An entrepreneur has shared her humiliating experience of being turned away from London Tech Week, a major corporate tech event, because she was accompanied by her eight-month-old baby. Davina Schonle, founder and CEO of Humanvantage AI, traveled three hours to attend the event at Kensington Olympia but was prevented from entering with her daughter in a pram.
Schonle recounted the incident to TheBusinessDesk.com, stating that she was initially asked if she was a VIP at the entrance. Upon replying that she wasn’t, she was told she wasn’t allowed in with a baby. When she went to collect her badge, she was approached by organizers from Informa, who claimed they weren’t insured for under-16s. The staff repeatedly questioned whether she was a VIP or speaker, even twisting her badge to check.
This incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the tech industry’s inclusivity. Schonle expressed her disappointment on LinkedIn, saying, “This moment was more than inconvenient. It was a clear reminder that as a tech industry, we still have work to do when it comes to inclusion beyond buzzwords.” She questioned what message such events send when they can’t accommodate parents and caregivers.
London Tech Week’s Response
London Tech Week, owned by Informa, released a statement saying, “We’re aware that one of our attendees wasn’t allowed to enter with their child yesterday. As a business event, the environment hasn’t been designed to incorporate the particular needs, facilities, and safeguards that under-16s require.” They claimed to want everyone in the tech community to feel welcome and have reached out to Schonle to discuss the incident and improve future events.
Reaction from the Industry
Julia Hobsbawm, a businesswoman and commentator on entrepreneurship and work-life balance, responded to Schonle’s post, calling the incident “shocking” and London Tech Week’s response “the worst kind of tin ear.” This incident comes as the tech sector attempts to shake off accusations of sexism and perceptions that it treats women as second-class citizens.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on the same day as the incident. Schonle’s experience has highlighted the need for greater inclusivity in tech events, particularly for parents and caregivers who are part of the industry.
