It is imperative that we encourage more women to take on leadership roles within all sectors of the economy, not only tech, says Debby Edelstein, founder of Wired Women.
"Tech companies are still dominated by male CEOs and most tech entrepreneurs we read about in mainstream press are male too," she points out.
Global statistics repeatedly reveal the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering and maths fields of work and study, and women in SA's ICT industry are not only underrepresented but underpaid compared to men in the same positions.
The Wired Women conference aims to address the entrenched gender divide in tech, as well as encourage women to leverage tech in advancing their careers and adding value to their organisations.
Now in its fifth year, the 2015 Wired Women conference will be held in Johannesburg on 23 October.
Aimed at technology professionals, marketers, leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs, the conference offers industry-related know-how such as how to test and expand a new business concept, how to attract talent into an organisation, and how to build followers and nurture market share. It features renowned speakers sharing their stories and strategies, panels delving into practical insight, and real-time coaching sessions for start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Speakers at this year's Wired Women conference include World Economic Forum young global leader Enyonam Kumahor, South African Communication Forum CEO, Loren Braithwaite-Kabosha, and Standard Bank incubator head Jayshree Naidoo.
"I believe that the gender imbalance in IT has impoverished the industry," says Wits professor Barry Dwolatzky, who will also be speaking at the conference. "Wired Women is a comprehensive effort to redress this balance."
Share