Girls In Tech

Calling all the girls in tech at SXSW! – we have an awesome show planned. Check out the details below to learn more and get involved!

Not only are we hosting an unofficial meet-up on the opening night of SXSW Interactive but we are also hosting a Core Conversation session on “Bridging the Geo-Gap to Empower Women in Technology.” More details on both are below in case you are going to be in Austin and want to attend. And if you aren’t in Austin, feel free to connect with us online – we’ll be tweeting with the #GITgeo hashtag during the session.

You can also follow the Girls in Tech conversations by following us on Twitter (@GITweet) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2507318683&ref=ts.

Girls in Tech SXSWi 2011 Meet-Up

Join us on Friday, March 11th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Canvas Bar & Gallery. We’ll be kicking off SXSWi right with you! And get there early because we’ll have free BBQ snacks from County Line (dee-lish!) and Firefly Vodka until it runs out. You’ll have a chance to mix and mingle with the ladies in tech and also learn how to join a Girls in Tech chapter in your area and other activities we have planned for SXSWi.

Please note: No badges are required but you must RSVP in advance.

Go to: Nuvola/Canvas Bar & Gallery (105 East 5th Street) (512) 391-9181

*The venue recently changed its name but in same location as Canvas Bar & Gallery*

On: Friday, March 11, 2011

From: 5:30-7:30 pm

For: Girls in Tech, BBQ, Vodka and Fun

Girls in Tech SXSWi Unofficial Meet-Up

Friday, March 11, 2011 – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Marriott Courtyard – Rio Grande A (300 East 4th Street)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ AND ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(for those who already have tickets)

Our Girls in Tech Panel: Bridging the Geo-Gap to Empower Women in Technology

Saturday, March 12, 2011 with our Founder, Adriana Gascoigne – 3:30 – 4:30 pm

same location as above – Marriott Courtyard, Room Rio Grande A

http://austin2011.sched.org/event/13fccb1789c5183dbade15616b7b0397

Overview: In the past several years, more organizations supporting women in technology have popped up than we can count and keep track of, each addressing the under-representation of women in the fields of science and technology in their own way, and working to improve that situation. If you’re a woman in a developed country, groups and organizations for women in tech are everywhere. We’ve highlighted them at SXSW for years. We’ve experienced the improvements, and we see progress towards more.

However, in many parts of the world, these types of initiatives are either just starting – with varying levels of organization and support – or they’re non-existent…but they’re just as important as they are here. Luckily, another increase that’s occurred in the past several years is the number of global connections around the world. Duh, so what? It means the influence of these types of organizations can have global involvement, global support and thus global effects. By connecting women in tech at a global level, the same progress we’re seeing in the US can be leveraged for the purpose of empowerment, building relationships, shared resources and crowdsourcing, and ultimately the elevation of all women in science and technology.

by Lauren Warthan, Austin chapter, (onsite) w/ @christine1oneto

Tags: Adriana Gascoigne, girls in tech, GIT, sxsw, SXSWi
Posted in All Chapters, Austin, Events, Girls In Tech | No Comments »

Big props to Girls in Tech Global for having our SxSW panel accepted as part of the final round of programming for March!  We are very excited to have our founder, Adriana Gascoigne and GIT’s topic chosen: “Bridging the Geo-Gap to Empower Women in Technology.”  Being chosen for SxSWi is a great honor and we are very excited to have our issue being put forward for the entire SxSW Interactive audience coming from around the globe.

Here is a brief description of our winning entry and what you can expect to hear if you are attending and will be able to see it live! ~

In the past several years, more organizations supporting women in technology have popped up than we can count and keep track of, each addressing the under-representation of women in the fields of science and technology in their own way, and working to improve that situation. If you’re a woman in a developed country, groups and organizations for women in tech are everywhere. We’ve highlighted them at SXSW for years. We’ve experienced the improvements, and we see progress towards more. However, in many parts of the world, these types of initiatives are either just starting – with varying levels of organization and support – or they’re non-existent…but they’re just as important as they are here. Luckily, another increase that’s occurred in the past several years is the number of global connections around the world. Duh, so what? It means the influence of these types of organizations can have global involvement, global support and thus global effects. By connecting women in tech at a global level, the same progress we’re seeing in the US can be leveraged for the purpose of empowerment, building relationships, shared resources and crowdsourcing, and ultimately the elevation of all women in science and technology.

