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Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Sorry parents, but your baby has no business being in the office
She was, explained entrepreneur Davina Schonle, 'humiliated'. She'd travelled for three hours to attend the Monday sessions of London Tech Week, a gathering of global leaders in technology at Olympia, a vast exhibition centre in Kensington, west London. Schonle had been looking forward to the day's agenda, which included Red Bull's Christian Horner discussing tech advances in F1, Baroness Lane-Fox explaining how AI can be a force for equality, insights into what investors are looking for in tech companies and a panel making the case for launching tech businesses in the UK. Schonle's business is a start-up called Humanvantage AI, and she was particularly keen on the prospect of networking with so many key figures in the industry. The problem was she didn't make it through the door, not even to registration. Monday would not be a day on which she could add to her collection of lanyards. The reason: her plus one, Isadella. Doubtless brilliant, a hoover of information, a magnet of human interest, very possibly with a great future in supply chain inventory management – but, unfortunately, just eight months old. Mother protested, baby babbled, and the pair were forced to turn tail and make the three-hour journey straight back home. Schonle has since complained about the refused entry, posting on LinkedIn (obviously) that: 'I should be able to build my company with [Isadella] by my side… Doesn't our future belong to the kids?' London Tech Week then put out a statement saying that one of its attendees 'wasn't able to attend with her baby because of the event's age restrictions. We're very sorry she had this experience and have reached out directly to apologise and discuss what happened.' The statement continued: 'We've listened carefully and we are going to review our approach to age restrictions and facilities ahead of next year's London Tech Week.' So while they might be sorry, they're not committing to allowing under-16s and neither should they. And not just because it's the tech-savvy young teens who are about to steal all their jobs and blow them out of the water. But because sweet and cute and cuddly, soft-skinned and lovely to sniff and gorgeous though they are, conferences, workplaces and offices are not the place to bring babies and small children. For they are the ultimate disruptors and they're designed that way so that we can't ignore them – so that we will feed for them, care for them and love them. Which is why when Ms Schonle said on LinkedIn that, 'I was excited to attend, connect, have meetings and contribute', she should have realised that Isadella would have been a gorgeous distraction. Indeed, there's a photo of her posted on Schonle's LinkedIn page at the front doors of Olympia. She's waving, smiling, her beautiful, bright eyes and wispy hair are an audition for a clothing, nappy or soap brand. Everything else in the photo is dull by comparison: suited attendees, the signage and various folk ambling around looking lost. With a baby in tow, how were Schonle or her intended networkers supposed to focus on discussing how Humanvantage AI empowers human excellence through conversational AI-powered role-play? And if she landed new clients on the strength of how gorgeous her baby was, well, that would be unfair and cause chaos. There are reasons we have offices and reasons why, post-Covid, many workers are being told to get back to them.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Woman CEO turned away from London event after arriving with baby daughter, internet slams outdated mindset
A LinkedIn post by Davina Schonle, founder and CEO of Humanvantage AI, has gone viral after she revealed she was denied entry to London Tech Week for bringing her baby daughter along. The post has sparked widespread debate around inclusion, accessibility, and the lived experiences of working parents in the tech industry. (Also read: CEO sings Baby Shark to cheer little girl on flight, passengers chime in. Wholesome video) In her post, Schonle expressed her disappointment at being turned away from one of the UK's high-profile technology events simply because she had her infant daughter with her. 'Hi, I hate that I'm having to write this but today I was refused entry at London Tech Week… because I had my baby with me,' she wrote. 'It's a three-hour drive one way for me to come to London. At this stage I limit how many hours I am away from my baby girl. This is about new environments for her as much as it is about me. I should be able to build my company with her by my side.' Schonle highlighted her passion for innovation and the future of work, adding that she had been eager to network, attend meetings and contribute meaningfully at the event. 'In today's age shouldn't we be more inclusive? 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 concluded her post with a broader message about the tech industry's responsibility to accommodate caregivers. 'Parents are part of this ecosystem. Caregivers are innovators, founders, investors, and leaders. If major events like London Tech Week can't make space for [us], what message does that send about who belongs in tech?' Schonle also questioned whether tech events should rethink their definition of inclusivity. 'I don't necessarily mean make it a kid-inclusive event in general, or do I? Doesn't our future belong to the kids?' Check out the post here: Schonle's post has attracted over a thousand comments, many from fellow professionals, founders, and parents expressing outrage and support. One user commented, 'So glad you posted this! So saddened it happened!', while another called it a 'disgusting practice.' Others echoed sentiments like 'disheartening but not surprising,' and 'how can anyone say 'No' to this smile!' (Also read: Desperate CEO's viral thread on daughter's rare brain tumour fuels crypto fundraiser) Another user remarked, 'So sorry you had to go through this,' while one asked whether organisers had provided any justification for their actions. A more reflective comment noted, 'The industry and society still have a long way to go.'
