Girls In Tech

Summer Rayne Oakes & Benita Singh, co-founders of Source4Style were honored as the North American laureate for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards at a ceremony held at the Women’s Forum in Deauville, France.

The awards ceremony was a culmination of a six-month intensive process which resulted in three finalists for North America and ultimately one women-owned company being honored with the distinction of Cartier Women’s Initiative Laureate.

“We are deeply humbled and honored to be chosen for this award,” says Oakes. “It has opened up our world to a number of amazing women entrepreneurs – and gives us added enthusiasm to live up to our mission of making sustainable design possible.”

“Source4Style is the Marco Polo of the 21st Century connecting the world of designers to sustainable, green and fair trade suppliers across the globe,” comments Nell Merlino, one of the North American Jury members, who selected Source4Style for the honor.  “They won the Cartier competition because they are uniquely connecting business-to-business customers who in turn are creating new fashions and much needed jobs in all four corners of the earth.”

Source4Style is a trends-driven online marketplace connecting designers directly to a curated network of sustainable suppliers across the globe. The marketplace features 40 suppliers from 22 countries and has a growing international community of designers. Source4Style launched in Public Beta in October 2010 and will release the 2.0 version of the site next month. More information on Source4Style can be found at source4style.com.

Tags: Adriana Gascoigne, Cartier, France, girls in tech, Social Good, Source4Style, technology, women in tech, Women's Initiative Awards Ceremony
Posted in All Chapters, France | No Comments »

It’s easy to dismiss anything with the words ‘good’ and ‘green’ in it as just another lame attempt to jump on the post “Inconvenient Truth” bandwagon. You know which bandwagon I’m referring to — the one that runs on ethanol, with the solar powered electric system and the big bumper sticker proclaiming the number of carbon offsets the driver purchased.

But, before you go and get all cynical on the whole sustainability thing, consider this: environmental consciousness isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for the green too. And by green, I mean money. In a Thomson Reuters study last year, 82% of investors said they consider environmental and social criteria when making decisions.  And, in just this one BusinessWeek article, there are five examples of corporations from every sector of the economy who saved significant money by ‘greening’ their operations.

This can be especially true for tech and social media, where the consumer is king and an increasingly conscientious customer base is demanding more social and environmental accountability from their favorite brands every day. In September, Apple even started releasing data about its corporate environmental footprint, a move that helped boost its branding as the go-to gadget maker for conscientious consumers.

And, when it comes to social consciousness through tech consumerism, it’s not just about gadgets and green. From Mashable’s Summer of Social Good to Twestival, the social media scene is getting a whole lot more socially conscious too, resulting in the growth of what the blogosphere likes to call the ‘social good’ movement. Whether it’s raising money, raising awareness or raising environmental accountability standards, the tech industry is certainly climbing atop that big, green bandwagon in full force. Now, the question is what impact that trend will have on the tech industry and on both the good and green movements it’s embracing. Not to mention how we as girls in tech and as tech businesspeople in general can do some good and make some green in the process — both kinds.

That’s why Girls in Tech LA is proud to present The Impact of Tech On Good & Green — a panel discussion featuring Sandra Sanchez (Creator of orGlamic.com & reality TV host/producer), Sarah Townsend (Editorial Director of Socialvibe.com & Creator of theoneinpink.com) and Tracy Helper (Co-founder of Yourdailythread.com). These amazing women will be discussing social good, sustainability, green gadgets and more at The Organic Panificio restaurant in Marina Del Rey on November 17. Of course, there will also be time for cocktails and conversation as well. And, a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to Free Arts For Abused Kids — an incredible organization that provides at risk kids with counseling and support through art.  Because what’s more in keeping with the theme of ‘social good’ than sharing good conversation and good drinks for a good cause?

What: GIT LA Presents The Impact of Tech on Good  & Green

Where: The Organic Panaficio in Marina Del Rey

When: Nov 17, 7-10pm

RSVP & Buy Tickets

Tags: event, green, networking, Social Good, social media
Posted in Events, Girls In Tech, Los Angeles | No Comments »

Kiva is celebrating, not only turning 4, but also nearing its milestone of $100 million in microloans to small business entrepreneurs around the world! They are celebrating this event on November 3rd by co-hosting a party at the BrowerCenter in Berkeley, with The Hub Bay Area and GOOD Magazine. So, come help toast their 4 years of wonderful work with Kiva and these two great organizations.

