11 May 2015
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Entrepreneur, journalist, broadcaster and Women on Air founder
Margaret E Ward will address the next it@Cork ‘Women in Tech’ event
taking place in the Clarion Hotel, Cork on 20 May 2015.
The quarterly lecture series aims to support and promote female role
models and leaders in business and technology. Margaret E Ward will
discuss how women can be effective communicators and networkers in the
context of her current role as CEO of her global brand communications
agency, Clear Ink. She will also talk about her career successes to
date, including her time as an award winning journalist and
broadcaster, which led to the establishment of Women on Air.
“Increasing the visibility of talented, experienced women in Ireland
is a key objective of the it@cork “Women in Tech” event series,” said
Caroline O’Driscoll, Vice Chair it@Cork.
“We are delighted to have Margaret as a speaker, not only is she an
incredible role model and business woman, but as founder of Women on
Air she began addressing the lack of gender balance on Irish radio and
television head on,” she added.
Women on Air was established in 2010 and is a voluntary networking
group that runs seminars, events and informal training workshops to
help give women the skills and confidence to go on radio and
television. Margaret stepped down from Women on Air in January 2015 to
focus on her board responsibilities. Margaret was appointed by the
Oireachtas to the Board of RTE in February 2015, she is also a board
member of European Movement Ireland.
“Women have what it takes to positively influence change in their
organisations but they need to be given a voice on the Board or a turn
at the microphone. Sadly, they’re often invisible at conferences, on
boards and in the media. If you’re not seen, you won’t be marked out
for leadership opportunities. It’s a push and pull situation.
Organisations and managers need to give women more challenges and
opportunities and women need to stop saying no when those chances come
along,” said Margaret E Ward.
“I have worked with Connecting Women in Tech to develop a mentor
programme that would help more women speak at conferences and in the
media. I’ve also been asked to be part of a taskforce to address the
lack of female speakers at tech conferences. The it@cork “Women in
Tech” series supports, drives and promotes leaders in business and
technology, and I am thrilled to be a part of this progressive
initiative,” she added.
The it@cork “Women in Tech” lunchtime event, sponsored by Qualcomm,
will take place on 20 May in the Clarion Hotel, Cork and all are
welcome to attend. Please see www.itcork.ie for registration and
information.
