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Webinar:December 12, 2013

Women in Tech – An African Perspective

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Today’s Co-Host & Speakers

Lisa Obradovich

Global Programs ManagerNetHope

(Milwaukee, USA)

Nomsa Muswai Mwayenga

Network Engineer (Zimbabwe)

Unoma Okorafor

Ph.D. Computer EngineeringFounder, WAAW Foundation

2013 Anita Borg Change Agent

(Nigeria)

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How WTC Works Mentors:

Corp IT Women,NGO Women IT Pros,

Expat Technical WomenRetired Women IT Execs

Protégés:NHAcademy

Interns/Grads NGO IT women pros,College Age Vo-Tech

women in dev. world

Phase 1

Global Online Community,Mentor/Mentee Matching, Professional Development,

Confidence Building,Career Guidance/Growth

Phase 2

In-Country Female Fellows, WTC Graduate Leaders,

In-country Community LeadersNext Gen Role Models,

High-School/VoTech Lecturers

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2013 - Year In Review

198 mentoring program participants from 43 countries working at 80+ organizations!

Webinar Topics Mentor/ Protégée Best Practices How to Map Your Plan for Success and STAY Your Leading Presence Demystifying Implementation Strategies Teach the Web – How to get young girls and women interested in IT 3 Ps of Power – Position, Performance, People Women in Technology – An African Perspective

Participants felt connected, inspired, more educated, happy to give back to young women starting their careers!

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2014 – Get Inspired

Want to feel inspired? To learn? To get involved?

Communities & Programs Anita Borg Institute (ABI) Lean In Hour of Code - http://csedweek.org Grace Hopper Celebration

Articles Amazing Women honored by ABI for

Leadership, Social Impact, and Education (Including today’s presenter, Dr. Unoma Okorafor!)

Most Powerful Women in Tech, 2013 30 Important Women Under 30 10 Women to Watch in Tech

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Getting Started

You are surrounded by a community of women (even if you can’t hear them speaking on this call) that want to hear from you and learn from you today!

Please try to actively participate in today’s session… You will find that the more you put in, the more you will get out.

Questions – post your question in the chat window any time during the presentation.

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INTRODUCTION &

BACKGROUNDNETWORK ENGINEER

FOUNDING MEMBER, TRUSTEE & SECRETARY– ISOC ZIMBABWE CHAPTER www.isoc.org.zw

BSC COMPUTER SCIENCE - UNISACCNA, CCNP

USTTI SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT -2011

IETF FELLOW – 2012http://www.internetsociety.org/articles/different-experiences-common-goal-isoc-fellows-ietf-84

AFFILIATIONSAFCHIX , ABI , NETHOPE, DIPLO FOUNDATION

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My Story• My journey• My family background• The challenges I faced and how I overcame them

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So why did I choose IT ? The employment environment in Zimbabwe

The reason why I am an IT professional

My interest in IT…The Internet!!

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Zimbabwean Women in Tech

CHALLENGES• Skills deficit• The profession is “meant” for men• Associated with being weaker• Failure is overstated• You cant be a typical lady• Underestimated• No mentors

HOW TO ENGANGE MORE WOMEN

1)MORE SKILLS!!!!!!2)MORE MENTORS2)MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES

ADVANTAGES• Courage and bravery• Inspiration to other women• Opportunity of empower communities• Success makes you stand out even more

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Mentorship

How vital is mentorship and are mentors Readily available to you??

My Mentor• How we met• Why mentors are importantMy Mentees• How I mentor them

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LET’S DO IT LADIES !!!

Stay relevant

Be yourselfGet qualified

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WORK /LIFE BALANCEWORK + FAMILY + GENERAL LIFE

T – Is it trueH – Is it helpfulI – Is it inspiringN - Is it necessaryK – is it kind

FAMILY• HOW MARRIAGE CHANGES MOST THINGS• PREGNANCY • RAISING A CHILD AS A WORKING WIFE

CLOSING REMARKS

WHY IT MATTERS BECAUSE IT CHANGES EVERYTHING!!! BECAUSE WE ARE PAVING WAY FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION

MY ADVISE When not sure about your career choice When skills are not accessibly from your country or region

ANY QUESTIONS / COMMENTS ??

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My Brief Story

Unoma OkoraforPh.D. in Computer Engineering

Founder, WAAW Foundation2013 Anita Borg Change Agent

1. Grew up in small University town in Nigeria – Father was a Professor, mother was a high school principal.

2.First experience in college in Nigeria with expectation for “girls to be seen and not heard”

3. Privileged to have support of family to study STEM and Engineering. Brother as role model.

4. Arrived in the USA on a scholarship for Masters – realized my education was hugely inadequate (obsolete textbooks, rote learning, lack of innovation). Questioning how to overcome my limitations….

The Power of Mentors

Mentors are key!

1. Mentors have been key for me. Link to resources like scholarships, networks, etcHOD, Classmates, professors, friends, co-workers, Company CEO, Men or Women – Don’t be Afraid to engage and let people know what you want!

2. Networks for women in Tech is so crucial because it gets lonely. Share experiences (work-life balance), build a bond. Women thrive in communities.

3. Experience in both worlds, always think about how much impact this can have in Africa. How to mentor others.

4. First experience being called a mentor was humbling. Wherever you are, you too can mentor someone

Q. How many people have had mentors or mentored others? How did it start out?

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The Power of Technology& Women

Technology and Women! 1. Did u know.. 80% of jobs in next 10 years will require STEM Skill. How are we preparing?

