Toi Wāhine: International Women’s Day 2025
Last 7th of March, Yoobee College of Creative Innovation had the pleasure to host “Toi Wāhine,” a fireside chat and interactive discussion featuring three trailblazing speakers: Caroline Jeffries, VFX & Characters Senior Technical Artist, Ana Maria Rivera, Yoobee Colleges CEO, and Kelly Stevens, Yoobee Colleges Head of Learner Success.
Their kōrero (conversation) explored key topics for wāhine (female) in male-dominated industries, offering powerful insights into how to break down barriers and find success.
Overcoming Challenges in Male-Dominated Industries
With Caroline working in the gaming industry, she shared her journey navigating a male-dominated field. She encouraged women to surround themselves with supportive people that help them recognise their worth. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially when you feel out of place,” Caroline said. Ana Maria, on the other end, also stressed the importance of diversifying your networks and perspectives to foster creativity, and get perspective of people from different backgrounds. She advised building relationships within the industry and staying open to learning from others will be the key.
Building Confidence and Handling Feedback
With our Yoobee students being creators, the challenge of building confidence in your work was raised, Kelly suggested focusing on your strengths and writing down the things you excel at. “Remind yourself of what you’re good at and seek feedback from others to continue improving,” she advised. Caroline added that feedback should never be taken personally—it’s about improving your work, not about who you are as a person.
Networking and Making Connections
Ana Maria highlighted the importance of networking in building a successful career. “Put yourself out there,” she urged, pointing to events and exhibitions as essential opportunities to get your work noticed. Caroline echoed this, sharing that attending game meetups was how she started making connections. Both speakers agreed that networking isn’t just about immediate results, but about long-term relationship building that could open doors down the track.
As we continue to celebrate women in tech, business, and beyond, we are reminded of the words of these three incredible women: Take the first step, surround yourself with people who believe in you, and above all—never stop striving to be the best version of yourself. Despite the challenges in these industries, the speakers left everyone with hope and a reminder that with persistence, confidence, and strong networks, wāhine can carve out their own path to success.
