To wrap up Women’s History month the women of Techdren looked at all the ways that identifying as female in the workplace has made an impact on their career fields. One of the main reasons Techdren was created was to empower young women that were looking into the technology field, and we wanted to help make that dream a reality for young girls across the globe.
The women of Techdren have careers in technology, marketing, graphic design, and business. One common thing they have experienced is standing up in the workplace to fight for equality. We asked our women leaders to help us create one big Q&A to answer commonly asked questions for Women in STEM. Below is a combination of all of their responses.
How did you first get involved in the technology world?
Anna Matich– Honestly, as a child, I really enjoyed playing video games and ended up having to dig into how the technology that was running the game, whether that was a computer or a console system, worked. From this, I became comfortable with technology, learned how to troubleshoot issues, and became my family’s 24/7 tech support. I hadn’t planned to go into technology as a career until my final year of high school when I realized that to go to law school I first needed to get an undergraduate degree in something else. I remembered taking and enjoying a programming class in high school where we used Visual Basic and Scratch so decided to get an undergraduate degree in ITS. From there I fell in love with the technology world and decided to switch my aspirations to pursue a degree in Computer Science and Digital Forensics.
What does Techdren do to empower women in STEM?
Hadley Roy– Techdren helps get technology into the hands of young students that may not otherwise have access to laptops or tablets. We work hard to bridge the technology gap, which is the difference between people who use/have access to computers on a daily basis and those who do not. The technology gap is a serious impediment to students at any age, as computers become increasingly integrated into classrooms across the globe.
Getting technology into the hands of students when they are young and impressionable is key to shaping adults that are technologically literate. We need young people who are adept at working with technology, as many of today’s high-demand jobs were created in the last decade and utilize high-tech tools. As advances in technology drive globalization and digital transformation, students must advance their technical skills and acquire the necessary skills to succeed in the careers of the future.
When we give technology to young female students, we are giving them a key to the metaphorical door of science, technology, engineering, and math. Computers hold an extremely powerful resource, the internet. We’re an information-rich society and when you have a computer with internet, all these resources become available to you. These girls can learn how to code, play games related to STEM, and visit the websites of a multitude of professional STEM organizations, like the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Technology International, Association for Women in Mathematics, and Association of Women in Science, to name just a few. These resources present an opportunity to learn a great deal about the field of STEM, about what it’s like to be a woman in a specific STEM profession, about career opportunities, and so on.
We also lead by example. As an organization founded by and comprised of mostly women in STEM, we like to share our own experiences and knowledge. Through our Tuesdays with Techdren series on our social media accounts, as well as going into schools in Tanzania to teach basic IT skills to the children who receive technology from us, we show young women that STEM is not just for the boys. As women continue to become more prevalent in STEM careers, more and more young girls will begin to recognize the additional career opportunities open to them.
What are some of the biggest challenges that women face today in tech? How will these change in the next 20 years?
Caitlyn Dangvu– One of the biggest challenges that women face in [male-dominated industries like finance/business] is the assumption that we can’t do as much. Fortunately, I’ve been in positions where once I prove that I have knowledge and experience, it’s recognized and embraced. However, women tend to have to work harder from the get-go to move to pass the initial unconscious bias. I hope that things continue to change over the next 20 years since discussions around gender equality and bias have become less taboo.
Why do you think it’s important for more women to join the tech industry?
Ashley Bladen- I see it as a revolving circle; the more women who are in the industry, the more mentors we have for showing the younger generations that they can do it too.
How does Techdren inspire younger women to get involved in STEM?
Ashley Bladen– As a women-founded nonprofit, we show younger women that they can do it too – that nothing is impossible. We are lucky enough to be giving some women their first shot at becoming that badass woman in STEM that they deserve to be. Personally, I think it is a powerful thing to see an established woman in the industry be able to come back and give the possibility to hands-on learning to younger women. I know if I was younger, it would have given me more hope that I could not only go into STEM but succeed in STEM.
What is your advice for women who are looking to start a career in tech?
Caitlyn Dangvu– Don’t listen to them and quit doubting yourself!
What women leader inspires you?
- Jacinda Ardern– The prime minister of New Zealand
- Ashley Bladen– CEO of Techdren
- Grace Hopper– American computer scientist
- Reshma Saujani– Founder of Girls Who Code
- I know this might be cheesy, but I don’t have just one woman who inspires me. I am truly inspired every day by my coworkers, women who are in the news, even women who I meet for less than five minutes. I look up to so many people because everyone has a different story and experience, and everyone is willing to help you get better.
We want to end the blog by thanking all of the Women who have made a difference in the world. Thanks to strong women we have created movements, fought for equal education, created technology, lead countries, and so much more. Along with this, we applaud our own Techdren team members for leading the way in providing technology for young students and for making an impact in this world!
