Something Cool Happened for International Women’s Day in Groningen
"Lean In Groningen" and "Women Devs" unite to celebrate International Women's Day with inspiring talks and a shared vision for female empowerment in Groningen.
Lean In Groningen and Women Devs put their heads together to create a special event for Women’s Day. It was all about bringing women together, celebrating their rights, and making friends.
Lean In started five years ago when Laura Damiano saw a gap for a space where women could meet up, share stories, and support each other. Fast forward to today, and it's an inspiring community with over 110 members. Women Devs, led by Stella Tsoutsouri, has around 500 members and is all about giving women a leg up in the tech world.
Laura shared, "In Italy and Greece, International Women's Day is a big deal. Coming here, I was surprised many didn't know much about it."
She and Stella wanted to change that, to spread the word and make this day as special in Groningen as it is back home.
Stella added, "If just one person learns something new or feels inspired, we've done our job."
She dreams of making March 8th a day women in Groningen always look forward to, a day filled with stories, inspiration, and celebration.
The event had an awesome lineup of speakers. Yingqing Gong talked about fitting into Dutch culture, Esther Metting dived into making healthcare digital and accessible, and Ayla Kangur shared her 15-year adventure in artificial intelligence. Their stories hit home, showing the power of sharing and understanding diverse experiences.
Laura and Stella were over the moon about how everything turned out.
"It was amazing to see women from all walks of life connect and share," they said.
The feedback was heartwarming, with many attendees saying they can't wait for the next one.
Yingqing, one of the speakers, shared her personal connection to the event, saying, "I remember watching the same event a couple of years back, during COVID, and feeling deeply inspired even through my computer screen. I've always wanted to contribute to the community and support all women on this special day. So, when Laura approached me to ask if I'd be open to speaking, I didn't hesitate to say yes."
But what's really cool is what everyone took from the event. It wasn't just about listening to great talks. It was about making friends, finding support, and maybe even getting answers to those big life questions. Laura and Stella wanted to create a space where everyone could just be themselves, and it sounds like they nailed it.
Looking forward, Laura and Stella are keen to keep the traction going, making the International Women's Day event a regular thing and maybe bringing even more communities into the fold. "We hope to celebrate this event every year," Laura said, "and maybe connect to other communities."
In a nutshell, the event was a big win for everyone involved. It showed the power of community, the importance of celebrating women's achievements, and the beauty of coming together to support and uplift one another. Here's to many more inspiring gatherings in Groningen!
If you’re organizing initiatives like this one, please reach us here. We’d love to spread the word about inspiring happenings in Groningen.