Lightning talks

Lightning talks

By Women in Tech York

A series of short and snappy talks on a variety of topics

Date and time

Location

Revolution York Restaurant, Bar, Club

1 Coney Street York YO1 9QL United Kingdom

Agenda

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Registration opens


You can arrive any time during registration. This is a chance for attendees to check in, grab a drink, and chat. The event will formally start at 18:30.

6:30 PM - 6:40 PM

Welcome & Housekeeping

6:40 PM - 7:00 PM

From Keyboard to Connection

Jeni Riordan


Do you get lost in the noise? Or have you ever opened a link with zero context and thought "what am I supposed to do with this?". In this talk, Jeni shares how to communicate with clarity, manage exp...

7:00 PM - 7:20 PM

Not All Players Are the Same!

Nicole Nash


This talk examines the differences between individuals motivated by competition, such as leaderboards, versus those driven by task enjoyment and UI design. It highlights that while high competitivene...

7:20 PM - 8:00 PM

Buffet & Break

8:00 PM - 8:20 PM

From Pain to Progress: Turning tough feedback into joyful experiences at work

Jojo Tulip-Hall


Ever been given feedback at work that was hard to swallow (but you know deep down is right)? Feeling unclear about how to take it on, do it, and be glad you made the change? This talk explores how t...

8:20 PM - 8:40 PM

The Power of Why: How Asking Better Questions Builds Better Products

Lucie Belgrave


In fast-paced digital environments, there’s often pressure to jump straight to solutions or deliver as quickly as possible. But what if the most powerful thing we can do is pause and ask: Why? Luci...

8:45 PM - 9:00 PM

Event close

Good to know

Highlights

  • In person

Refund Policy

No Refunds

About this event

Welcome to Women in Tech York's October event!

Who are we?

Women in Tech York is a community! We're made up of individuals studying, working in, or interested in technology. We run events where attendees can share their knowledge and interests, as well as encourage and empower one another whilst building their networks.

Our events are not exclusive to women; absolutely everyone is welcome. You don't need to be a coder or consider yourself technical to enjoy and benefit from our events. We welcome all students and career-changers who are interested in learning more about tech and careers in the industry.

Events run on the second Thursday of the month.

As always, there will be a free buffet (vegan options available) thanks to our amazing sponsors Isotoma and Genio. Please let us know about allergies in advance.

Our Goals

Our monthly events are designed to compliment our goals:

Feel included – Join a space where everyone is welcome.

Explore your options – Discover new paths, ideas, and technologies.

Grow your network – Connect with like-minded people

Learn something new – Gain insights from speakers, panels, and discussions.

Because we mix up the format each month, some events will be more social, while others might focus on talks or structured networking.

This month...

It's a series of quick fire talks, covering:

⚡How to communicate with clarity and intent at work

⚡Embracing tough feedback

⚡How success can come not from having the answers, but from having the courage to keep asking questions

⚡The importance of considering individual differences in gamification strategies

This month our event is designed to help you learn something new.

About this month's speakers

With over 10 years in the digital industry, Jeni Riordan has lead multi-disciplined teams to deliver impactful projects for household names and public sector clients. Jeni is passionate about fostering collaboration and helping teams work smarter to achieve meaningful results.

Jojo Tulip-Hall is a user researcher and accessibility specialist working at Yorkshire Building Society, and a Women in Tech York Ambassador.

Lucie Belgrave is a Product and Change professional with experience leading digital transformation across education, SaaS, and non-profit sectors. PSPO certified, specialising in user-centred problem solving, stakeholder engagement, and building products that deliver real value.

With a background in psychology and experience supporting students with disabilities, Nicole Nash is passionate about creating inclusive and user-centred digital experiences. Now a UX Designer at Genio, an EdTech company based in Leeds, her journey from Customer Support to UX design was fuelled by curiosity and a desire to make a positive impact. Nicole's work focuses on research, design, and testing, ensuring that digital products meet the evolving needs of their users.

Speak for us!

Submit your talk details here - we review submissions monthly as a team and vote for the talks we'd most like to hear. All submissions are anonymised before voting to ensure a fair process.

Nervous about joining?

We're a very friendly group! If you'd like to chat to us beforehand you can join our Slack community or contact us directly via social media or email with any questions.

FAQS

Can you cater for allergies and dietary requirements?

We always do our best to cater for everyone. If you let us know about your requirements at least 4 days in advance we'll pass them on to the venue and ask them to accommodate. A vegan buffet is ordered by default.

If you have concerns about the food on the night then please speak to a member of staff. Nutritional information can be found on Revolution's website. We order a buffet which typically includes mini burgers, fries, salads, garlic bread and small snacks. If you need to know what food will be provided ahead of time please let us know.

Is this event accessible?

  • The room booked for this event is upstairs, but can be accessed by a lift. Please contact Revolution to confirm access to the lift.
  • We usually use Google Slides with captions
  • We ask our speakers to use the microphones provided.
  • We have exclusive access to the upstairs toilets - please note there are 2 steps up to access these toilets specifically, though other toilets are available.
  • You know your needs best - we've added an option on our order form for any adjustments or requirements you want to let the organisers know about in advance. We will do our best to ensure a fair and comfortable experience for everyone.

Is this event inclusive ?

We try our best to make sure everyone feels included, welcome and comfortable at Women in Tech York events

  • Pronoun stickers are available for everyone (if your pronoun isn't provided please let us know and we'll get more created to include you).
  • Red camera badges are available to indicate that you don't want to be photographed.
  • Music is kept to a low volume.

Getting here

If you're unsure how to get to Revolution check out the Getting Here section of our website - we've added information on car parks, buses and bike paths around York.

Code of Conduct

The short version of our code of conduct is be respectful. Everyone here is part of our community. We do not tolerate any form of harassment or abuse.

If you'd like to see the full code of conduct, please view it on our website https://www.wityork.org.uk/conduct or email WomenInTechYork@gmail.com for more details.

Frequently asked questions

When should I arrive?

Any time during registration - we don’t formally start the event until the Welcome (see agenda above for timings for this event). You are also welcome to join us during the break - please indicate you don't require food when booking your ticket.

Is it okay to leave early?

Of course! Please feel free to leave during the break. If you know you'll need to leave early in advance please indicate you don't require food when booking your ticket.

What if I have to cancel?

We understand that sometimes life happens, and you won't be able to attend. Where possible please cancel at least 48 hours in advance so we can adjust numbers to reduce waste. You can cancel via Eventbrite, or get in touch with us via any of the methods above. Please note donations are not refunded.

What time do you finish?

We have use of the venue until 21:00, so events aim to finish 10 - 15 minutes before that. We appreciate that people have other commitments and may need to get home, so there's no post-event activity planned. If you'd like to continue the night, the bar is typically open later.

What are donations for?

Donations cover the cost of running events, until we can find a new sponsor. The suggested donation amount is £5. The cost per attendee (excluding costs covered by sponsors) is ~£3. Note we are not a registered charity.

Organised by

Women in Tech York

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On Sale 12 Sep 2025 at 09:00