A Celebration of Strength: Women in IT Gala

On March 5, 2025, something unique took place in the Netherlands: the Women in IT Gala. We’ve reached out to the woman behind it all, MVP Emily van Putten, to understand more about the initiative.

Q: What inspired you to organize the Women in IT Gala, and what were your main goals for the event?

Late 2024, I shared a vision: What if we created something entirely different? A space where women in IT weren’t just a minority in the room but the entire room. A night where women didn’t have to justify their presence, prove their worth, or feel the weight of being “the only one.” Instead, they could just be.

The response was overwhelming. In just a few short weeks, we—the dream team, Megan Weidema and I—turned that dream into reality. We secured a breathtaking castle, sponsors stepped in, understanding the urgency of this initiative, and tickets went live and sold out within 2.5 weeks.

The speed, the excitement, and the sheer need for this event made one thing crystal clear: this wasn’t just a nice-to-have. This was essential. And why? Because the numbers tell a painful story: 52% of women in the Netherlands leave IT within their first 10 years. Over half. Meanwhile, only 17% of men leave. Women don’t leave because they lack talent, drive, or passion. They leave because the culture wasn’t built with them in mind.

This gala wasn’t about filling quotas or talking diversity in corporate slideshows. This was about belonging. About creating a moment where women in IT could look around and say: “I’m not alone.”

Q: Can you share some of the key moments or highlights from the gala that made it a memorable experience for the attendees?

From the moment the first guests stepped inside, something shifted. There was an energy, a weight lifted. A sense of ease, connection, and belonging filled the room. Women who had never met before laughed, shared stories, and celebrated each other: Not as colleagues or competitors, but as equals.

For many, it was the first time in their careers that they walked into a professional event where they weren’t the only woman in the room. And that changed everything. The way they carried themselves, the way they engaged. There was no pressure to prove anything, no need to shrink themselves. This was a space where they could just be.

One of the most striking things about the evening? The freedom to show up exactly as you are. In a sector where professionalism is often equated with a muted, neutral presence, where femininity can sometimes feel like a liability, the Women in IT Gala was a breath of fresh air. Some arrived in dazzling gowns, embracing the full glamour of the evening. Others chose power suits, exuding strength and confidence. Bold lips, natural beauty, high heels, sneakers every choice was celebrated, not questioned.

The moment guests walked through the doors, they were greeted with a glass of champagne, setting the tone for a night where they were at the center. A night where they could celebrate, shine, and reclaim a kind of joy that is often overlooked in a field dominated by logic, structure, and pragmatism. For many women, it was the first time they felt they didn’t have to tone themselves down.

The dance floor was alive. At most tech events, people network. They exchange LinkedIn profiles, discuss the latest trends in AI or cloud security, and leave with a handful of business cards. But at the Women in IT Gala, something different happened. Women danced. Together. Freely. Unapologetically. The energy was contagious: feet moving, hands in the air, heads thrown back in laughter. It was a celebration, not just of the night, but of something much bigger. A celebration of existing in a space that had never been created for them before.

Throughout the night, the photobooth was a highlight. Women stepped in front of the camera, striking poses, laughing, capturing moments with old friends and new connections. Proof that they belonged. That they were part of something bigger. Proof that this night happened, and that it mattered.

The beauty of the gala wasn’t just in the dresses, the music, or the incredible venue. It was in the realization that no one was alone. Women who had spent years surrounded by male colleagues suddenly found themselves in a room filled with peers. For the first time, there was no need to prove, adapt, or over-explain. It was more than networking. It was a reminder: "We are here. We belong."

By the time the evening came to a close, one thing was clear: “I’m coming next year.” “I didn’t realize how much I needed this.” The flood of messages in the days that followed only reinforced what we already knew: this wasn’t just an event. It was a statement. A declaration that women in IT are here to stay. That they deserve spaces designed with them in mind. This gala was just the beginning.

Q: How do you think the gala will contribute to improving the retention of women in the IT sector?

Retention isn’t about hiring more women. It’s about making sure they stay. And staying in IT requires more than career opportunities. It requires belonging. If you don’t feel like you belong, you leave. It’s as simple as that.

That’s why the Women in IT Gala was never just about one night. It was never just about celebration. It was about connection, about creating something that lasts. For many attendees, this was the first time they were surrounded by hundreds of women in IT, not as the token woman in the room, but as part of a collective. That moment alone was powerful. Because when you see others like you, thriving, you start to believe you can thrive too.

We didn’t want this to be just another event where people show up, exchange LinkedIn connections, and go back to business as usual the next day. Instead, we made it clear: Don’t let this be just one night. Stay in touch. Follow up. Build on what you started here. And they did.

The gala also made painfully clear just how little structured support there is for women in IT. We need more than just recruitment efforts. Retention is the real challenge. We need leaders who listen, who don’t just acknowledge the problem but actively work to fix it. We need initiatives that foster real connection, beyond networking events, beyond surface-level gestures. Because women don’t leave tech because they aren’t passionate or skilled. They leave because tech hasn’t loved them back enough!

This gala proved one thing: there is a hunger for spaces where women in IT feel truly seen, valued, and safe. But let’s be real: one gala a year isn’t enough. We need to do more. More safe spaces. More mentorship opportunities. More conversations that lead to real action. And that doesn’t start with policies or statistics. It starts with people. With connection. With belonging. The Women in IT Gala was just the beginning. Now, it’s up to all of us to turn this moment into daily practice.

Q: What role did your partners and allies play in the success of the gala, and how important is their support for future initiatives?

Let’s be clear: without our partners, there would have been no gala. You can have the best ideas in the world, but without support, trust, and resources, they remain just that, ideas. The most beautiful part? We didn’t have to chase sponsors. They came to us. They saw the vision. They understood the urgency. They recognized that this wasn’t just another event, it was a much-needed shift in the industry. And instead of just talking about supporting women in IT, they acted.

A massive thank you to our incredible partners: Dutch Women in Tech, Experts Live Netherlands, Dutch Microsoft Security Meetup, Cyberella, IT Local, Communicativ, and Confiserie Napoleon. And of course, Giuseppe van den Ende (Brightside Media) for capturing the night in all its brilliance.

This kind of support isn’t just financial. It’s a statement. A statement that says: We see the need for change. We want to be part of the solution. We believe in the power of creating spaces where women in IT thrive. And that means everything.

Q: What is your plan for next year?

We reached 100 women this year. That’s incredible. But it could be so much more. In 2026, we’re coming back bigger. March 6, 2026 (the Friday before International Women’s Day). Double the women. Double the impact.

The overwhelming response to the gala made something painfully clear: One evening isn’t enough.

This is an open invitation to any organization that wants to support this initiative. Not because it’s good PR. Not because it checks a box. But because investing in women in IT means investing in the future of technology itself.

If your company wants to support this initiative, let’s connect to make change. Join us at womenitgala.nl.