Despite the growing push of women to join tech professions, the attrition rate of women in technology is still pretty high. There are a number of factors that lead to their departure from their technical roles or from the industry altogether. Often times it has less to do with their technical prowess, and more to do with an environment that is less than hospitable. In this Femgineer Forum we'll cover the following: • How to encourage women to stay technical throughout their careers • How women can participate more fully and effectively on teams • How women can take on technical leadership roles

1. FEMGINEER FORUM
Staying Technical
...
Poornima Vijayashanker
Sponsored by: ThoughtWorks
July 24, 2013
poornima@femgineer.com
@poornima
#femgineerforum
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2. INTRODUCTION
• Duke University - ECE & CS
• R&D Engineer @ Synopsys
• Founding Engineer @ Mint
• Founder of BizeeBee
• Founder of Femgineer
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3. FEMGINEER FORUM: Staying Technical
Inspiration for Femgineer Forum
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4. FEMGINEER FORUM: Staying Technical
Format
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5. AGENDA
• WHY YOU SHOULD STAY TECHNICAL
• HOW TO STAY TECHNICAL
• HOW TO PARTICIPATE MORE EFFECTIVELY
• HOW TO PURSUE LEADERSHIP ROLES
• BREAK OUT SESSION
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6. Why should you stay technical?
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7. By 2020 US businesses will need
1.4M
computer scientists
Credit: She++
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8. Based on today’s graduation rate
only 30%
will be filled by American graduates
Credit: She++
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9. Why don’t we stay technical?
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10. • Pulled or pushed into non-technical roles
• Exhibit talents that maybe well suite for other roles
• Take a break to explore
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11. • Victim mentality
• Pessimistic about programming skills
• Lack of awareness that they have the power to change their situation
“Don’t you think women are pushed
into non-technical roles?
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12. You always have
a choice!
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13. • Question your choice and abilities
• Retraining
• Right environment
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14. You always have
a choice!
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15. How do you stay technical?
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16. Self Study Group Study Networking
Keep skills sharp.
Books
Online Course
Tutorials
Women Who Code
Hackathons
Hackbright DevBootCamp
Conferences
Social Media
Mentorship
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17. Support.
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18. Ask for it!
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19. Find a BIG brother or sister.
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20. 1. No INVITATION? Learn to crash!
2. BE informal.
3. IT’S OK to outgrow a mentor.
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21. Take advantage of training programs!
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22. How do you participate more effectively?
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23. 1. Learn to think a little more strategically!
HINT: it’s not about the hours you put in!
2. Self-leadership.
3. Show interest & understand other people’s
roles.
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24. How do you pursue leadership roles?
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25. Have you led
someone before?
Want to lead?
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26. RISK.
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27. Demonstrate leadership.
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28. Find your OWN leadership style.
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29. BAD environment?
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30. Passed up for a promotion?
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31. Gotten laid off?
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32. There is more than one route to the top!
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33. Start with a stronger base next time!
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34. Self
Leadership
MentorsExperience
Stories of
SuccessNetwork
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35. “Burning bridges.”
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36. Review.
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37. FEMGINEER FORUM: Staying Technical
• WHY YOU SHOULD STAY TECHNICAL
• HOW TO STAY TECHNICAL
• HOW TO PARTICIPATE MORE EFFECTIVELY
• HOW TO PURSUE LEADERSHIP ROLES
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38. NEXT FORUM:
How a Venture Capital Firm Evaluates Investments
Andreessen Horowitz - Menlo Park
September 2013
Visit meetup.com/femgineers
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39. Want to host a forum at your company?
Contact: karen@femgineer.com
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40. GROUP MENTORING
Femgineer Friends
Visit femgineer.com/mentoring
ONLINE COURSE
Lean Product Development
Visit femgineer.com/courses
Deadline to apply is August 25th
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41. Q&A
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42. KEY OBJECTIVE(S) AGENDA
DELIVERABLE
BREAK OUT SESSION
Get comfortable telling
stories that demonstrate
leadership abilities.
30 minutes Get into groups of ~5 people.
1. Introduce yourself to the group.
2. Describe the role you’re interested in.
3. Tell the group a story that demonstrates
why you are a capable leader.
4. Refine story.
5. Present.
Short presentation
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