GRAND RAPIDS – Davenport University held the second annual Women in Technology conference on March 28 focused on empowering women to become more successful in Technology careers.
The welcome was given by two large supporters for women in technology, Aphrodite Jones, Associate Dean of the Davenport College of Technology, and Gabriela Ziegler, Department Chair for Davenport?s Computer Information Systems and Tech Management. The half-day event had presentations from established speakers as well as a panel discussion.
Faith Heikkila has a vast experience in Information Security and Privacy and was the first to speak at the event. She shared advice around how to Network with IT Professionals to the mixed audience of mostly female students and professionals. This included the mention of the Michigan Council for Women in Technology that provides a variety of networking and learning opportunities for women in any stage in their technology career. MCWT, which also offered a free membership to a lucky winner at the event, holds many networking events across the State throughout the year.
In a time where Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math jobs are predicted to rise significantly in the future, events like this help empower and foster a sense of community to increase the number of women in these career fields. That is why some of the presenters focused on non-traditional careers in IT with several female speakers representing the public sector.
The event provided bits of wisdom during the interactive speaking sessions and during the well-moderated panel. Statistics provided by women in technology demonstrated why diversity is important in all STEM fields. With only 18 to 25 percent of STEM jobs held by women, IT needs more diversity to address the more gender balanced make up of most customer audiences. Another session was on habits that help foster IT careers so that when women do decide to take a job in STEM, they will be able to build a successful career and stick with it. Each speaker offered their own valuable perspective on how they found professional success.
The panelist represented a diverse group of professionals speaking on different aspects of IT careers. Many of the speakers were involved in community organizations like Michigan Infragard, West Michigan Cisco Users Group (WMCUG), and ISSA, so there was a clear theme of giving back among the panelists. One panelists, Barb Heimstra, Director of Information Security for Kent County, offered a management perspective on how to effectively work with male dominated teams.
The event helped women reflect on their own careers and encouraged the audience with stories that may will help grow the number of women in STEM fields, while providing inspiration from female leaders in the field today.
Associate Editor Nicole Johnson leads MITechNews.Com?s efforts to foster STEM education, as well as provides coverage for her fellow women in computing. If you have a story idea for Nicole, email [email protected]