There will be two floors of music and beats from around the globe, including Baba Ken and the Afrobeat Connexion, Shovelman, Gaucho Gypsey Jazz Band, and Erin Brazil. Food from the Slanted Door, Café Gratitude, Neighborhood Fruit, FeelGood Grilled Cheese, and others. Drinks generously provided by Drake’s Brewing Company, Barefoot Winery, and SKYY Vodka. 

Together, we will share the underlying story of Kiva’s milestone and the global inspiration it has created through pioneering community building for social change.  I hope you can make it on November 3rd!

For tickets & to RSVP, see their link at:
http://kivaatthehub.eventbrite.com/%20%0A.
Details:
Date: Tues, November 3, 2009
Time: 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Place: HUB Berkeley at The David Brower Center
2150 Allston Way
Suite 400
Berkeley, CA

Tags: Birthday, Christine Oneto, girls in tech, Kiva, microfinance, Microlending, Social Good
Posted in San Francisco | No Comments »

Last night at The Biz Tech Day cocktail party, I ran into a friend, Tim Ferriss, who was telling me about why he supports RoomToRead. Knowing about the organization, but not really investigating and researching how it works, the history of the organization or learning about the inspiration behind why CEO, John Wood launched the organization – I was floored. The impact that this organization has made around literacy of school children since 2000 is unbelievable – The sad truth is that there are 76 million primary school children that are not enrolled in school, 80% of these children live in rural areas of developing countries, there are 774 million adults around the world who cannot read or write, 64% of these people are women – this is why I am committed to helping RoomToRead, through Girls in Tech, SmittenWithMittens and my personal capital and voice.

Since their inception in 2000, Room to Read has impacted the lives of over 3.1 million children in the developing world by:

• Constructing 765 schools
• Establishing over 7,160 libraries
• Publishing 333 new local language children’s titles representing over 2.8 million books
• Donating over 2.8 million English language children’s books
• Funding 7,132 long-term girls’ scholarships
• Establishing 179 computer and language labs

Here is a little more information surrounding the organization. You should help Room to Read too!

They partner with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children’s literature, constructing schools, and providing education to girls. They seek to intervene early in the lives of children in the belief that education empowers people to improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries and future generations. Through the opportunities that only education can provide, they strive to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time.

Tags: Adriana Gascoigne, children, Girls, girls in tech, Literacy, non profits, Room to Read, Social Good
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With the success of our summer volunteer and marketing drive, Girls in Tech nyc has begun to plan for fall. We’re kicking it off with a fabulous new media event that our current Marketing Manager, Alexis Stack designed from her passions and the goals we’ve established to help empower women in nyc. New York City, where I’ve called home for my entire life, is above all a fun and cutting edge city. A media and business-focused city: the many talented women and industry supporters here will surely appreciate the efforts of the Girls in Tech board and volunteers.

From my perspective, this fall will mean a confluence of energies for Girls in Tech nyc. I hear many ask, “When is the next social mixer?” – we’ll have more of these. Speakers like Juliette Powell, Rachel Sklar, Peg Samuel, and Dina Kaplan don’t disappoint and never fail to engage. Speaking of engagement Rebecca Goldstein, of Tonic.com (dedicated to good on the web) has engaged our community with a new Ning site, about to debut as Girls in Tech NYC’s destination site. As we ramp up for the fall, expect to hear about some very exciting and dynamic community-focused initiatives that offer compelling content with a social focus.

The fall schedule leaves me wondering: how do so many talented women in NYC manage their time and focus on what is truly important? From a business standpoint, we hear things like social entrepreneurism, social good, triple bottom-lines, flexible work hours, parental leaves, and diversity awareness programs. With the changes in our economic orientation and framework these past months, new models and lifestyles emerge and make their way into the mainstream. New York is an innovative and independent spirit, but we can take our inspiration from all over the globe. Who is asking this question about how we can, practically and efficiently, use our time for social good? In the past month, I’ve come across many people attempting to help to answer it. Here are a few:

• @Mashable Get tickets in the next 15 hours at: Final Days of Summer of Social Good, Last Chance for Tickets by @adamhirsch. It includes, among many well-known leaders, Beth Kanter, and coming from those who challenged themselves to raise $100,000 in 1 week via social media, it makes history – also watch Mashable’s livestream feed this Friday at 9AM.
• @GaryVee Listen to Gary Vaynerchuk inspire at: WHO WHAT HOW MUCH It’s not what you know it’s not who you know, it’s how much time do you spend with who you know. as he gears up to promote his book, CRUSH IT! (about your passion).
• @lotay Read about conscious capitalists from an inspirational individual: Black Card Circle and Lotay Yang: Philanthropy Funded by a Sustainable Spirit
• Read Paul Graham illuminate our time crunch: Maker’s schedule, Manager’s schedule
• Be socially-focused and innovative: the extraordinaries, grassroots.org, acumen fund or even entrepreneurial…
• Share what you know (check out the writing section of Danica McKellar’s and the about description on helping girls to be confident in maths), look at things in a new way, and educate those around you with what you find.

