Fika with Women in Tech host Stephanie Darvill: "Speak about the stuff that makes your eyes light up"

It’s been a busy week for you. How do you manage nerves and stress levels when hosting a big event like Women in Tech?

"By doing as much advance preparation as possible! But one big thing is also just accepting that this week will be hectic - a bit of a rollercoaster. Moderating is not the same as just doing a normal day job, it's super intense. There’s so much energy that you're giving on stage and to the speakers, that you have to leave space to rest after the event."

You didn’t just host the event but were also hired as its programme manager. How did that happen?

"Last year when they brought me on as a moderator, I knew they hadn't completed the agenda yet, so I offered to help set things up and coordinate with speakers. The organisers Åsa Johansen and Elin Eriksson saw that I love project management and Excel sheets! So this time they asked me to start earlier at the beginning of December and help run things for a full five months. I think it helps me as a moderator because I really understand the agenda and I’ve had a relationship with all of the speakers for a number of months."

How did you include impact in the programme?

"By nature, Women in Tech is impact-driven, with a focus on inclusivity and diverse teams. This year we’ve made a move to include more startups. On the interview stage we selected many founders, to give them a platform to spread their innovations, speak to the community and explain how people can help them. The theme was Space to Play and we spoke to a number of speakers focussed on space tech and sustainability."

What advice would you give to impact founders giving their first talks or interviews on stage?

"You should practice a lot if you’re a keynote speaker, but I think it can backfire if you overprepare for an interview. I think a lot of people think too much about remembering exact words and forget why they've been invited in the first place. The organisers will have picked you because you're very passionate and that passion has allowed you to create a startup. Focus on being yourself and speak about the stuff that makes your eyes light up."

Has anything gone wrong when you’ve been hosting and how did you handle it?

"I think something goes wrong every single time I host! This year there was an error with one of the audience engagement question sessions, and I just chatted around it. I have anxiety which means I have usually thought about all the things that could go wrong and prepared what jokes I am going to make if it happens!"

Off-stage, do you have any other superpowers?

"I can remember intricate details of conversations, and I am able to listen to two conversations at once."

Is there another superpower you’d like to have?

"I'd love to be better with my time management. I'm freelance so I have multiple clients. I'd love to be stricter with myself about when I need to stop focusing on one thing and switch contexts. I tend to jump between contexts all day."

You said you’re going to rest now. What does that look like for you?

"Sometimes I'm just sitting on my sofa and chilling. I'm not going to try and glamorise that! I am based in Malmö (in southern Sweden) and like going to Ribersborg which is a sauna and open-air swimming spot. I often read there – it’s good for me because it’s a place where you’re not allowed any digital devices."

What is your favourite fika?

"You can’t go wrong with a good cinnamon bun, but I am quite particular! I like the lattice-shaped ones that are moist on the inside. I also like Swedish kladdkaka (a moist dense chocolate cake). For my coffee I’ll have an Americano."