As the shortest day of the year ticks over and New Zealand celebrates Matariki, the Māori New Year, it is a great time for reflection, renewal and planning for the year ahead.
I have enjoyed travelling the country the past few weeks meeting some amazing people doing absolutely fantastic work in the Diversity and Inclusion space during our event series with EdTechNZ. Our panel of speakers in Wellington (Cathy Hardinge,James Clarke, Kaye-Maree, Megan Barclay), Auckland (Te Aroha Grace, Brittany Teei, Arahi Hippolite and Sarah Mitchell) and Christchurch (Tania Armstrong, Ariana Hippolite and Sakthi Priya Balaji Ranganathan) gave me so much to think about and consider. There is so much untapped talent in New Zealand, people with disabilities, our aging population, our Māori and Pasifika brothers and sisters and so many more people in our communities who can contribute to our vibrant tech sector.
A common theme from the kōrero was the need to rethink the way we recruit. Instead of waiting until the need is urgent then going to market and hiring the people who are ready and available now, we need to think long term. Who are we going to need in 12 months, 2 years, 5 years. How do we connect with the talent of the future and start growing them into the employees we need, long before we need to fill a vacancy.
One long term programme looking to ‘fill the pipeline’ with great female talent for the future is ShadowTech. Thank you to all the wonderful people who were involved so far this year in showing these young women what jobs in Tech really look like! Hopefully giving them the inspiration to pursue study and ultimately careers in our industry.
Many of you have asked me why ShadowTech isn’t being run in Wellington this year. It is because we have not yet raised enough funds to make it happen. We were disappointed that this year the Ministry of Youth Development did not accept our application for funding, so we have been completely reliant on corporate sponsorship. Thank you to our amazing sponsors who have made a financial contribution and made ShadowTech Day possible in all the cities we have visited so far! Spark, University of Otago, CreateOps, Deloitte, Jade, Xero, Clearpoint, Oracle and University of Auckland.
If your organisation wants to help us put ShadowTech on in Wellington or other cities around New Zealand, please get in touch!
Ngā mihi,
Eva Sherwood
Chair
TechWomen
Features
ShadowTech 2019 was again a great success, the final event is taking place in Hamilton today. Thank you to all the fabulous people and companies who took part.
Read how Cisco’s GM Leanne Buer is Leading The Way As A Woman In Tech.
A survey conducted by MYOB reveals Nearly half of tech industry’s female leaders experienced gender bias at work.
There’s much talk about how we can Work Less and Prosper ‘Let’s deal with inequality and ensure everybody can engage in work that’s structured around their lives’, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell.
Read why Google Australia boss Mel Silva, blasts tech industry for ‘glacial’ progress on hiring women.
Check out Champions for Change a great initiative incorporating a group of 53 leading CEOs and Chairs, each with a personal mission to accelerate inclusive and diverse leadership in our workplaces with some useful resources.
Understand the thinking behind Dutch university’s balanced decision to employ only women.
Be inspired by 15 of the Most Powerful Women in Techheading up some of the largest companies globally.
Here’s a great run down of Girls in Tech Catalyst inspiring women not to be ‘hidden figures’.
What is the future of diversity and inclusion in tech where does the industry need to go to from here?
Diversity In Tech: What Every Business Can Do To Improve It.
Can Technology Solve the Workplace Diversity Problem? Here are some examples that are being trialled.
Gender diversity is failing in tech: how can we turn it around?
Events
Check out this Girls Only Creative Tech Day, 17 July, Taupo
Register for the Women in Insurance Summit 2019, 30 July in Auckland. Including the Women in Insurance Awards.
Diversity Awards NZ Gala Dinner 2019, 28 August, Auckland.
Women in IT Awards Silicon Valley, 9 October, San Francisco
Attend the 3rd Women In Tech & Telco Leadership Summit 23-26 July, Auckland.
Check out the line up at the Women of Influence Speaker Series 28 August, Wellington.
Women in Leadership, 15 November, Auckland
Women in IT Awards Canada, 21 November, Toronto
Join us at the next NZTech AGM and Member Event, 25 July Auckland.
Attend Workforce: Inclusion and Diversity 28-29 August, Auckland.
Women in Tech Dublin, 12 – 13 September, Ireland
European Women in Technology, 26-27 November, Amsterdam.
