404: Women Not Found - The Podcast for Women in Tech

In this episode of 404: Women Not Found, Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE is joined by Sandie Small Duberry and Debbie Forster MBE to explore one of the biggest barriers women face throughout their careers, confidence.

Drawing on themes from the chapter Let's Talk About Confidence, the conversation challenges many of the assumptions we make about confidence and imposter syndrome. Debbie explains why she believes the phrase imposter syndrome places the blame in the wrong place, while Sandie shares practical advice on owning your voice, embracing difference and speaking up with confidence, even when you're the only one in the room.

Together, they discuss self-belief, workplace culture, representation and why confidence isn't about becoming someone else, it's about recognising that you already belong.

Topics covered

• Confidence in the workplace
• Imposter syndrome or imposter moments?
• Finding your voice
• Being the only woman in the room
• Speaking up with confidence
• Self-belief
• Representation and belonging
• Building confidence throughout your career

Shownotes:

This episode is hosted by Vanessa Vallely - visit her website here

Founder and Author of 404 Women Not Found - A new book aimed at helping women in the tech industry thrive and survive 

Check it out on instagram here 

Buy the book on Amazon here

This weeks guest is:

Sandie Small Duberry - Instagram

Debbie Forster MBE

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 404: Women Not Found, Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE is joined by Flavilla Fongang, Sarah Bramall and Rebecca Daniel, contributors to the book whose insights focus on mindset, self-motivation, growth, resilience and wellbeing.

Drawing on themes from the chapter Let's Work on Your Mindset, the conversation explores how women can develop a growth mindset, build momentum during challenging periods, stay motivated when confidence wobbles and create healthier boundaries in their careers.

Together, the panel share practical advice on managing self-doubt, protecting your energy, embracing growth and navigating the inevitable ups and downs of a career in technology.

Topics covered:

• Growth mindset

• Self-motivation and resilience

• Building momentum

• Managing self-doubt

• Neuroplasticity and lifelong learning

• Boundaries and capacity

• Preventing burnout

• Thriving in a changing world of work

Shownotes:

This episode is hosted by Vanessa Vallely - visit her website here

Founder and Author of 404 Women Not Found - A new book aimed at helping women in the tech industry thrive and survive 

Check it out on instagram here 

Buy the book on Amazon here

This weeks guests are:

Flavilla Fongang - Instagram

Sarah Bramall

Rebecca Daniel

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 404: Women Not Found, Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE is joined by Karen Blake MBE and Deborah O'Neill, contributors to the book and co-authors of the Lovelace Report, the groundbreaking research that became one of the key reasons 404: Women Not Found was written.

Together, they explore the findings from Chapter 2, At Last, We Have the Data..., discussing what the research reveals about the experiences of women working in technology today. From progression and recognition to pay, retention and workplace culture, the conversation shines a light on the barriers women continue to face and the actions organisations can take to create meaningful change.

The discussion also explores the economic impact of women leaving the technology industry, why so many talented women find themselves stuck in the "sticky middle", and what needs to happen if we are serious about creating a more equitable future for women in tech.

Topics covered:

• The Lovelace Report

• Women in technology today

• Career progression and the "sticky middle"

• Recognition, pay and workplace culture

• Why women leave the tech industry

• The economic cost of inaction

• Retention and leadership pipelines

• What organisations need to do next

Shownotes:

This episode is hosted by Vanessa Vallely - visit her website here

Founder and Author of 404 Women Not Found - A new book aimed at helping women in the tech industry thrive and survive 

Check it out on instagram here 

Buy the book on Amazon here

This weeks guests are Karen Blake MBE and Deborah O'Neill

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 404: Women Not Found, Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE is joined by Edwina Dunn OBE, technology entrepreneur, founder of The Female Lead and author of the foreword to 404: Women Not Found.

Edwina reflects on a remarkable career that has seen her help transform the world of data and customer insight through Tesco Clubcard, build a billion-dollar business and become one of the UK's most influential advocates for women and girls.

Together, Vanessa and Edwina discuss leadership, innovation, representation and why women must play a central role in shaping the technologies that will define our future. The conversation also explores the power of role models, the progress women have made in technology and what still needs to change if we are to achieve greater equity across the industry.

Topics covered:

• Edwina Dunn's career journey

• Building Tesco Clubcard and dunnhumby

• Women in technology and leadership

• The importance of representation

• The power of role models

• The Female Lead

• Innovation and the future of technology

• Advice for the next generation of women in tech

Shownotes:

This episode is hosted by Vanessa Vallely - visit her website here

Founder and Author of 404 Women Not Found - A new book aimed at helping women in the tech industry thrive and survive 

Check it out on instagram here 

Buy the book on Amazon here

This weeks guest is Edwina Dunn - check out her instagram here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dave joins Vanessa on the launch day of 404 Women Not Found to reflect on the journey behind the book, the state of women in technology today, and what needs to change next.

The title uses the familiar “404” internet error code to make an important point: the system is broken, not the women working within it.

Vanessa shares the reality of bringing the 288-page book to life — a year-long process that was creative, emotional, collaborative and, at times, isolating. Written from a place of passion, the book is designed to help women navigate an industry that can still feel unfit for purpose.

• The meaning behind 404 Women Not Found and its launch.
• The emotional and collaborative process of writing the book.
• Helping women build self-awareness, confidence and strategic relationships.
• Signs of positive change across the UK tech industry.
• The financial cost of failing to develop and retain women in tech.
• How AI is reshaping entry-level opportunities.
• The impact on young women, neurodiverse talent and marginalised communities.
• Vanessa’s hopes for the book, future research and continued industry change.