Questions to be answered:

1. What’s the current state of women in technology both “home” and at broad?
2. What have been current obstacles in some parts of the world for these initiatives, and what are some solutions?
3. What are some of the ways we’ve been able to bridge the geo-gap to connect women in technology around the world?
4. What are some ways we hope to improve the geo-gap to empower women in technology?
5. What are some specific examples/case studies of this being successful?

Please join me in congratulating the GIT team that is putting this together!  They look forward to seeing you in Austin!  And, thank you to all who voted for our panel!!   We are happy to be — as Panel Picker puts it — “Getting our voice in the mix.”  We’ll bring you updates as we get them in!

SXSW Interactive :: March 11 – 15

http://sxsw.com/ | SXSW on Twitter

Wanna attend? Click: here

Posted in All Chapters, Austin, Events, Girls In Tech | 1 Comment »

If you happen to be one of the lucky ones in Austin for SXSW Interactive, please visit the Women Techies United booth, (#219) where we are represented along with the following great women’s organizations:

• Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology enables technical women in industry and academia to advance in their careers through its resources and programs.
• Astia is committed to building women leaders and accelerating the funding and growth of high-potential, high-growth, women-led startups.
• DevChix is an organization for women software developers currently we have 300+ members across 15 countries.
• Digital Sistas provides technology education and enrichment for young girls and women who are traditionally underserved.
• Girls in Tech (you know…us!) is an organization focused on women’s entrepreneurial and innovative achievements in technology.
• LinuxChix is a community for women who like Linux and Free Software, and for women and men who want to support women in computing.
• NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology is a coalition of 200 corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profits working to increase women’s participation in information technology (IT).
• She’s Geeky organizes Unconferences around North America connecting women in tech & STEM fields.
• Women 2.0‘s vision is to be a catalyst for innovation, mobilizing a global community of women entrepreneurs seeking to advance the world through technology.
• Women Who Tech champions women in technology and social media who use their tech savvy skills to transform the world and inspire change.

and…

• Women Techies United brings together 10 different women in tech organizations & events.  Their booth will run panels, events and other happenings at SXSW & beyond.

So all ya’ll head over and say “hi” if you are at the conference or will be there!

***Girls in Tech would like to thank Sanford Dickert for his support in making our presence at the booth possible. (You can check out his website at: http://whoissanford.com/.  Thank you, Sanford!

(Also thanks go to David Hou and Lan Nguyen from DramaFever.com for creating the Women United logo. — We greatly appreciate your stellar creativity!)

Posted in All Chapters, Austin | No Comments »

This is a guest post by Jennifer Webb, with additional details from GITNYC chapter leader, Tommy Jenkins.

Before you know it, March 12th will be here.

Why is that exciting? That’s the day South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) blasts off — a guaranteed good time to network with your technology peers whom you otherwise wouldn’t get a chance to meet face to face, get up to date on emerging technologies from the brightest minds in the industry and broaden your areas of interest!

GIT will kick off the week with a networking event from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 12th, in the downstairs room at Fogo de Chao. You can expect wonderful libations, terrific food and great company.

If you want more information on the event, drop an e-mail to Kristine Gloria for more information on the event.

I, personally, am very excited to attend as it is my first GIT event and first SXSWi Festival – I can’t wait to stop by the Women Techies United booth (Stand 219!), which will include reps from GIT, as well as Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, Astia, DevChix, Digital Sistas, LinuxChix, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), She’s Geeky, Women 2.0 and Women Who Tech. These 10 organizations aim to help tech women network at SXSW.

As a Dell employee with a passion for women’s leadership and development, I set a yearly goal to get engaged in a broader “Women in Tech” network in Austin, and GIT gets me there! I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Of course, we’d like to thank the fine people at Porter Novelli Austin, Unwired Nation and Ranch Road Design and Printing for donating their time, talent and treasure! Plus, thanks to the GITNYC chapter, who got us included in the Women Techies booth, and to Sanford Dickert for providing the funds necessary for inclusion.

