No Excuses for Manels
June 18, 2026Tags: conferences,, speaking
This morning, I caught a picture of a career panel for an event for college kids for an organization that builds tech talent. Listen, I like that we’re helping college kids. But there’s still the disservice of manels - panels made up of only men - and not representing other groups. 😩
We still see this in conference selections - as keynoters, as workshop presenters, as session presenters. We see those groups that have those events that aren’t inclusive. WE SEE YOU AND ARE TALKING ABOUT YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER.
To be clear, I’m not a fan of all-women panels either. This is why you typically won’t see me at a Women in Tech event that is exclusive to women. I know some women seem to need that environment, so that’s what they do. There is a certain level of safety at those events that mainstream events just haven’t attained yet. So I get why they’re needed. However, those are not where I need to be.
How to Find Groups
There are plenty of other groups out there. You have to search for them if this representation matters. Here’s how you can find others:
- Find a Local Hub: Start with one of the large professional meetup sites (like Meetup.com) or local resource centers. These are physical places where diverse individuals gather professionally and socially.
- Ask for Connections, Not Speakers: Instead of saying “Can you give me three speakers to represent this group?” try asking a community leader: “Who should I talk to about building an inclusive speaker panel?” This approach delegates the knowledge search to someone already in the network, increasing your chances of success and building relationships.
- Use Intersectionality Keywords: When searching these groups or networking, always combine your keywords: e.g., “Trans” + “Developer,” “Indigenous” + “Data Science,” “Non-binary” + “Engineering.” This helps narrow the focus to highly specialized and visible experts.
- Find Local/Regional Conferences: This might feel like cheating. But honestly, when a community supports each other, they’re stronger. Look at other conferences and events to see who they have speaking. Someone else may have already done the legwork - but you still have to reach out to the potential speakers on your own for your own event.
Engaging These Groups
When you find an organization, don’t just look at the “About Us” page. Use these strategies to get actionable contacts:
- Check Their Event Calendars: Look at past conference agendas or local chapter event listings. The speakers who presented are often talented and willing to speak again.
- Follow Key Leaders on LinkedIn or other social platforms: Many of the founders, board members, and high-profile mentors from these organizations are powerful connectors. Following them can alert you when they promote speaking opportunities for their community members.
- Target College Alumni Networks: If a group has an alumni network (e.g., SHPE or NSBE), contacting it directly and asking for introductions is often the most effective method, as the members have existing professional ties.
Where to Find Representation
If you find that your event’s line-up doesn’t represent your audience well, consider reaching out to some of the organizations below.
Gender and Sex Related
Ethnicity Related
- Afrotech
- Blacks in Technology
- Black Tech Saturdays
- Latinas in Tech
- National Society of Black Engineers
- Our Own Damn List - Black women leaders
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
- Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science
- Techqueria
Conclusion
Here we are in mid-2026. We are living in an era of technological breakthroughs that sounded like sci-fi just a few years ago. We’ve optimized algorithms to predict human behavior, scaled infrastructure to mind-boggling heights, and integrated AI into almost every facet of our daily workflows.
Yet, somehow, when it comes to organizing a tech panel, we’re still supposed to believe that finding a single qualified woman or underrepresented speaker is an insurmountable engineering challenge?
Let’s call it what it is: lazy.
The “we couldn’t find anyone” excuse didn’t hold water a decade ago, and it certainly doesn’t hold water now. The communities exist. The brilliant, deeply technical, and innovative speakers are out there - and as the resources above prove, they aren’t even hiding. They are actively building, leading, and pushing this industry forward every day.
Fixing the abysmal lack of representation on tech stages isn’t a pipeline problem; it’s an intentionality problem.
Call to Action to Event Organizers
If you are organizing an event, a local meetup, or a major global conference, the playbook is right in front of you. True representation isn’t a last-minute checkbox to tick because you’re worried about public backlash. It is a fundamental reflection of the actual world of tech.
The final verdict: If your panel is all men in 2026, you didn’t run out of options. You ran out of effort. Let’s retire the manel for good - because our industry is far too big, and far too bright, for such a narrow view.