Herstory: Weaving Authentic Academic Narratives - in-person event
Dr Lynne Hocking
Monday, 09 March 2026
On Monday 9th March join us to celebrate International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March). This IWD we are spotlighting women’s voices and stories with a day of reflection, practice, and conversation for women in academia and research. Using the metaphor of weaving, this event explores how we can create consistent yet flexible narratives of our work across different contexts from academic CVs through social media, online profiles, and everyday conversations, creating rich accounts underpinned by consistent themes.
EVENT DETAILS
Herstory is a reflective, practical, and creative workshop for women in academia and research who want to articulate their professional narratives with clarity, confidence, and integrity.
In an informal setting participants will explore together how to communicate who they are and what they do across multiple settings — from CVs and funding applications to public talks, online profiles, and everyday conversations — without losing coherence or compromising their values. The 3-hour workshop will run twice during the day so participants have the option to attend in the morning or the afternoon and stay for lunch if they choose.
Note: The workshop includes a simple creative activity to support reflection and discussion. No crafting experience required.
Over lunch there will be talks and the opportunity to meet others and share stories.
OUTCOMES
Through guided reflection, structured discussion, and a gentle hands-on creative activity, participants will:
- Clarify what stays consistent in their academic identity across settings
- Explore how (and when) to adapt their narrative for different audiences
- Identify authentic language for CVs, applications, talks, bios, and introductions
- Leave with renewed confidence in how they describe themselves and their work
Session times
You will have the option to book from these sessions:
- Morning session only: 09.30 - 12.30
- Morning session including lunch: 09.30 - 13.30
- Conversations and connecting over lunch only: 12.30 - 13.30
- Afternoon session including lunch: 12.30 - 16.30
- Afternoon session only: 13.30 - 16.30
booking information
Click here to fill in the registration form and to select your session.
intended for
This event is designed for academics, researchers, and students at all career stages who want to take greater ownership of how their work and identities are represented and who are interested in hearing the stories of others.
Facilitator - Dr Lynne Hocking
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In this workshop, Lynne will use her experience as a scientist, senior research leader, creative practitioner, and weaver to help women make sense of complex career paths. She will guide participants to identify patterns, strengths, and values across their experience, and translate these into confident narratives. Through reflective and practical exercises, Lynne supports clear CV building, articulate self‑presentation, and renewed confidence in career direction, in supportive, inclusive, and collaborative workshop settings designed for growth professionally. |
Contact and more information
This workshop is being run in collaboration with EnSpire, the University of Oxford's Entrepreneurship Hub.
If you have any questions about the event or require further information please contact:
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Sally Charles |
MPLS’s Enterprise Programme Manage Email: sally.charles@mpls.ox.ac.uk |
| Greg Jones |
EnSpire Stakeholder Manager (Diversity and Entrepreneurship) Email: greg.jones@admin.ox.ac.uk |