India Today
13-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Woman CEO denied entry to London event for bringing baby daughter, post sparks outrage
A LinkedIn post shared by Davina Schonle, founder and CEO of Humanvantage AI, has gone viral after she revealed she was denied entry to London Tech Week because she brought her baby daughter incident has triggered a debate about inclusion, accessibility, and the realities of working parents in the tech industry.'Hi, I hate that I'm having to write this but today I was refused entry at London Tech Week because I had my baby with me,' Schonle said in her post, describing her three-hour journey to attend the 'At this stage I limit how many hours I am away from my baby girl. This is about new environments for her as much as it is about me,' she had planned to attend key meetings, network, and contribute to conversations shaping the future of tech. However, she was met with a barrier that reflects a bigger problem in the industry.'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 Schonle emphasised that parents and caregivers are essential contributors to the tech ecosystem - as innovators, founders, investors, and leaders. 'If major events like London Tech Week can't make space for (parents), what message does that send about who belongs in tech?'advertisementShe concluded her post with an important question: 'I don't necessarily mean make it kid inclusive event in general, or do I? Doesn't our future belong to the kids?'Take a look at the post here: Schonle's post has sparked outrage, with several calling on event organisers to re-evaluate policies that may unintentionally exclude caregivers.'Wow! How impressively regressive,' a user said. Another added, 'Sadly, this sounds typical of a largely male-dominated industry that pays corporate lip-service to inclusivity but fails to carry through those supposed values when it doesn't contribute to executive box-ticking.'See the comments here: The organisers of London Tech Week are yet to respond publicly to the incident.
NDTV
13-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Woman CEO Turned Away From London Tech Event For Bringing Baby Daughter Sparks Outrage
Davina Schonle, founder and CEO of Humanvantage AI, a startup focused on conversational role-play training using AI, said she felt "absolutely humiliated" after being denied entry to London Tech Week because she had her 18-month-old daughter with her. Schonle shared her experience on LinkedIn, revealing she had travelled three hours to reach Olympia, where the event was held. She had hoped to meet potential suppliers for her startup. However, on arrival, event officials reportedly stopped her from entering with her daughter, Isabella, who was in a pram. Schonle expressed disappointment over the lack of accommodation for working mothers at major tech events, especially during a time when inclusivity is widely discussed in the industry. "I was refused entry at London Tech Week... because I had my baby with me. It's a 3 hour drive one way for me to come to London. At this stage I limit how many hours I am away from my baby girl. This is about new environments for her as much as it is about me. I should be able to build my company with her by my side," she wrote in her post. "As someone passionate about innovation, tech and the future of work, I was excited to attend, connect, have meetings and contribute," she added. "In today's age shouldn't we be more inclusive?" "Parents are part of this ecosystem. Caregivers are innovators, founders, investors, and leaders. If major events like London Tech Week can't make space for them, what message does that send about who belongs in tech? I don't necessarily mean make it a kid-inclusive event in general, or do I? "Doesn't our future belong to the kids?" She further wrote.
The Guardian
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Entrepreneur ‘humiliated' after London Tech Week turns her and baby away
An entrepreneur has told how she was left feeling 'humiliated' after being turned away from London Tech Week, an annual corporate event, because she was with her baby daughter. Davina Schonle was prevented from entering the event on Monday after travelling for three hours with her eight-month-old and had to cancel meetings with potential suppliers to her tech startup. Schonle told 'As I went to the entrance with Isabella in her pram, I was asked if I was a VIP. I was then told I wasn't allowed in with a baby. I went to get my badge, but was then taken over to the organisers from Informa, who told me they weren't insured. But they asked again if I was a VIP or speaker, and later another lady came over and twisted my badge around to see, clearly checking to see if I was a VIP.' The incident has caused outrage and cast a shadow over the event, which was addressed by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, on the day Schonle was turned away. The tech sector has been trying to move away from accusations of sexism and perceptions that it regards women as second class. Schonle said the experience had brought all her worst fears about being a woman in the sector into sharp focus. She is the founder and chief executive of Humanvantage AI, a startup developing a conversational role-play corporate training platform using AI technology. In a now widely shared LinkedIn post, Schonle wrote: '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. 'Parents are part of this ecosystem. Caregivers are innovators, founders, investors, and leaders. If major events like London Tech Week can't make space for, what message does that send about who belongs in tech? I don't necessarily mean make it kid inclusive event in general, or do I? Doesn't our future belong to the kids?' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion London Tech Week, which is owned by the global events company Informa, said in a statement: '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. 'We want everyone in the tech community to feel welcome at London Tech Week. We've reached out directly to the person involved to discuss what happened and use this experience to inform how we approach this at LTW in the future.' Julia Hobsbawm, the businesswoman and commentator on entrepreneurship and work-life balance, responded to Schonle's post on LinkedIn, saying: 'Shocking to read this happened. The defensive quote from London Tech Week the worst kind of tin ear.'
