Women in Tech - Bringing Colleagues Together Over Coffee Catchups

Why we chose this initiative?

The Finyx Women in Tech (WiT) team introduced 'The Coffee Catch-up Initiative' as a unique initiative designed to create new connections within our firm. The goal was to create an informal safe space, as well as enhance visibility, foster mentorship and offer valuable career guidance.

Our key objectives

The initiative aimed to offer:

• Career Conversations: Explorers had the opportunity to share their career journeys, discuss challenges and explore future aspirations.

• Mentorship & Guidance: Advisors provided valuable insights, practical advice and tips for navigating the tech industry and advancing in their careers.

• Networking: An opportunity to build connections with like-minded individuals who are passionate about empowering each other and supporting mutual success.

  
  

How It Works: We offer participation as an advisor (offering insights/advice) or as an explorer (seeking advice). At the start of every 6 weeks, we match advisors and explorers. Participants then schedule a 30-minute, informal catch-up, either in person or virtually. There’s no need for any preparation, just an open, meaningful conversation.

We operate this initiative in addition to Finyx’s standard Coach and Mentor scheme. The Coffee Catch up provides an informal, one-time opportunity to gain insights from someone who they might not typically engage with.

We encourage everyone to participate, whether offering guidance or seeking it. This is a fantastic opportunity to expand each employee’s professional network and contribute to a supportive and empowering environment at Finyx.

What does it mean to us?

The WiT vision statement: ‘At Finyx, the Women in Tech Group aim to empower and inspire both current and future women in technology by fostering a culture of inclusion, innovation and collaboration. We are committed to creating a dynamic environment where individuals can thrive through consistent engagement, mentorship, allyship and abundant growth opportunities.’

This initiative embodies many of the values we’re working towards to incorporate into Finyx culture. By pairing colleagues across different levels and teams, we break down silos, amplify diverse perspectives and create opportunities for conversation in an approachable way. It reflects our belief that meaningful growth happens not just through structured programmes, but also in the simple act of connecting with someone new, listening to their story, and sharing experiences. A Coffee Catchup is more than a meeting, it’s a reminder that every conversation has the power to inspire, guide, and strengthen our community. By creating space for these authentic interactions, we are reinforcing our commitment to a culture where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Feedback

We always aim to improve initiatives as we go. As such, we sent a survey out to all participants to get their thoughts and feelings on what they enjoyed and how we can make this even better and the response to our first Coffee Catchup was overwhelmingly positive!

From our feedback survey, we had a 100% 'Yes' to the following categories:

• Did your conversations feel meaningful and engaging?

• Did you find value in your match (e.g. insights, support, networking)?

• Would you participate in a future round?

  
  

We also took on board the suggestion to match advisors and explorers on further characteristics such as gender, service lines and shared interests. Where possible, we’re also looking to arrange the coffee catchups in person, alongside providing drinks and treats and some possible ice-breakers questions!

Below are some quotes we had from participants of our coffee catchups:

Quotes from our feedback survey regarding the WiT Coffee Catchup Scheme