Vanessa Vallely

Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE is the Founder and CEO of WeAreTheCity and WeAreTechWomen, organisations dedicated to helping women progress their careers. A recognised authority on gender equality, she has delivered keynotes for more than 600 organisations, inspiring over 50,000 women globally.

After a 25-year career in banking and technology, Vanessa founded WeAreTheCity in 2008. Today, together with WeAreTechWomen, the community supports more than 80,000 women through events, awards, conferences and career development initiatives. She has helped over 250,000 women develop new skills and expand their networks.

Awarded an OBE in 2018 for services to women and the economy, Vanessa also received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Warwick in 2024. She is the author of Heels of Steel and 404: Women Not Found, and a regular contributor to national and international media.