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A notable disparity exists in STEM fields when it comes to gender. Across the country, women comprise only 29 percent of the technology workforce, while Austin bests the national average by just one percent. Fellow cities also hovering at the 30 percent mark include Palo Alto, Baltimore and Seattle, according to a 2014 report released by RJMetrics. As the Austin Business Journal article detailing the report’s findings over the summer put it, Austin is “better than average for women in tech — but barely.”
That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement by any standard.
Luckily, there's a quintet of organizations bent on changing the game by leveling the playing field -- one at the national level, one operating on a global scale, and three within Austin itself. From mentorship and support to professional development and job-matching services, these initiatives and the professionals involved in them hope to bring some balance to the tech industry both today and for generations to come.
Austin Women in Technology (AWT)
At the local level, this organization offers ongoing programming for women in the tech community and affords its members the opportunity to “work side-by-side with other intelligent, community-minded women” on its board and volunteer committees. Coming up on Oct. 15 at the Austin Convention Center, AWT is partnering with the InnoTech Technology and Innovation Conference to present the Women in Tech Summit at InnoTech. It features a keynote by Chief Information Officer Angela Yochem of BDP International, a session with the City of Austin’s first-ever Chief Innovation Officer, Kerry O’Connor, and more.
These women are taking a more grassroots approach to addressing gender disparities in tech. The group is hosted its inaugural meetup as part of Austin Startup Week and lest anyone wonder if their events are exclusive to a particular niche, the group is open to “anyone who's interested in feminism or supporting women in the Austin tech and startup scene.”
Those looking for inspiration can look to this young group. They came together because they "wanted to do something proactive to bolster women’s ratios in Austin business – to make Austin the most accessible, nurturing place for women-led businesses in the country." They offer mentorship as well as funding advice, and each quarter hold a forum for women entrepreneurs and executives at Capital Factory.
Million Women Mentors (MWM)
Nationally, these women “mobilize corporations, government entities, non-profit and higher education groups around the imperative of mentoring girls and young women in STEM fields.” Their mission is clear, emphasizing the importance of successful female role models who can help counter negative stereotypes for young girls.
By partnering with organizations from 4H and the Girl Scouts to TechBridge and Lean In, MWM aims to partner one million mentors with one million young women, encouraging them to pursue their dreams of working in STEM industries. So far, around 170,000 professionals have taken the mentorship pledge.
At the global level stands an organization connecting women in tech with actual jobs, from full-time positions to part-time employment and per-project arrangements. Particularly helpful for women who are between full-time positions and looking for the right fit, as well as those who temporarily left the tech workforce for personal reasons — to raise a family or pursue other passions, for instance — it brokers working arrangements between hiring companies and women with tech experience, looking for work.
The organization stresses quality over quantity: Job-seekers are given the flexibility of working from home and setting their own schedules, as well as trying jobs on for probationary periods before deciding whether to move forward with them in the long-term.