We’d also like to thank David Hou and Lan Nguyen from DramaFever.com for creating the Women United logo:

Without all of you, this wouldn’t be happening!

See you on the 12th!
Jennifer Webb

Tags: sxsw, SXSW 2010
Posted in All Chapters, Austin, New York | No Comments »

It may feel like South by Southwest (SXSW) 2009 just ended, but here were are again preparing for next year’s 2010 conference.

The ten day interactive, music and film festival draws thousands of people from across the globe to Austin, Texas. Whether you’re an Internet geek or an audiophile, the conference caters to many tastes.

Last year, Girls in Tech co-hosted several events throughout the week such as the WordPress and Conjunctured BBQ (check out the Flickr set). The Austin GiT members donated their time and cupcakes to ensure a great turnout.  It was the organization’s first year to be involved, and this year, with a bit of experience underneath our belts, we plan on making an even bigger splash this year.

For the first time, GiT has submitted a panel proposal. Entitled, Beyond the Cigar Room, this panel will feature an array of leading women in technology. Each panelists will discuss why they’re successful, how they got there, and why it’s no longer a man’s game.

Panelists include:

Cathy Brooks: Cathy’s life-long passion for communications began with her first job ripping wire copy in 1982 and has evolved to encompass nearly every platform and aspect of media – from reporting and editing to broadcast management, talent casting and guest booking. She also has curated several of the technology industry’s leading conferences.

Tara Hunt: Tara is an entrepreneur, a frequent public speaker and the owner of Citizen Space, a co-working space in San Francisco. She is also the author of the recent book, The Whuffie Factor.

Jeanine LeFlore: Jeanine is CEO and Founder of LiveHit, Inc., a stealth mode start-up in the Social Discovery space focused on the Social Generation. Jeanine has over 14-years of experience in business, product management, and product marketing specializing in media and online communities.

Eve Phillips: Eve is an entrepreneur and investor in technology companies. Most recently, co-founder and CEO of Chirp Interactive. Previous experience includes software strategy and product management (Zazzle, Microsoft, Trilogy) and technology investing (Greylock, Vector, Amadeus, Inflection). Education: MBA from Stanford, BS & M.Eng in Computer Science from MIT.

Susan Wu: Susan is currently the CEO of startup Ohai. She has been featured by Fast Company as 1 00 of the Most Creative People in 2009.

In addition, make sure to check out another GiT submitted panel proposal from two local Austin members, Is Technology Weakening Interpersonal Relationships? This panel will explore the role of technology within interpersonal relationships. Specifically, analyzing the negatives and positives in three distinct relational categories: professional, familial, and romantic.

Public voting for these panel submissions are open until midnight on Friday, September 4, 2009.

Please make sure to vote and to pass the information along. If you’re a GiT member and have submitted a panel submission, please email me (gloriakt1 @ gmail.com). We plan on compiling a master list for the entire organization.

Lastly, if you plan on attending SXSW 2010, let us know. The Austin chapter is always looking for an extra hand and new creative ideas. SXSW is a huge event, and we’d love your help!

Tags: Cathy Brooks, Eve Phillips, girls in tech, Jeanine LeFlore, South by Southwest, Susan Wu, SXSW 2010, SXSW panel picker, Tara Hunt
Posted in All Chapters, Austin | No Comments »

As we’ve highlighted before, Austin has an extremely active tech culture with new groups popping up every couple of months. From cocoa developers to RoR experts to the Social Media Club, there’s a fit for almost anyone’s interest.

To my surprise, same applies to women in technology groups in the area. After raising awareness and throwing a handful of Girls in Tech events, the group caught the eye of several other women’s organizations around town.

In early June, we had the opportunity to participate in an all-hands women in technology meeting featuring leaders from groups such as Women In Technology (Austin), IEEE- Women in Engineering, Women in Engineering Program, Women’s Group at 3M, Association for Women in Computing, etc.

