WiBD Global Connect - March 2024
Happy Women's History Month WiBD!
In this issue we cover:
Our Celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day
Throughout March, Women's History Month celebrates the vast contributions of women throughout history, acknowledging their often-overlooked achievements in every field, from science and politics to art and social justice. International Women's Day, on March 8th, serves as a focal point, highlighting the ongoing fight for gender equality and calling for a world where women's voices and actions shape the future. As March comes to a close, the celebration of women's strength continues! This month, we were inspired by your stories and the incredible women who came before us. Let's carry this momentum forward, empowering each other every day. Here's to you, the future history-makers!
In continuation, we'd like to share a series of short videos that honor the significance of the 2024 Women's History Month and International Women's Day,?as well as the critical role mentors can play.
Let's hear?the inspiring insights of?Theresa Kushner, Partner Business Data Leadership and Women in Big Data Board member, as she shares her invaluable experience with the WiBD mentoring program. Her candid reflections on the significance of mentorship and the transformative lessons learned from being a mentor are truly remarkable.?https://lnkd.in/gSYZ6vx3
Get insights from?Deborah Sgro, Director of the WiBD Global Mentoring Initiative, as she shares the impactful strides we're making within our mentoring program. Designed to cater to the diverse needs of working professionals—whether they're just starting out, returning to the workforce, or climbing the career ladder—the program is committed to fostering inclusivity and empowerment. Let's join forces to cultivate a more equitable and prosperous future through mentorship and collaboration.?https://lnkd.in/eAYqWyTd.
Join?Juliette Aucamp, Head of Business Partnering in Data and Analytics at Vodafone,?as she shares her Heartfelt Journey with the Women in Big Data Mentoring Program as a mentor. Hear her inspiring message to those considering mentorship. Gain invaluable insights into the transformative power of mentorship from her authentic experience. https://lnkd.in/gC3PhaqD
Our global team hosts events in honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day
We're thankful to all our chapters for recognizing this occasion, and here are a few of them:
To?celebrate International Women Day WiBD, our WiBD Russia chapter hosted a vibrant "Spring Data Meetup." Participants delved into the realm of Data Science, engaging in lectures by prominent engineers at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies in artificial intelligence. A panel discussion on "What Unites Data Researchers" provided insight into various career paths, while the event offered both in-person and online attendance options. Held in Nizhny Novgorod with a virtual component for other regions, attendees experienced special interactions via the Telegram group and concluded with an engaging online quiz.
Our Munich chapter celebrated Women's History Month in collaboration with Slalom and Databricks to?bring together women and allies in big data and tech.
Our Israel chapter celebrated Women's History Month with its event "Engineering @ Scale" in collaboration with Linkedin Tel Aviv.?
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The latest on our Mentoring Program
Mentoring program update?by?Deborah Sgro,?WiBD Global Mentoring Director
As we embark upon the third year of our Global Mentoring Initiative, it brings us immense pleasure to share our journey and accomplishments thus far. Our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the tech industry remains unwavering, and we are proud to showcase the strides we've made in our 2024 February to May mentoring session.
This session, we provided three distinct 1:1 mentoring programs customized to accommodate varying levels of professional experience. Our flagship initiatives, "Emerging Technologists" and "Mentor in Tech International," continue to attract significant interest from both mentees and mentors alike. Specifically crafted for individuals new to the field of technology and seasoned tech professionals with two or more years of experience respectively, these programs are offered biannually, ensuring consistent support and guidance throughout the year.??Additionally, we introduced a new program, "Sydney Mentoring," catering specifically to mentees in the Sydney area with two or more years of professional experience.
Our long-standing program, "Getting From Here To There," now in its sixth iteration, continues to provide invaluable guidance and support to seasoned technical professionals with ten or more years of experience. The success of this program underscores the enduring impact of peer mentoring in advancing careers and fostering personal growth.
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A hearty congratulations to our Munich, Berlin, and NRW chapters who collaboratively hosted a remarkable speed mentoring event. Attended by 40 enthusiastic participants, the event featured a keynote address by?Tina Rosario, the EMEA Region Lead. The overwhelming positive feedback we received affirms the significance of such initiatives in facilitating networking opportunities and knowledge exchange within our community.
But our efforts don't stop there. We are thrilled to announce a partnership with our India chapter to launch "Shakti," a pioneering program designed to support women reentering the workforce. "Shakti" offers an intensive skill-based training agenda complemented with 1:1 mentoring engagements, providing a supportive framework for women embarking on this journey.
We extend our gratitude to the many mentors who contributed video testimonials about their mentoring experience and the benefits of mentoring in celebration of International Women's Day. Your insights and dedication serve as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring professionals and underscore the transformative power of mentorship.
Looking ahead, information and application acceptance for our 2024 June to August session will be announced in mid-April. We encourage all interested individuals to visit our?website?and provide their contact information for early notifications.
In conclusion, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our mentors, mentees, and partners for their unwavering support and commitment to our cause. Together, we continue to break barriers, empower individuals, and shape a more inclusive future for the tech industry.
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Podcast Program highlights by?Desire Timmermans, WiBD Podcast program director
New podcast episode on "Trustworthy Generative AI" is now?available at?https://www.womeninbigdata.org/podcast/. A talk with?Veronique Van Vlasselaer?(SAS) and?Bar Baesens?(Professor at?KU Leuven) covering?definition of trustworthy generative AI; 4 requirements to make AI, especially generative AI, trustworthy; advantages and disadvantages; how Bart and Veronique use generative AI professionally and personally; does generative AI improve humanity or destroy it?; generative AI education for students, employees and customers; the future of generative AI.
The?Women in Big Data?Podcast ranks #6?on?'15 Best Women In Innovation Podcasts You Must Follow in 2024'. Thanks?to?our partners, podcast guests, and listeners! We couldn't have done it without you!?https://podcasts.feedspot.com/women_in_innovation_podcasts/?
Support us in creating?great Women in Big Data content?for?listeners?everywhere?-Starting at $3/month:?https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985853/supporters/new.
Training Program -?DataCamp and Women in Big Data?
Our partnership with?DataCamp?Donates has been incredibly rewarding, with over 200 learners participating on the platform at different proficiency levels. We would like to extend our appreciation to all our active learners, and we're especially excited to recognize the top 10 learners from the past 30 days.
Additionally, a special thank you to?Srabasti Banerjee, WiBD training program director,?for her amazing support and engagement with DataCamp Donates and the learners.
If interested to join the program fill out the application form.
Indian Achievers’ Award for Women in Big Data India in the social impact category
Congratulations to our WiBD India chapter for receiving the prestigious Indian Achievers’ Award for Women in Big Data India in the social impact category. The journey that started during the pandemic, has been nothing short of amazing filled with challenges, learning, and immense growth in community building. Our deepest gratitude to the IAF team for this recognition and for their commitment to highlighting the contributions of women in the field of big data and technology. A huge thank you to all the volunteers and the global women in big data community who have supported Sowmya Moni and the?India?chapter team with mentoring, skill building, program execution, thought leadership and events in the last few years.
To all the aspiring women in tech wanting to start or advance your education or career in data: there’s no limit to what you can achieve. Keep pushing boundaries, stay curious, and never underestimate the impact you can make.