2. Technology is not just the hip thing to do. It enables change, helping us do things better. (e.g. cell phones, online learning, banking, e-health or how we work from home.. Heck this webinar!)

3. Women are huge consumers and should be engaged in all aspects of creating, implementing & evaluating technology.

5. Women are custodians of education, ripple effects impacts their children & community.

4. Technology is moving so fast. How do we engage?

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Founded in 2007, while a Ph.D. student with stipend. Motivated by desire to help others like me, because of personal experience.Change the face of Africa to the world - Tired of seeing Africa as a taker not a giver.“Made in Africa” rather than “aid to Africa”

Our Mission

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Our Vision: Use Technology and Women to eradicate poverty in Africa.Engage with girls at a young age where they are making career decisions.

We believe: that education is the key to alleviate poverty, girls are the most powerful force to effect lasting change and that technology is one of the most powerful tools to bring about economic growth in Africa.

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Challenges we encounter:- Self Esteem, Pre-conceived ideas about girls in STEM (No marriage, etc)Lack of support from family and community (Why do such a difficult course)Poverty leading to early marriage, economic or sexual exploitation, ectLack of role models and peer support communities

We hear “Math is hard”, “Its not relevant” and “When I see an invention, I think a genius created that… now I can create too”Expose options and provide opportunity to explore innovation

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STEM CAMP FOR

SECONDARY GIRLS

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

COLLEGE-2-SECONDARY

STEM OUTREACH

OUR PROGRAMS1 . Robotics Camps2. Scholarships3. College-to-Secondary Mentoring

Define STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering & Math

11-17years

18-32years

College & professional women

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STEM Camp for Secondary Girls

Tenet #1: Employ locally available resources to teach STEM and demonstrate that solutions to problems in our communities exist within and around us.Immerse pubic school girls in intense hands on STEM learning – Robotics and Renewable Energy residential camp launched this year. Try not to import expensive technology toys where possible. Girls empowered to see themselves as leaders

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$500 Scholarships for College Girls in STEM

Tenet #2: Africans are the ones to solve Africa’s challenges.We support need based girls in Africa to do just that and require scholars to become fellows who mentor younger secondary girls!

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College-to-Secondary Mentoring Program

Tenet #3: Build an ever increasing pipeline. Help someone BUT teach them to turn around and help others coming behind to be sustainable. Have 6 Cells in 5 African countries Ghana (Kenya(2) , Malawi, South Africa, & Nigeria) – Cell is self organizing 9 – 15 STEM college girls that partner with 3 – 5 secondary schools, monthly outreach into classrooms. WAAW provides curriculum, training, tools and small stipend to cover transport etc

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Question?

Has anyone done Primary or Secondary outreach? What kinds of things make a difference?While in school or after school, what are your ideas of how to stay involved in mentoring and outreach? Please share on the chatboard.

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WHERE WE WORK& OUR IMPACT SO FARSCHOLARSHIP

All Sub Saharan Africa9 Scholarships since 2007

STEM OUTREACH:Currently in 5 African countries, looking to expand into more.Over 4000 youth impacted since 2013

STEM CAMPNigeriaOver 30 girls impactedLaunched In 2013

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• Just launched platform at www.africantechwomen.org• Professional women in government, industry and government

and college students.• Platform where African women in technology are recognized

and celebrated, personal stories are told.• Build community and networks for support• Provide access to mentors and role models.• Provide a strong voice for African Women in Tech.

African Women in Technology (Work in Progress)

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Very exciting work going on around the globe. NetHope academy, internship program and partnerships.

Each of us can make a difference in our communities with what we have and where we are!

- My story is proof! Anyone can make a difference!- All those girls in STEM outreach all over Africa are going it.-- Start seeing yourself as a mentor and game changer.

- Why Am I Angry? Passionate?- Its ok to be angry if it motivates you to action.

- “Well behaved women rarely make History”.

-Thank you to Lisa and Net Hope for this awesome opportunity! Please connect with me on linkedin and send me questions if you have them or just for the heck of it!

A PERSONAL MESSAGE

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TO LEARN MOREMentors:

Corp IT Women,NGO Women IT Pros,

Expat Technical WomenRetired Women IT Execs

What you can do

Engage with us on facebookTell others about our work

Volunteer to train or mentor or teachGive if you can.

How to Contact us

www.waawfoundation.orgFacebook.com/waawfoundation

Googleplus.com/Twitter.com/waaw_foundation

800 820 4829

Watch this video…..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHI6mx3826g&feature=youtu.be

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Any Questions?Comments?

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Identify: • 3 Key Learnings from today’s Webinar for you• 1 Action you can take in the next 24 hours towards forwarding your

career planning • Use the Mentor Program Resource Hub – It’s open to EVERYONE

• www.womenstechconnect.org

Participate: • Join our “NetHope Women’s TechConnect” LinkedIn Group• Post questions and additional insights in our Linked In Discussion

Forum immediately!

Discuss & Grow: share your learnings with your mentoring match or a professional contact who you trust

Wrap-Up/Next Steps

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Women’s TechConnect is YOUR community• Host or participate in a future webinar• Contact us to be a speaker for our upcoming webinar

featuring WTC Mentoring pairs• Share webinar topic ideas• Participate in LinkedIn Discussion Groups• Share Templates or White Papers for our WTC Resource Hub• Become a Mentor• Become a Protégée

Questions? Comments? Need support? Reach us at wtcsupport@nethope.org

Thank You for Coming!