The goal was to introduce leaders to each other and to understand what each has to offer for women in technology. The topics ranged from general group introductions to resources to individual group goals. Some catered solely to the purely technical while others focused on internal corporate initiatives to foster interest in technology.

Throughout the evening, each organization discussed best practices along side mistakes. All voiced the same concerns of maintaining membership levels and offering valuable programs.

I was by far the youngest in attendance, but found this to be a valuable differentiator. GiT was also the only program that offered a robust entrepreneurial resource for its members.

In the end, we all walked away with excellent connections and a new list of resources. Despite each group’s individual mission, we are all afterall here to provide a forum for those women interested in technology. The groups plan on uniting every quarter or so and to make a concerted effort to combine events when possible.

Tags: Association for Women in Computing, Austin, girls in tech, Kristine Gloria, United We Stand, women in tech
Posted in Austin | No Comments »

Are you a developer interested in creating your own iPhone app?  iPhone Bootcamp NYC is offering a great opportunity to Girls In Tech Austin and Los Angeles members on their upcoming workshops in these two cities.  They are kindly offering ONE full scholarship (value: $1699), plus five (5) 30% scholarships to qualified women from these two cities.

The iPhone Bootcamp is an intensive 3-day workshop for professional developers, taught by long time Mac software developers.  The workshop covers the fundamentals and advanced features of iPhone development and takes participants through individual instruction and hands on exercises. By the end, developers will have gained enough knowledge to create their own iPhone applications.

To apply for the 100 percent scholarship, click on the appropriate Eventbrite link below and enter GIT_1 as the discount code.  To apply for the 30 percent scholarship, enter GIT_2 as the discount code.  Resumes will be taken for the first 15 applicants, up to a cut off time of 11:59pm June 10th. Girls in Tech Austin and Los Angeles representatives will randomly select winners from those who have enough programming background to get through the workshop.

PLEASE BE AWARE: The program is an INTENSIVE 3-day workshop, and assumes you understand the constructs of OOP. Anyone registering for the workshop must have some experience with object-oriented programming, such as Java, .NET, or C++, and all students are interviewed for preparedness before final enrollment.  The program goes straight into the iPhone SDK, so there’s really no opportunity for “catch up.”

Los Angeles Workshop – June 14-16
MEETUP SITE: http://www.meetup.com/iPhone-Boot-Camp-Los-Angeles/
EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION site with discount for GIT http://www.eventbrite.com/event/261829138

AUSTIN Workshop – June 21-23
MEETUP SITE: http://www.meetup.com/Austin-iPhone-Developers-Boot-Camp
EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION site with discount for GIT: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/261829138$

Tags: "Lucia Giacomantonio", Austin, Developer, girls in tech, iphone, Los Angeles
Posted in Austin, Los Angeles | No Comments »

As college students, we studied hard for four years. We interned at the top companies, every quarter and every summer. The cap and gown are soon to be donned, as we are handed shiny new diplomas, thus signaling the beginning of a new chapter in life.

For many of us, however, that next chapter has yet to be defined. As of April 2009, the United States has an unemployment rate of 8.9% – the highest rate since 1983, or 26 years. That number is set to rise, as a fresh class of graduating seniors are ready to break into the job scene. We are facing the most competitive and scarce job market in recent years.

What is so different about this hiring season?

Hiring: Companies are still hiring, just not as much. According to CareerBuilder.com, 56 percent of employments planned to hire recent college graduates in 2008. This year? Just 43 percent. This translates to fewer positions available for a bevy of students across the nation.

Finances: The signing bonuses and salaries still exist – they are just not as much as anticipated. The power struggle has also flipped – rather than companies courting us with impressive salaries and benefits, we are now competing to get companies to notice us. Out of fear, seniors are apt to take their first offers. Ayesha Galagoda, a graduating mechanical engineer at The University of Texas, says, “People are more scared to wait out for their next offer – it may never appear – and they’re willing to accept whatever they get.”

Threat: This year, possibility of a job offer being rescinding is a legitimate threat. Companies are cautious to take on expenses in the form of new graduates. In December 2008, Caterpillar (the largest construction equipment company) rescinded multiple offers across the nation to May 2009 graduates.

