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Technology has the power to be a great leveller. The Internet represents opportunity on a mass scale and it empowers equally for all those who want to take advantage of it. And yet, when it comes to the question of women and their place in the sector, this rule does not seem to apply. Indeed, oftentimes it is quite the opposite.
A few weeks ago at the Mayor’s international business advisers committee meeting, I had one of those open- mouth-insert-foot moments. Sitting with a distinguished group of CEOs and chairmen of the world’s leading companies, discussing what London needs to do to become the most innovative and competitive city in the world, I blurted out, “I think it’s time we stopped teaching French in British schools and substitute science, coding or digital literacy instead.”
Bragging may not come naturally to the British, but as someone who has spent the past 25 years operating on both sides of the Atlantic, I have no hesitation in saying that the UK is now the best place in the world to build a global business.
The retro policies Labour is proposing are concerning, because they seek to turn back the economic steps forward Britain has made as a country.
It is an honor to be here tonight and to have the opportunity to speak to you. I would like to start by expressing my deepest admiration and appreciation for the life-changing work that the Prince’s Trust does for young people in the UK.
Everyone agrees that stopping the rise of online child abuse and exploitation is an urgent priority. The big question is: are there more innovative ways to go about it? Coming at this problem after twenty-five years of building global tech companies, and now as an adviser to the UK Government and the Prime Minister, I believe that there is a better way. My view is shared by delegations from more than 50 countries, 26 leading technology companies and 10 non-governmental organisations which took part this week in the UK Government’s two day #WeProtect Children Online summit at Lancaster House.
