Sopra Steria, a European leader in consulting, digital services and software development, have reinforced their long-standing commitment to promoting gender diversity in digital leadership by pledging their support to both the Spring and Autumn cohorts of the ’Empowering Women to Lead Digital Transformation’ programme running throughout 2022.
The cross-sector initiative, backed by ScotlandIS, The Scottish Government and Scottish Digital Academy, launched last year and has now completed three of its three-month leadership programmes, bringing together over 60 aspiring female digital leaders from a broad variety of digital disciplines and organisations, ranging from financial services and digital consultancy, through to central government agencies, health bodies, academia and local government.
The upcoming cohort will run from March to May, alongside a parallel programme focussing on addressing gender diversity issues within cyber security, and will culminate in a national event where the participants present the outputs from their “Challenge” projects to an audience of industry peers in June.
The ‘Empowering Women to Lead Digital Transformation’ programme aims to build a collaborative and powerful community of emerging women leaders in digital transformation roles across all industry sectors, and at varied stages within their careers.
Commenting on Sopra Steria’s decision to extend its support for the programme, their Director of Citizen and Devolved Government Services, Mags Moore said, “When I was asked ‘would Sopra Steria like to support the Empowering Women Programme again’, the answer was easy – Absolutely, 100%, yes! We need to encourage more women into leadership roles. We are privileged to continue our association with this great programme that nurtures female talent and creates an enduring and thriving network.
“Simply put, leaders make transformation happen and digital transformation has to become the fabric of what we do to make lives better. This programme tangibly addresses gender balance in a way that encourages women to be their authentic selves and maximises their strengths. I look forward to meeting the spring cohort and am especially looking forward to the graduation event when they present their projects.”
Mags Moore will join the initiative’s Programme Panel in assessing the applicants to the programme and deciding upon the final make-up of participants, as well as advising on some of the key challenges that the cohort will face in their group-work. The remainder of the Panel is made up of senior figures from across industry and government including the ScotlandIS Chief Executive, Karen Meechan, Joy Bramfitt-Wanless, Head of the Digital Transformation Service at The Scottish Government, Iomart’s Group Financial Reporting Manager, Victoria Cahill and Roz Britton, Talent Attraction & Capability Lead for the Digital Profession at The Scottish Government.
The deadline for applications to the free programme is the 11th of February and further details, including application information can be found at https://www.empowering-you.co.uk/ewldt-spring-2022