This is not the ideal time to be searching for a job in general, let alone your first job of college.

I am 13 days away from being an official college graduate without a job. Friends and family do not know what tell me, as they too are searching for jobs in every job sector. Rather than be daunted by the economy and scarcity of jobs, I chose to be optimistic and aggressive.

Key Recommendations for the Job Search:

Connections are Vital: Be willing to ask your friends and family for help. If they know someone who works at a company that you’re interested in, have them make an email introduction for you. They will give you access to information not readily available on jobs boards. Accessibility is critical to getting your resume in front of the right people.

Expand Your Job Search: Figure out new ways to apply your degree. Just because your marketing major does not mean you cannot explore other communication jobs, such as public relations or advertising. You are not forever tied down to this job, either. You may have to entertain the idea of moving to a new city or working at a smaller company.

Be Flexible and Patient: This is certainly the hardest advice to follow, especially when you hear it from people who have already have jobs. The emotional stress and mental uncertainty of the future is trying. While a job may not be available immediately, a job will eventually come along. In the mean time, make good use of your time expanding your network and, if possible, do independent work relevant to your industry. I intend to continue writing and researching the tech industry.

Finally, understand this – the job market and economy are both cyclical. Even though the situation looks terrible now, it will improve with time. Your next job may be closer than you think.

Posted in Austin | 1 Comment »

Over a month after the blur that is SXSW, the Austin chapter is ready to kick things back into gear.

I’m proud to report that in just three short months, the chapter has grown to 101 members. Clearly, there is a want for this type of organization. Surprisingly, one of the largest asks by members is the need for more technical related content. From design work in Photoshop to coding in php, members are eager to learn more.

Interesting to note, I stumbled upon these stats from the National Center for Women and Information Technology.

• The latest Taulbee Survey showed that the number of women pursuing computer science degrees, is under 12% compared to 88% of males pursuing computer science degrees. 
• In U.S. high schools, only 15 percent of students who took the advanced placement (AP) tests in computer science in 2006 were girls. This is far lower than in physics, biology, and calculus. In fact, it is the lowest representation of girls taking any AP exam.
• In 1984, women earned 37 percent of computer science bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. By 2006, this share had dropped to only 19 percent. At major research universities, this proportion is even smaller, only 14 percent. These numbers stand in stark contrast to the overall field of science and engineering, where women earn nearly half of all degrees.
• In the U.S. workplace, women hold more than half of all professional jobs, but fewer than 22 percent of software engineers are women. 
• Fewer than 5 percent of chief technical officers at the Fortune 500 technology companies are women. Only 13 percent of these companies have women corporate officers at all.
  

Source: National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT); Scorecard 2007.

Educating other GiT members as well as other women in the community is a major focus we will have for the upcoming year. Our proximity to the University of Texas makes this a natural fit.

We’re hoping to solidify additional meet-ups, speakers and events for the next couple of months. But, need the community’s help. If you’re interested, please let us know!

We will be hosting another happy hour event on May 13 at 6:30 pm CT at VinoVino.

Posted in Austin, Girls In Tech | No Comments »

Event Info:

Wednesday, February 25

@ 7:00 pm

VinoVino

Girls in Tech Austin is delighted to announce its first official meet-up this Wednesday night at VinoVino. We’ve generated a ton of interest thus far and are excited to meet with the ladies in person.

With SXSW just around the corner, Austin will once again be in the national – Internet – spotlight. Noted as one of the top places to live, Austin’s laid back vibe mixed with the rough’n tumble of the west and burgeoning tech scene, makes this city an ideal place for nerds, tech geeks and entrepreneurs to call home.

We are truly excited to bring the GiT network to Austin and hope to engage and empower women across all fields. We look forward to sharing/hearing your story, providing you with the right resources and connecting you with the right people.

This is only the beginning. Be on the lookout for more in the near future.

Hope to see you there.

Cheers,

Kristine Gloria

Managing Director – Austin chapter

For more information and/or to RSVP, please check the Facebook invite. 

Tags: Austin, girls in tech, Kristine Gloria, Meet up
Posted in Austin, Events | 1 Comment »