Tell us your story.
I never considered myself a “techie.” I went to college with an electric typewriter. Today, I have fully embraced technology as a tool to help me research, write, and communicate and would be lost without my iPhone, laptop, and social media.
A publicist in Pittsburgh had pitched me a first date survey to use in my work writing about dating. A few weeks later, she asked if I’d like to interview a keynote speaker at a conference at the the Smithstonian. I wasn’t really sure how her work fit into mine. I wanted to find the angle.
The topic was getting girls more involved in STEM. I’ve always been a supporter of the empowerment of women and girls. That was my angle. I interviewed the speaker and my article got quite a bit of buzz around the world, leading to several pitches from organizations and projects involving women in tech. By now, I was fully ‘in!”.
In a few short months, I’ve met many incredible women who founded startups to solve either lifestyle or global problems. I’ve spoken with inspiring women (and men) who are focused on engaging more girls in coding or STEM. Not a day goes by when someone doesn’t pitch me about a teen developing a social media platform or a conference about the intersection of tech and hospitality or a documentary. I scroll through Twitter to find projects or meet ups that promote women in tech.
I am passionate about my role in sharing the stories of innovators and problem solvers, people aimed at engaging more women in tech and STEM. If we all work together, we can change the world!
What do you most want other women and young girls to know about being a woman in our digital culture?
In my conversations with startup founders, I’ve found what they have in common is their desire to solve a problem using technology as a tool. It helps to know the language of coding but you don’t need to be an engineer. Find your passion and apply technology to make it happen.
Pass it on!
I’ve been inspired by everyone I’ve interviewed. Adriana Gascoigne of Girls in Tech has been a major influence to drive my connections with startup founders. With her organization’s Lady Pitch Night competitions and other programs, she’s engaging women in tech around the world. I’m also inspired by the work of Women in Tech Campaign to extend the definition of technology and share stories.I also want to give a shout out to Anneke DiPietro, a fifteen year old in California whose idea for an innovative social media platform, Xirkl, is posed to take off. Anneke represents the future of tech and I’m so grateful that she presented me with the opportunity to share her story!