Tags: Social Good
Posted in New York | No Comments »

Last Saturday I attended the Craigslist Foundation Bootcamp in Berkeley, California. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, however, was pleasantly surprised with the massive turnout and the caliber of talent and knowledge that was circulating throughout the UC Berkeley campus.

Thousands of passionate people gathered to translate ideas into reality and meet and greet with some of the innovators in the space. The theme was less about the non-profit sector and being philanthropic and more about how to create sustainable, automated change through technology, and even more specifically internet tools and web resources.

My favorite panel was on Social Entrepreneurship presented by Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anderson School and Nora Silver from Haas School of Business. This session provided case studies and information behind brands integrating social good themes within their products appealing to a certain segment of the consumer population.

Interface, Ethos Water, and TOMS, achieve widespread brand recognition and record sales while remaining true to their original principles. The session also integrated a hands-on workshop that enabled us to connect with our neighbors to discuss what social enterprise means to us. My neighbor and I decided that it is the intersection between passion and execution. You can’t have one without the other to succeed in this space.

Another highlight was learning more about the Extraordinaries, which proposes to deliver skills-based volunteer tasks to people whenever and wherever they are available by mobile phone. Essentially it’s crowdsourcing on steroids.

Over 80% of the adult U.S. population carries a mobile phone in his or her pocket and the higher-end of these diminuative devices, so called “smartphones,” are as capable as any laptop computer. Nearly anything that can be done on a personal computer can be done on a smartphone. The Extraordinaries dramatically reduce the barriers to giving back by enabling people to volunteer on-the-spot and on-demand.

I left the Bootcamp inspired and even more amped about what technology can do to help the world around us and those in need.

*photos courtesy of the Craigslist Foundation

Tags: Adriana Gascoigne, Berkeley, Craigslist Foundation, Craigslist Foundation Bootcamp, Extraordinaries, girls in tech, Non-profit, Philanthropy, Social Good, UC Berkeley
Posted in San Francisco | 1 Comment »

Last week I spent the better part of three days in Palo Alto at the annual meeting for the National Center of Women in Technology (NCWIT). Over the three days, the speaker that inspired me most was Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva, the world’s first micro-lending marketplace for the working poor.

Kiva works by connecting entrepreneurs in the developing world with lenders (people like you and me) who provide interest-free loans via the Kiva.org website. Millions of dollars in loans are provided each month to the working poor in over 50 developing countries. With a loan of only a few hundred dollars, the working poor are able to invest in a self-staining future. Examples of types of investments include the purchase of a cow to plow land, or purchase of materials to build a fruit stand.

Jessica emphasized four principles that have been key to Kiva’s success.

Know Your Mission – Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for poverty alleviation.

Stay Open – Kiva adopted crowdsourcing, which opened up the opportunity for volunteers to log onto Kiva’s site and translate people’s stories from all over the world. Everyone can give in their own way.

Iterate – Kiva took a simple idea and launched in 2005 with a site that consisted of only three pages. Today Kiva offers individual stories and profiles in many languages and provides a myriad of ways for people to build community and contribute.

Focus on Individuals – Kiva empowers individuals on both sides of the equation. Borrowers gain hope for a better, self-sustaining life, while the site gives lenders tools to easily build lending teams and spread the word about Kiva organically.  Kiva’s intense focus on individuals also allows it to have a loan pay-back rate in the high 90s.

Kiva’s growth has been phenomenal and these principles can certainly be applied to for profit and non-profit businesses alike.

It is amazing how the areas of microfinance and social good have become so sexy while traditional businesses are struggling to stay alive. It’s a tough time for a lot of us, but overall, perhaps the massive disruption of wealth will help us appreciate the important things in life, and replace our emphasis on wealth with that of meaning. Technology has powerfully transformed the way we live, breathe and do business. Why not harness technology as Kiva does — to disrupt poverty and advance social good.  That’s what I call having your cake and eating it too.

Tags: Kiva, microfinance, NCWIT, Social Good, Tina Tran
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