International Women’s Day 2025: EdgeRed Ladies Fireside Chat
In celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, EdgeRed proudly hosted our first-ever Ladies Fireside Chat, a special event dedicated to fostering open discussion around the unique challenges that women face in the workplace – particularly in male-dominated fields such as technology and data. This event was designed to amplify women’s voices, share experiences, and create a community where meaningful conversations can lead to empowerment and action.
Why We Need a Ladies Fireside Chat
💜 Recognising the Need for Open Conversations
At EdgeRed, where 47% of our team identify as female, we’ve observed firsthand the distinct challenges women encounter in tech and across various industries: gender biases, societal pressures, and lack of representation. The Ladies Fireside Chat was born out of the desire to create an open platform for women to share their stories and confront these issues in a supportive environment. By shedding light on these experiences, we intend to raise awareness on gender equality, and work together towards crafting a solution.
💜 Creating a Safe and Inclusive Space
One of the core pillars of this event was to foster a safe, inclusive, and judgment-free environment. This is a space where conversation and open discussion are encouraged and experiences are not just shared – they are celebrated. This fireside chat offered a chance to connect through shared experiences and to exchange advice on navigating the complexities of the professional world as a woman.
💜 Empowering Growth & Action
The event wasn’t just about sharing experiences – it was about offering actionable insights that could help women advance in their careers. Our goal was to empower women with tools, strategies, and confidence to grow both professionally and personally. As much as we recognise the challenges, we are equally focused on equipping women to thrive in their careers by offering practical advice on overcoming obstacles and promoting ongoing growth.
Topics We Discussed
💜 Workplace Challenges
Women often face unique hurdles in male-dominated fields. Navigating company cultures that might not always be accommodating, dealing with unconscious bias, and handling unwanted attention are just some of the challenges discussed.
💜 Confidence & Assertiveness
One of the key takeaways from the conversation was the importance of confidence in the workplace. Many women struggle with imposter syndrome or feel the need to apologise for speaking up. The discussion offered strategies for being assertive without being apologetic – standing firmly in their expertise, and advocating for themselves and others.
💜 Growth & Development
In fast-paced industries like technology, staying on top of new tools and trends is crucial. But growth doesn’t just come from professional development – it’s also about managing time, balancing personal well-being, and setting boundaries.
The Impact of the Event
The EdgeRed Ladies Fireside Chat wrapped up warmth and compassion. The Ladies Fireside Chat wasn’t just a conversation – it was a step towards change. The sentiment of ‘Accelerate Action’ (IWD’s 2025 campaign theme) was echoed throughout the event. By providing a space where women in tech could share their experiences and insights, we are able to identify actionable changes that can have a meaningful impact in addressing the systemic barriers.
Hear from our team
“The Fireside Chat last Friday was a fantastic and open space for everyone to share their thoughts. It was inspiring to hear such great insights and have meaningful conversations. The discussion created a supportive environment where we could reflect on our experiences as women in tech. It was a valuable time to connect, listen, and learn from each other.” – Prishilla
“After a recent long vacation, it got really hard for me to reconnect with everyone at work. The Ladies Fireside chat helped break the ice and made me feel relaxed. Also, I got great advice from seasoned professionals on many different issues in the workplace. It was also reassuring to know it was not only me who struggles with online presentations, haha!” – Sai
“At EdgeRed Ladies Fireside Chat, we came together to connect, share, support, and inspire each other. I loved the real conversations and the sense of community that helped us all grow.” – Nargess
“The EdgeRed Ladies Fireside Chat was an incredibly inspiring session that gave me valuable insights and practical advice. Listening to the experiences of the female senior team members was both motivating and insightful. They shared guidance on career growth, leadership, and navigating challenges in the industry. As someone new to this industry and at the start of my career, I found the discussion very valuable and gained important lessons that will help me grow professionally 💜🩷💜” – Eva
Final thoughts
EdgeRed acknowledges that this is not a full solution, but an important first step to provide opportunities for women to connect, grow, and lead in their careers. It demonstrates our commitment to gender equality, inclusivity and equal opportunities.
To create a world where women feel supported and empowered, where their voices are heard, and their contributions are valued, it requires a collective effort and commitment to continue the conversation, and advocate for change.
Thank you to all the wonderful women at EdgeRed for participating with enthusiasm and empathy, as well as sharing impactful experiences and advice.
This blog was written by Moon.
About EdgeRed
EdgeRed is an Australian boutique consultancy with expert data analytics and AI consultants in Sydney and Melbourne. We help businesses turn data into insights, driving faster and smarter decisions. Our team specialises in the modern data stack, using tools like Snowflake, dbt, Databricks, and Power BI to deliver scalable, seamless solutions. Whether you need augmented resources or full-scale execution, we’re here to support your team and unlock real business value.
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