is the problem more about how people are looking and relationship building?

At Women in Tech Sweden, we know firsthand that amazing women are everywhere, ready to share their expertise, insights, and experiences. Case in point: we recently received over 100 pitch submissions for our lightning and keynote talks! That’s 100+ powerhouse women ready to take the stage and drop some serious knowledge on tech, leadership, innovation, and beyond.

So, the issue isn’t a lack of female speakers—it’s a lack of effort in finding them and making space for them.

“Women in tech are speaking up, contributing, and innovating every day. The key is making safe spaces for their voices to be heard.” – Elin Eriksson, Creative Director, Women in Tech Sweden

Instead of assuming they’re not out there, try shaking things up:

🤝 Build Inclusive Relationships & Spaces – It’s not just about inviting women to speak—it’s about creating an environment where they feel truly welcome. Make sure your event is structured in a way that encourages and supports diverse voices. That means rethinking everything from panel compositions to how Q&A sessions are run, and ensuring fair compensation.

🚀 Champion Women on Stage – Visibility matters. If you want to see more female speakers, actively advocate for them. Recommend them, share their work, and push for policies that ensure balanced representation at conferences and events.

📢 Ask, Don’t Assume – Have you actually put out an open call for speakers? Or are you just relying on personal networks that might be unintentionally biased? We asked, and over 100 women eagerly raised their hands!

🔍 Expand Your Search – If you’re always pulling from the same speaker lists, no wonder you’re not finding fresh voices. Check out speaker directories, industry groups, and networks like Women in Tech, and other affinity groups.

The next time someone says, “We couldn’t find any female speakers,” hit them with this reality check: women in tech are ready to speak up, share their knowledge, and inspire the industry. You just have to ask (or honestly, create the right spaces). 💡

Need help finding incredible women speakers? Talk to us! We’ve got a whole network of inspiring professionals ready to take the stage. Check out WIT Play!