Video summary
Lara Dewar, Chief Marketing Officer at GSMA, expressed profound gratitude for her participation in an exclusive morning session with a room full of women leaders organized by the ITU Network of Women. She described the experience as a rare and luxurious opportunity that generated a unique energy among attendees who often lack sufficient time to connect deeply due to their busy schedules. The event featured inspiring contributions from prominent figures such as Doreen Bogdan-Martin, recognized as a trailblazer in her field, and Sarah Thombs, who shared personal reflections on the challenges and realities of being a woman in technology.
Dewar highlighted how particularly engaging was an intergenerational panel discussion that brought together women across different career stages to share their stories and insights. She noted that she had never organized or participated in such an event before but found herself immediately captivated by its format, describing the experience as addictive in the best possible way. The combination of hearing from established leaders like Bogdan-Martin alongside personal narratives created a powerful atmosphere of inspiration and empowerment that Dewar felt was essential for fostering connection within the tech industry.
Looking forward to replicating this success across GSMA's various platforms, Dewar emphasized her intention to carry the positive momentum back to her organization and integrate these lessons into their ongoing work. She specifically mentioned how energizing it was to be surrounded by women ministers and other high-level leaders in such an intimate setting, which provided a refreshing contrast to typical professional environments where diverse voices might not always converge so naturally. This morning's gathering served as both a celebration of female leadership and a practical demonstration of the value that comes from creating spaces for meaningful dialogue among women in technology.
Ultimately, Dewar concluded her remarks by expressing hope that this inspiring experience would influence future initiatives at GSMA to support more inclusive environments where women can thrive together. The session not only provided immediate joy but also offered actionable ideas on how to build similar networks and panels globally through the ITU's extensive reach. By acknowledging the importance of these connections, Dewar reinforced her commitment to continuing this work and ensuring that future generations of women in technology have access to such enriching opportunities for mentorship and collaboration.
Read the full video transcript
[music]
>> So I have a reflection when I'm in a
room full of women, which doesn't happen
very often. It feels like a real luxury
[music] in life.
Um there is a certain energy that
happens, and we never have long enough
to meet. But this morning has been an
incredible opportunity to hear [music]
from Doreen Bogdan-Martin, who is a real
leader in this space and [music] of
course a trailblazer, to hear from Sarah
Thombs and her personal reflections and
her personal stories about being a woman
in technology, [music]
and then a really fun intergenerational
panel. I have never done anything like
that before, [music] and I have to say
I'm absolutely addicted to it from this
morning. And I am going to look for ways
that we can replicate something like
this over our [music] many platforms at
the GSMA. So a huge thank you to the ITU
for including me this morning. [music]
It is absolutely a delight, and
energizing, and inspiring [music] to be
in a room full of women ministers and
women's leaders, and I hope that I get
to take all of that back to my
organization and the work that we do.
>> [music]
>> Thank you so much.