Talk Social Networking » Girls In Tech

A new girl-focused, tech group launches in Columbus, Ohio

TiffanyO. — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:00:49 +0000

The tech industry is dominated by men, and there are many observations as to why. Some assert inequality in hiring and promoting, some assert the distinct differences in the nature of women vs. men (such as communication), and some make different assertions. Take for example the commentary on TechCrunch last year, which asserts that women aren’t risk takers, here’s the excerpt from the original interview:

This conversation about what women are doing in technology is being addressed by a cool group called Girls In Tech (GIT), founded by Adriana Gascionge. Her mission was to provide a place for women to cultivate ideas around their careers and business concepts involving technology. GIT is a non-profit, headquartered in San Francisco, California, and supports over 12,000 members spread between 57 chapters world-wide.

I believe the number of women in technology flocking to GIT is a great starting place for tech event organizers to start looking, when the “Call For Presenters” go out and panel discussions are formed. These women are leaders, innovators, community organizers, entrepreneurs, etc.

Columbus, Ohio is a great example of that. For the first time in the mid-west, on February 26, 2011, a technology conference is being being held at TechColumbus (a venue sponsor), for women in business–15 of the 17 presenters are women with emerging and booming technology based businesses. Entrepreneurs through and through.

The night before this big conference, called “Beyond Social 101 – Blah Blah Blogging Bootcamp for Business“, Girls In Tech, will officially launch it’s presence in the region with a Meet and Tweet event. Invitation is open, just RSVP here. Tickets are only $10. More details about the event can be found here.

To talk about the disparity is one thing, but to do something about is another. The Columbus Chapter of Girls In Tech will seek to address the following issues over their first year in operation:

What should be done to close the gap?
How can we inspire young women to adopt a technology focused career?
How do we prepare women in technology to be the leaders they need to be to compete with and collaborate with male counterparts?
What can we learn from men to help emerging innovators thrive?

Share your insights below.

Why are there so few women at the top — and the three powerful things to do to get there…

Tiffany Odutoye (@virtualpartner) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:15:40 +0000

I was so proud of Facebook because they have a female leader who really “gets it”. Their COO, Sheryl Sandberg, recently spoke at the inaugural TEDWomen Conference. Her focus, not a beef about the differences between women and men, but solid “calls to action” for women.

Are women not making it to the top in salary in “ANY” industry in the world?

Her top solutions: “Sit at the table, make your partner a real partner, and don’t leave before you leave”. What does she mean? These insights are powerful for each woman, as an individual, to make the shift. She expounds on this and also answers these, among other, powerful questions:

What are the messages we tell ourselves and our children?
How do we fix this?
How do we change the numbers at the top?

Love this quote:

No one gets to the corner office by sitting on the sideline”

WACTH THE VIDEO: TEDEx – Why so few women in tech…

Here are a few links to the Harvard Business Case study she references:

Final thought, women, notice how Sheryl leverages numbers, case studies and statistics to make her point. This is a powerful technique for speaking. Men do it all the time. Less feeling, more real quantifiable numbers.

Girls in Tech [GIT Columbus] – Leaders Round Table / Open House

Tiffany Odutoye (@virtualpartner) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:32:20 +0000

Girls in Tech is a social network enterprise focused on the engagement, education and empowerment of like-minded, professional, intelligent and influential women in technology. As young women with the capacity to inspire, we made it our personal desire and passion to create and sustain an organization that focuses on the collaboration, promotion, growth and success of women in the technology sector. Created in February of 2007, ‘Girls in Tech’ (GIT) was founded by Adriana Gascoigne. GIT and was born out of a need to provide a place for women to cultivate ideas around their careers and business concepts involving technology. Girls in Tech aims to offer a variety of resources and tools for women to supplement and further enhance their professional careers and aspirations in technology. Some of these resources include, educational workshops and lectures, networking functions, round table discussions, conferences, social engagements, and recruitment events.