This episode is hosted by Dave Savage Host of Pod Tech Talk

The guest: Vanessa Vallely - visit her website here

Vanessa is the Author of 404 Women Not Found - A new book aimed at helping women in the tech industry thrive and survive 

Buy the book on Amazon here

Check it out on Instagram here 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Vanessa takes a deeper look at the research, contributors and practical ideas behind 404 Women Not Found, exploring what really holds women back in technology and what individuals, leaders and organisations can do about it.

Featuring insights from 41 women across technology and business, the book deliberately brings together different generations, careers and lived experiences. The aim is simple: to ensure that women reading it can recognise themselves, their challenges and their ambitions within its pages.

At the heart of the conversation are three persistent barriers identified through the Lovelace Report: recognition, career progression and pay inequality. Interestingly, the research also challenges some common assumptions about women’s careers. Only 3% of the women interviewed identified childcare as a significant barrier, highlighting the need to focus more closely on the structural and operational issues within organisations.

This episode explores those systems, the role of leaders and allies in changing them, and why individuals also need to make space to actively plan for their own future.

Topics we discussed:

• Why diverse voices matter.
• The Lovelace Report findings on recognition, progression and pay.
• Challenging assumptions around childcare and women’s careers.
• How outdated systems hold women back.
• What organisations can do to improve opportunity and visibility.
• The impact of allyship and sponsorship.
• Navigating workplace politics.
• Turning insight into action through practical exercises.
• Future-proofing your career through skills, visibility and networks.

Links:

This episode is hosted by Dave Savage Host of Pod Tech Talk

The guest: Vanessa Vallely - visit her website here

Vanessa is the Author of 404 Women Not Found - A new book aimed at helping women in the tech industry thrive and survive 

Buy the book on Amazon here

Check it out on Instagram here 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Vanessa explores the story and thinking behind 404 Women Not Found - a practical, action-focused book created to help women navigate, progress and thrive in the technology industry.

The book grew out of a 2025 research report examining the barriers women continue to face in technology, particularly around progression, recognition and pay. Rather than telling women they need to change who they are to succeed, 404 Women Not Found is about helping them sharpen the skills they already have, navigate the realities of today’s workplace and take greater ownership of their careers.

With women still accounting for only around 20–26% of the technology workforce, compared with approximately 17% a decade ago, the pace of change remains frustratingly slow.

This episode looks at why that is, what women working in technology say they actually need, and how the book was designed to turn those conversations into practical action.

The topics discussed:

• The research behind 404 Women Not Found and why women in tech don’t need “fixing”.
• Why progress on gender representation, recognition and pay remains slow.
• How TechWomen100 winners helped shape the book and its 19 chapters.
• Confidence, mindset, workplace politics and the power of community.
• Future-proofing careers in the age of AI and embracing “squiggly” career paths.
• The practical, action-focused workbook approach behind the book.
• The writing journey, from a 95,000-word first draft to contributions from 41 women — and why boundaries, mental health and sisterhood matter just as much as career progression.

Links:

This episode is hosted by Dave Savage Host of Pod Tech Talk

The guest: Vanessa Vallely - visit her website here

Vanessa is the Author of 404 Women Not Found - A new book aimed at helping women in the tech industry thrive and survive 

Buy the book on Amazon here

Check it out on Instagram here 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the very first episode of 404 Women Not Found, Vanessa sits down with Dave to explore an extraordinary career journey shaped by resilience, risk-taking, determination and a refusal to let other people define what was possible for her.

Growing up in a tower block in London’s East End, Vanessa could see the financial district from her bedroom window, but a career there seemed far from guaranteed. She left school at 16 with only a handful of GCSEs, including an F in technology, and faced repeated rejection when trying to break into banking.

Eventually, an opportunity through a programme designed to recruit young people from challenging schools gave her the opening she needed.

What followed was a 25-year corporate career spanning nine financial institutions, a successful move into technology and leadership, and ultimately the decision to leave corporate life behind and build something of her own.

• Growing up in London’s East End and entering the corporate world without traditional academic credentials.
• How rejection, conscious bias and having “nothing to lose” shaped Vanessa’s early career.
• Why saying yes to opportunities helped accelerate her progression.
• Building a reputation as someone who gets things done.
• The value of observing great, and not-so-great, leaders and learning how they manage conflict, negotiation and workplace politics.
• How confidence can be gradually eroded by managers, setbacks and worrying about what other people think.
• The impact of informal workplace networks, from pub conversations to golf clubs, on access to opportunities.
• Why proximity to senior leaders can influence who receives the projects that transform careers.
• Discovering that a male colleague doing the same job was earning £20,000 more.
• Sacrificing personal time to deliver a major project, only to watch promotion opportunities go elsewhere.
• Returning to work after short maternity leaves and rebuilding confidence.
• The moment Vanessa realised she was ready to walk away from corporate life.
• Why a volunteering trip helped change her perspective on success and fulfilment.
• The beginnings of We Are The City and the need for a professional network where women could connect, learn and support one another.
• Taking the risk of leaving a successful career, even when people around her questioned the decision.
• What receiving an OBE, honorary doctorate and honorary degree meant to Vanessa and her family.
• Why refusing to give up remains one of her proudest achievements.

Links:

This episode is hosted by Dave Savage Host of Pod Tech Talk

The guest: Vanessa Vallely - visit her website here

Vanessa is the Author of 404 Women Not Found - A new book aimed at helping women in the tech industry thrive and survive 

Buy the book on Amazon here

Check it out on Instagram here 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.