BIOGRAPHY
Kathryn Parsons is the Co-founder and CEO of Decoded, a technology education company launched with a mission to demystify the digital world.
Through a combination of workshops, bootcamps, apprenticeships and leadership training in code, AI and cyber security to online qualifications in software development, data engineering, product management and UX design, Decoded is future-proofing the workforce. To date they have taught over half a million professionals, including the boards and leadership teams of the FTSE and Fortune 500.
In her spare time, Kathryn is a guest contributor to The Sunday Times Business where, from her new home in San Francisco, she has reported on the demise of FTX, the acquisition of Twitter, the launch of ChatGPT, the impact of generative AI on education and her research on the AI deployment strategies of large organisations. Kathryn has also reported on the UK government AI Security Summit and the state of UK venture capital funding for the Financial Times and produced a BBC Radio 4 series decoding the technology superpowers of China and Russia.
Kathryn has sat on the boards of the UK government Department for Business and business advisory boards for the London Mayor and Number 10 Downing Street and educated the US Houses of Congress.
In 2014, Kathryn campaigned successfully for coding to be included as a mandatory subject on the UK National Curriculum, making it one of the first countries in the world to do so. As a result, millions of children have now been introduced to computational thinking in the classroom. In recognition, Kathryn received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II for Services to Education.
Kathryn has been named Veuve Clicquot’s New Generation Award, The Financial Times’ Top 30 Women in Tech and Global Positive Impact Entrepreneur of the Year.
For more information about Kathryn Parson’s speaking topics, availability and fees, contact Leo von Bülow-Quirk at leo@vbqspeakers.com.
KATHRYN PARSONS: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Kathryn has delivered 500+ keynotes and talks to audiences of up to 2,000 people across the world.
Driven by a personal desire to learn and to remove the fear, jargon and cliches which made technology impenetrable, Kathryn Parsons founded the business in 2011 with merely a credit card and mission to teach anyone to Code in a Day. Kathryn’s passion for languages started at a young age, learning French, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese and ultimately Latin and Ancient Greek at Downing College, Cambridge. For her code is just another language, the language of the future, and one she believes anyone can learn.
Today, as we witness the disruptive impact of technology on traditional economies and social systems, the so-called “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, Kathryn Parsons is calling upon us to launch an “Education Revolution”, one which is adaptive, expansive, and lifelong to ensure that the great benefits of technology flow to all of us.
Her keynotes are designed to educate and inspire. Kathryn Parsons believes that transformation of skills and culture is possible at any age or stage of a career or business. Sharing cutting-edge case studies from across her work and the world of education, government and business, she shows how technology is for everyone and why we must all give ourselves the permission to learn.
Testimonials
“You have inspired our community, and have helped make the festival an unforgettable experience.” —- Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival
“Kathryn was great. She was a pleasure to work with and everyone thought she was fantastic.” —- Leading global software company