THINK Women in Technology

Editor's Notes

• #2: 50% = females say if they believe their work makes the world a better place == appealing 78% of students can’t name a famous female working in technology 83% of female students can’t name a role model who inspires them to pursue a career in tech 5% of leadership positions in the technology sector are held by women PWC study – Women in Tech, Time to Close the Gender Gap (Feb 2017) 2,000 A-Level and university students shows that the gender gap in technology starts at school and carries on through every stage of girls’ and women’s lives.
• #5: 3% of females say a career in technology is their first choice Direct correlation between diversity and increased profitability and market value. Diversity makes business sense two-in-five UK females who revealed an interest in STEM did not end up working in the field Microsoft research 2016 study, which showed girls in the UK become interested in STEM subjects just before the age of 11 but the interest drops sharply when they turn 16 A 2014 review of studies performed by the National Center for Women & Information Technology showed, across all industries, that teams that included women were more creative, experimental, and productive than all-male teams. A 2009 study that specifically focused on R&D departments found that teams with better gender diversity were better at both meeting deadlines and staying under budget.
• #6: European Commission, by 2020, shortage of 500,000 digital workers across the continent; fewer than one-in-three of the current ICT workforce are female. closing the gender gap = add €820 billion to the European Union economy by 2050. (£700 billion) McKinsey Global Institute, gender parity in the workplace could add up to $28 trillion (or 26%) to the annual global GDP by 2525 More than half (52%) of women aged 11-30, who looked up to either fictional or non-fictional people involved in STEM, said they were interested in getting a job in the sector. Less than a third (32%) of women without a role model said the same. 20% more UK girls said they could imagine a career in STEM if they had a role model compared with those who don’t. Microsoft’s research has also shown that another vital factor for engaging girls with STEM is the use of real-world examples to spark a passion and interest Girls cited a lack of female role models not getting enough practical, hands-on girls who know a woman in a STEM profession were 17 percent more likely to feel empowered when they engage in STEM activities
• #7: Started 2011 8th year this year Research shows: -- gender gap starts at school -- If girls could see the power of technology to transform the world, would they feel differently about a career in tech? -- need more prominent female role models
• #10: Like a startup strangers– team work skills Persona – solve a problem Design thinking Marketing and Pitching techniques HTML and CSS to create webpage Node Red – voting system, more language and logic exposure Expo – presenting and ”selling” skills Murder Mystery – more logic and problem solving, just FUN!
• #20: Info for this event or other events we run at IBM General advice on how to run an event or resources available