Presented by Diversity Arts Australia, ‘Cracking the Code’ was an International Women’s Day event you didn’t want to miss. Organised and hosted by award winning writer, journalist and host Simone Amelia Jordan, this virtual two-hour event was filled with plenty of laughs, valuable key learnings and a plethora of robust discussions. Throughout the night, we heard from the event’s guest panellists, recording artists Billymaree and Naomi Wenitong, as well as Complex Australia’s very own Editor, Rachael Evans. Each as authentic and articulate as the next, the three panellists along with Simone generously offered their time to discuss their unique experiences as women in hip-hop and R&B.

The casual, conversational atmosphere fostered by Simone meant that much of the event was spent delving into topics that made us feel all the emotions that come with engaging in these spaces as women. Those lucky enough to be in attendance went away with a deeper understanding of the differing—and at times very similar—experiences of women in hip-hop and R&B. If you missed out on the event we’ve got you—here are our five key takeaways from the evening.