Women Transform Tech #4: making equality the norm, not the exception, advice for women considering a career in tech, and our Role Model Masterclass

It’s summer, it’s warm, it’s time for some relaxation - so we’re going to keep it short on this last Wednesday of July. This fourth edition of Women Transform Tech is a shot of inspiration to help you continue your journey in this rapidly changing tech industry.

Get cozy and get reading! ??

Tech O’Clock

Olympic Gender Parity: A Beacon for Women in Tech

So, here's the scoop: the 2024 Paris Olympics are making history by achieving gender parity with an equal number of male and female athletes competing. “From a mere 2.2% female participation in 1900 to 50% in 2024, this progress mirrors the slow but steady advancement of women in various fields, including technology.” Huge milestone, right??

The 2024 Paris Olympics shines a light on how setting solid diversity goals can lead to real change. This is especially relevant for the tech industry, which has long been seen as a "boys' club" - so, the technology sector can draw inspiration from this progress.?

“Gender equality should be the norm, not the exception”, reads the article. While women make up 50% of tech consumers, they only hold 17% of STEM jobs in Europe, and a mere 5% of leadership positions - that is why us, at Women in Tech?, aim to empower 5 million women and girls by 2030 through education, digital inclusion, business support, and advocacy.

So, just like in the Olympics, let’s make equality be the norm, not the exception. Join us - send us a message on LinkedIn or directly join the community.?

Explore tech roles through volunteering or work experience

If you’re like many of us and trying to figure out where you fit in the tech world, volunteering or getting some work experience can truly help with that. Think of it like you’d test-drive a car before buying it - explore without full commitment. It’s a low-risk strategy to see what suits you best.?

Start by pinpointing what interests you, then look for opportunities online, within universities, or in tech meet-ups or communities. But treat these gigs seriously — they could lead to bigger things.

'I wasn't heard at meetings, so did something about it'

In this video of BBC’s Paths to Success series, Pamela Maynard, the CEO of Avanade, a global IT consultancy, offers her insights on advancing your career in the workplace.

Pam’s mentor told her: “One of the things you can do is you could ask your manager to help you, to create the space for you so you can be heard.”

“Her and I, we got hold of the agenda for the next, upcoming meeting. I went to him and I actually asked him to create the space around that particular agenda topic for me to be heard, which is exactly what he did. So he paused the meeting and said <<Let’s hear from Pam on this topic>>, so I was able to add my point of view in a much more comfortable way because I’d rehearsed.”?

This is Pam’s advice that still follows and gives to others: “If you’re self-conscious about being heard in meetings, prepare by getting hold of the agenda, and rehearse what you are going to say.”

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It’s summer time and want to read even more? Here’s our short selection of Women in Tech sections, so check these out at your own pace and convenience: Wired - Women in tech, Fast Company - Women in Tech, Huffpost - Women in tech, BBC - Women in technology.

Women Talk Tech

Women talk tech, but women also talk vacation! No in-house interviews for this fourth edition of Women Transform Tech, but we’ve still got you covered with a great read:?

"Women in Tech'' series (2023) | Broadpeak’s Blog

Wohoo, this one’s packed with personal stories and career advice from inspiring women who share their journeys and insights in the tech industry.?

The whole gang's here - systems & support engineers, R&D, DevOps , Program Manager - and they really let us in: how a regular day looks like, if they always knew they wanted to work in tech (surprise, surprise - no; someone wanted to be a journalist, another woman wanted to be a doctor, some loved solving math problems or video streaming), what are the most rewarding aspects of their jobs and, of course, the challenges they face as women working in the technology field.?

As advice for women considering a career in the tech industry,? here’s a sneak peak:?

Seek mentors and build a network for guidance and support.

Stay passionate and don't let barriers stop you.

Embrace curiosity and learn to communicate across cultures.

Collaborate and seek solutions with trusted peers.

Strive to become who you want to be.

Be curious, embrace opportunities, and don't fear asking questions.

Be curious, seize opportunities, and don't let setbacks discourage you.

Events & Community news

Role Model Masterclass

Join our Role Model Masterclass Series for a four-month journey of personal growth and networking with inspiring role models. Throughout this journey, there will be four workshops, each lasting two hours, featuring two expert speakers per session. Each workshop has a unique theme, providing valuable insights and practical advice.

Here’s the schedule:

1. Your Persona. Time to show the world your true self.

??? September 10, 2024 | 7 - 9 PM CET

?? ?? Francia Agterhof and Dr. Margarita Lourido ?

2. Your Passions. Follow your heart, and let’s ignite those passions.

??? October 15, 2024 | 7 - 9 PM CET

?? ?? Joy Adamson and Dr Sophie Jablonski

3. Your Presence. Stand tall, speak up, and shine bright.

??? November 12, 2024 | 7 - 9 PM CET

?? ?? Lieke (Cornelia) Lamb and Lieke Muller

4. Pay it Forward. Learn how to give back and inspire others.

??? December 10, 2024 | 7 - 9 PM CET

?? ?? Selen D. and Béatrice Blondiau

This is some serious girl power! This was beautifully assembled and brought to you by Selen D. , our Digital Education & Literacy Director at Women in Tech?Netherlands . Selen is a passionate and skilled Android Developer at Akbank, one of the largest banks in Turkey. She has experience in developing and maintaining Android applications using Kotlin and Java, as well as working with Spring.

Wait, there's more!

Selen is also committed to learning and improving herself in the fields of business and technology, as evidenced by her multiple certifications from Google, Girls with Impact, the European Business University of Luxembourg, and Bright Network. She is an active volunteer and leader in several organizations that promote and support women and nonbinary people in tech, such as Women in Tech?Netherlands , Women Who Code Mobile , and Women Tech Makers. She is also a certified #IamRemarkable facilitator, helping more people to recognize and celebrate their achievements. Her goal is to make tech more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Thank you, Selen, for everything you do!

Remember, the best investment you can make is in yourself. Make sure to keep an eye on us - we’ll share the link to sign up soon enough.

And one last thing…

Go have fun!?

See you on August 28, 2024 for the next edition,

Women in Tech?Netherlands team

This newsletter is brought to you by Cristina Damian , creative & critical thinker. Dissects modern social issues with the precision of a mechanical engineer and the passion of a gourmand. She has co-founded successful ventures in sports engineering and sustainable mobility. Claims she can do pretty-much any marketing and project management activity even in her sleep. Unafraid to challenge norms and biases, she’s on a mission not to empower, but to give back the power to women - in tech and everywhere else. Currently she’s part of the team at Addvals and a NeuroMindfulness? coach for ambitious people. And if you're curious, yes, she handles chaos like a pro and refuses to shrink to accommodate egos — because, frankly, who has the time?