Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, the marketing and campaigns are a little hard to escape. So WITPGH decided to hop on the bandwagon but with our own twist – to show that you don’t need to spend money or have a significant other to put some love in the world. In an industry that is super RIPE with imposter syndrome, we chose to spread love and good vibes by sharing our spotlights’ answers along with fellow participating Twitter users to what they love about being a part of the #womenintech community.
As you’ll see below, the majority of the answers are that women in tech are motivated, inspired and grateful for the other women in tech – in other words, YOU. A reminder that YOU BELONG HERE.
Vday is getting closer. But you don’t need a significant other to show love. In an industry where #impostersyndrome is RIPE, we wanna spread some good vibes & share our #witpgh spotlights’ answers to what they love about being #womenintech. A reminder that YOU BELONG HERE. pic.twitter.com/S3kRaTykru
— Women In Tech PGH (@WomenInTechPGH) February 4, 2019
“Being able to relate to other women in tech. That might sound a bit confusing but I love the ‘open door’ feel of being a woman in tech. I can ask other women anything, the community is very supportive.”
@LILLIANADEE, CYBERSECURITY MARKETING
“I love being able to help educate other young women on what a career in tech looks like as well as being able to help them map out how they can achieve it. I also love being able to educate women on local market trends and pay rates to make sure that they are being paid what they deserve.”
NEENA ZONA, TECHNICAL RECRUITER
“I’m always encouraged after talking to other women in tech. There is so much to learn from each other, and a long way to go for us – which makes the efforts that we do today, for the future, that much more exciting.”
CHRISTINE LAW, LEAD UX ANALYST
I love coding alongside the amazing, strong, talented women in tech who are lifting each other up and helping each other to grow. #witpghlove
— Bekah Hawrot Weigel (@BekahHW) February 4, 2019
“Something about being a femme-identified/presenting person in the tech landscape is connecting with other people and helping them to overcome barriers and challenges. We have to keep lifting each other and everyone not at the table up until we can really say we see everyone there.”
@NBARBUTO, FOUNDER ASSEMBLEPGH
“I love being a role model for my son, so that he can see that women can do anything that he can do.”
ERIN GATZ – CO-FOUNDER, PROTOTYPE PGH
“I love that I came from a non-tech background and accomplishing things I was told I never could. I love breaking stereotypes and showing up as my authentic self.”
@ALISONFALKPGH, FOUNDER WIT PGH
“I love the community we’ve built! Like this one! I love that I can reach out to other women in tech if I ever need help or am doubting myself.”
@TWESHAMITRA, SOFTWARE ENGINEER
For me, it’s the community that’s the best, here online. I especially love that I can dress up and look nice, and go in to work at my all male company knowing that I am showing them that women can code just as well as men. #witpghlove
— Karlie 2.0 (@KarlieMurphy) February 5, 2019
“I love that I have contacts where, we’ve built enough mutual trust, that I can call on them or text them any time of day (or night) about a topic I’m writing about. Or to grab a coffee to give me the latest scoop about both the tech industry and their life.”
@LINDERPGH, TECH REPORTER
“Oh gosh that I am NEVER bored. Technology changes every 5 minutes so it forces me to keep continuously learning, reading, and exploring.”
NEYSHA , FOUNDER OF @PRECIXAPGH
“Other women in tech! It’s such a great supportive community. The women in tech that I’ve met are always bringing each other up and advocating for each other. It’s awesome to see how we all come together and become this unstoppable force and it’s only going to keep growing.”
@NEHABRAHAM, FULL STACK DEVELOPER
“I love being able to connect and share stories with other women in tech. Some of the most inspired moments of my time in tech have been at Girl Develop It events, or at ELA Conference.”
@SILVERLINDSAY1, DEVELOPER
“There’s change in the air. The numbers are still pretty dismal but the attention and the urgency to change them has noticeably increased in the past few years.”
@EWAZLAK CEO SHINE REGISTRY
“As someone who came to this work somewhat gradually and unexpectedly, I hope I am able to encourage other women to approach technology with less fear and more confidence. I love seeing someone who was afraid to try a new tool or technique get the hang of it and light up. The moment when something ceases to be mystifying is really great. “
@CHEEGUNN, PHD CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF COMPUTING & INFORMATION
#witpghlove is learning something new every day. Actually make that several times a day. Sometimes an hour 😉
— CIS Professor (@MaryBethMoore6) February 4, 2019
“I like that I bring a different perspective to the table.”
@LEAHLIZARONDO, CEO 412 FOOD RESCUE,
“The community! I am inspired by so many women around me. When I work with other women and femme people, I feel like we are participating in an communal movement, in something bigger than us.”
@CHARSTILES, DIGITAL ACTIVIST & VJ
“Being able to connect with other women who share my passion. Being able to create, relate, and commiserate with each other constantly reminds me of why it’s important for women to work in tech fields.”
LAUREN VALLEY, FOUNDER ELECTRIC WOMEN
“I don’t think its about being a woman, I think it’s that we are living in rapidly changing times, faster than ever before in human history. There are so many opportunities for people to build upon their ideas and drive more of how people want to live and work, not just work. This allows the potential for more flexibility to accommodate everyone, if you are fortunate enough to work in innovation sectors of businesses. This should allow more opportunities for women.”
@PITTSTECHAUDREY, CEO PGH TECH COUNCIL
“Being a leader in my field right now to make the way for other women of color to get into the technology industry, and also being able to affect change in my own little ways.”
RACHAEL AFOLABI ROYES- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CENTER FOR DIGITAL LEARNING & INNOVATION
“I love that women are taking ownership of our own ideas and starting businesses that empower other women. We can take on technical and non-technical roles and no longer have to rely on others to make our business dreams a reality.”
@CHLOETAYLORTECH FOUNDER CHLOE TAYLOR TECHNOLOGY & GREENPRINTS
“Being empowered to help others, and more personally, proving to myself and the world that women are badass.
@ELLIEGORDON7 FOUNDER& DESIGNER BEHAIVIOR
#witpghlove I love being a woman in tech because tech doesn’t care what’s between your legs, the color of your skin, or where you grew up. Tech is a great equalizer.
— Digital Bridges PGH (@digibridgespgh) February 14, 2019
“I like being able to use my skills, passion, and influence to make a difference for the women and girls in my circle of influence, and for those who come behind me. There is still not gender parity for women in tech (and in general) so there is a lot of work to be done to bridge the opportunity, confidence, and pay gap that so many women face today.”
@ANDREAKKRUEGER, DIRECTOR, PEOPLE & CULTURE INITIATIVES: PGH TECH COUNCIL
“Learning from the journey of others and building strong relationships”
Dr. Crystal G. Morrison, FOUNDER & CEO at @EVERRISEPGH
“My favorite thing about women in tech is the freedom it gives women!”
@DEIDREDIAMOND, FOUNDER CYBERSN
“The other women in tech.”
@C_EHRLICHMAN, FOUNDER EHRLICHMAN GROUP
“The possibilities!”
@FOUNDERMAMA, FOUNDER MOMS CAN & CO.
As a woman in tech, I love defying stereotypes. I’ve been told I am “better for fashion clients than tech” based on one post with @CHANEL suspenders. Chanel & Code works just fine for me. #witpghlove https://t.co/8H4n79edMO
— Dania Micala | Latina in Tech (@DaniaMicala) February 4, 2019
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