The days of the suffrage movement feel far behind us but there is still work to be done to improve the representation of women in tech, especially women of color. According to ncwit.org and anitab.org, Black, Latinx, and Native American women hold less than 5% of technology positions combined—with even lower numbers in leadership roles.
Diversity is key to driving innovation because it allows men and women of all backgrounds to use their experiences and perspectives to solve complex issues and keep up with the competition in today’s tech-focused world.
This Women’s History Month, NJIT’s first-ever Women in Tech Panel recognizes the power of diversity and those who are using their influence to give women in tech a voice across the male-dominated industry.
Introducing Our Panelists
The panelists participating in our Women in Tech panel have years of experience in the tech field. Their expertise ranges from media buying and marketing strategies to coding and building diverse and inclusive tech teams. Their collective proficiencies in technology, from media buying to connecting women to the tech jobs of their dreams, grants them a unique collection of experiences which they shared during our virtual event.
The panelists (from left to right) Jamie Co, Digital Marketing Director at Tissue Tech, Inc.; Laurie Swanson, Founder of InspiHER Tech; and Darrah Joy Clay, Director of Brand Partnerships at Instacart. Lisa Franklin, Head of Digital Marketing at HackerU, will moderate.
The commitment these women have towards creating opportunities for other women in the tech space is contagious! Their understanding of the negative impacts of shutting women out from tech opportunities encourages them to work towards change in their everyday life.
“Several studies show that collaborating with different genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and races in the tech field leads to increased innovation and enhanced problem-solving,” says Darrah Joy Clay. “The same studies show that gender diversity leads to improved profitability and workplace satisfaction and retention. Gender diversity is simply good for business!”
Lisa Franklin agrees. “Men and Women see things differently, and by increasing the number of women in tech, companies are more prepared to anticipate customer challenges and create technology that is truly reflective of the country we live in.”
Register Today
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to gain actionable insights and career advice! Register for our Women in Tech Panel and watch it on-demand.
