By Amanda Watson, Business Account Manager at Enterprise IT, Single Working Mum of a daughter and needy cat.
The days are getting longer as 2020 marches on and we learn to adjust to the continuing disruption a global pandemic has on our day to day lives. Although job losses, businesses closing and families separated by closed borders are the cruel reality for many of us, I am buoyed by the positivity of many women who see this year as an opportunity to pause, reflect and rethink their personal and professional lives. So to those who are considering starting their own business, changing companies or careers, or those heading back to the classroom to learn new skills, ka pai!
TechWomen has plenty of events and activities happening in the last quarter to keep everyone busy and focused on the positives.
First up is Ada Lovelace Day, 13th October, an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).
To celebrate, TechWomenNZ has organised a webinar featuring several very talented women in IT, to discuss how women can push their natural boundaries when applying for a role within IT, understand how Covid has impacted the hiring process within businesses and also how to read beyond a job description and consider what skills you can contribute. We shall discuss how women tend to be naturally hesitant when it comes to applying for roles, and that our natural “Power Skills” such as empathy, collaboration, and communication are sought after by the IT industry.
Next is Datathon, 6th and 7th November, Enterprise IT (Servian Group) will be holding a Datathon supported by Dataiku at their Wellington and Auckland offices. The organisers are looking for 16 – 20 data enthusiasts (any level, there will be mentors to help) who will work together to solve a given question using publicly available data and Dataiku’s Data Science Studio, to help analyse and interpret their answers. Attendees will be placed into teams to participate in the Datathon, which is planned to start on the afternoon of Friday 6th November, giving you time to plan your approach and investigate the data. Saturday will be a full day of problem solving, finishing with a presentation by each of the teams. There will be prizes for the best three presentations. Food, drink, giveaways, judging and prizes will be included, as well as a social event in the evening. Please register your interest for further details.
Please participate in The Digital Skills Survey 2020. NZTech, in partnership with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and industry partners, has launched a national digital skills demand survey. Your help is essential, as this information will support the development of better education pathways for the talented staff needed in the tech sector. Please have your organisation complete the 15 minute survey here.
