A major factor in introducing girls and women to technology, and retaining them is the availability of a community of like-minded individuals. We need to get women in tech involved in groups and events to attract other women and girls that are interested in tech, showcase women working in the field and their achievements, help those that are struggling due to feeling alone or not having female peers in their career or just want that community. This series will cover groups, networks, and opportunities for women to get involved, learn and grow in tech.
WITI
The first organization I will cover is Women in Technology International (www.witi.com). Witi was started in 1989 and claims to be the first organization to push the technology field as a career choice for women. It is an international organization with local and industry-based networks or groups throughout the world. The group boasts of 188,000 members at all stages of their careers from entry-level through executive management. WITI offers webinars, online meetings and learnings, onsite meetings through regional networks, and an annual summit for women in tech.
In 2019, in partnership with the International Data Corporation, WITI put out a global survey titled “2019 Women in Tech: The Future of Work, Inclusion, Diversity, and Human-Based Computing” discussing issues in diversity, women in leadership positions, sexual harassment, and mentorship for women in tech. WITI hosts a job board for employers and WITI members to connect and offers courses and coaching and mentorship.
During COVID, as with most organizations, WITI turned to virtual events to connect membership. Now that the pandemic is slowing, WITI regional networks are starting to put on in-person events such as learning events, networking, and coffee chats. These are a great way to meet other women in your area and learn about new technology or skills.
I recently attended a local meeting with my regional group – the first in-person meeting since the pandemic shut everything down! – and learned about Darktrace, a company that offers an AI-based cybersecurity monitoring and alerting tool. Though it is nothing I would directly use in my current role, the information was fascinating and the demo very interesting. Learning new things is never a waste of time and I may run into a situation where knowing about a tool like this will come in handy! I highly recommend getting involved at your local or regional level and share information or learn about new technology.
#witi #womenintech