The mere fact that the Grace Hopper Conference (GHC) exists at all, not to mention that it is so well attended, should be taken as a sign of the times. Not only do we live an age where simply amazing technologies are being developed, but we’ve begun to acknowledge individual and societal unconscious biases and have started addressing them by celebrating women in computing and providing a gender specific environment in which to network, find mentors, find jobs, and to connect and form communities. In this light, GHC is a win-win for women and for the workforce. And that’s powerful, but it’s only a part of what I walk away from GHC embracing.
Inclusion is the other part, and, perhaps, the more important one. The women that attend don’t need to be told the about the stats on females in computing or learn about the dearth of technical women in leaderships roles. They live this reality. It’s the men that should be educated, after all, recent data shows that males compromise 75% of the workforce and as such preaching the gospel of diversity and inclusion to those outside the choir is perhaps the most impactful thing a male advocate can do. We can talk with our sons and fathers, friends and colleagues; we can help remove the blinders. I believe that’s a key role for all men of conscious going forward – furthering the conversation amongst ourselves on how we can better recruit, recognize, retain, and promote technical women.
Pushing the needle of equality and thinking on inclusion aside, what I enjoyed most about GHC was interacting with the various attendees. Being in the presence of so many brilliant, competent, and determined women was a testament to the value in this technical space. It’s worth noting that while I was unsure how my presence at a female oriented conference would be viewed by the rest of the attendees, the ladies I met were were warm and welcoming – I can count the number of business cards I was given (8), the free drinks offered (5), the fist-bumps I got (3) and, of course, the odd solo request for an interview. And, while I enjoyed the conversations I struck up at GHC, I gained the most when I stopped talking and simply listened. Hearing women talk about their successes and lament their troubles in mostly male-dominated classroom and work environments gave a face to the data and humanized the issue in a way that research never can. It’s a long way to understanding and the simple act of listening helped move me on down the road.
As for the speakers and plenary sessions, I particularly enjoyed tech luminary and social change agent Megan Smith’s Thursday keynote address where she encouraged the crowd to not only ask the big questions but to find joy in the effort. Punctuating her speech with humor and intimate details, it was hard not to walk away feeling like anything, including solving for “x” (her phrase), was possible. Then there was Irene Ross’ words given during the “Keeping the YouTube Generation Engaged” panel which pounded home the point that if you do what you love, what you’re passionate about, then the rest will come – the money and career will follow. And that’s a resonating message for most people: follow your dreams, swim in your own lane, and don’t worry about what others are doing. I also had the pleasure of listening to Brenda Chapman elaborate on her experiences as an animator, writer, and director. Her story on the making and directing of the Pixar 2012 hit, “Brave” can be found in detail elsewhere, but suffice to say that she brought a unique and creative perspective to the film’s effort and challenged the traditional representation of females in animation and film. Finally, there were a myriad of fascinating and promising undergraduate and PhD posters on topics ranging from neural networks, parallel computing, mapping, ICT4D, open source to gender representation in gaming/media. The conference theme was thinking big and the ladies did not disappoint.
I’ll close with a confession: I’ve been in technology since 2001 and until I began working for the National Center for Women & IT as a graduate student, I had never given any real consideration to the gross gender imbalance in our field nor to the benefits of diversity and the role I could play in supporting women. As such I never felt the need to address or rectify it; it simply wasn’t on my radar. Where I once found myself a staunch believer that talent would rise to the top, I now realize that these meritocratic views are myopic and while they weren’t necessarily wrong, they I certainly weren’t right either. Attending GHC 2013 helped bring it all home. It was an experience I won’t soon forget and if I could urge one thing for my technical brethren to embrace, it would be that they attend GHC at some point or, lacking the opportunity, strike up a conversation with a technical woman and make an effort to spend most of the time simply listening.
Chris Carruth is a recent graduate of the ICT4D Masters program at the University of Colorado, Boulder. During his graduate studies he worked as a research assistant with NCWIT, a position that he currently still holds. Additionally, he fills his days while performing the duties of a regional affiliate manager for the Aspirations in Computing Award, a part-time lecturer in the CU ATLAS Institute’s Technology, Arts, and Media program, a mixed-media artist and perpetual idealist. He prefers red to white wine, old to new Dylan, and Picard to Kirk.
- K-12
- K-12
- I Want To
- K-12 Resources
K-12 Resources
Act and advocate for more inclusive computing learning experiences. Encourage and inspire students to explore computing pathways that match their interests and abilities.
- K-12 Programs
K-12 Programs
Inspire and encourage individuals of all backgrounds, equip K-12 and higher education influencers, and foster virtual and in-person communities at local, regional, and national levels.
- K-12 Alliance
K-12 Alliance
Mobilize year-round alongside formal and informal educators and other adult influencers nationwide working together to create lasting impact.
- Get Involved
- Higher Education
- Higher Education
- I Want To
- Higher Ed Resources
Higher Education Resources
Build consensus for action amongst colleagues, leaders, and advisors to create momentum for measurable, sustainable change within computing departments and institutions.
- Higher Ed Programs
Higher Education Programs
Recognize students’ computing aspirations, honor faculty for their outstanding mentorship, secure strategic buy-in for lasting change, and more.
- Higher Ed Alliance
Higher Ed Alliance
Mobilize year round alongside faculty, staff, administrators, department heads, and other mentors nationwide working together to create lasting impact.
- Get Involved
- Workforce
- Workforce
- I Want To
- Workforce Resources
Workforce Resources
Employ strategic approaches that avoid the typical pitfalls of traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion interventions.
- Workforce Programs
Workforce Programs
Volunteer to engage with the next generation of technologists, amplify the bottom-line benefits of diverse technological contributions, and more.
- Workforce Alliance
Workforce Alliance
Mobilize year round alongside corporate seniors, executives, and team leaders nationwide working together to create lasting impact.
- Get Involved
- Resources
- Resources
- Programs
- Programs
- Aspirations in Computing
Aspirations in Computing
Aspirations in Computing (AiC) provides encouragement, enables persistence, opens doors, and changes lives for women in technology from K-12 through career.
- BridgeUP STEM
BridgeUP STEM
BridgeUP STEM provides opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to learn the skills of computer science and research methodology within a research university setting.
- Color of Our Future
Color of Our Future
The Color of Our Future focuses on broadening the meaningful participation of underrepresented women and girls of color (Black, Latinx, and Native American).
- Conversations for Change
Conversations for Change
Conversations for Change is an online thought leadership series that presents research-based recommendations and prompts peer-to-peer discussions to further inclusivity in computing.
- Counselors for Computing
Counselors for Computing
Counselors for Computing (C4C) offers professional development to school counselors, positioning them to effectively guide ALL students in exploring computing pathways.
- Higher Ed Programs
Higher Ed Programs
Higher Ed programs recognize students’ computing aspirations, honor faculty for their outstanding mentorship, secure strategic buy-in for lasting change, and more.
- NCWIT Recognitions
NCWIT Recognitions
NCWIT Recognitions foster great potential that otherwise may have gone unrecognized, and foster great ideas that might never have come to fruition.
- Regional Initiatives
Regional Initiatives
NCWIT’s Regional Initiatives bundle research-backed programs and practices to increase the local participation of women and girls in tech fields and careers. To understand local computing ecosystems, and cater content and programming to needs on the ground, NCWIT partners with community stakeholders to build awareness, inspire participation, and connect women to like-minded peers, role models, and opportunities.
- Sit With Me
Sit with Me
Sit With Me uses its iconic red chair to create in-person and virtual spaces where everyone can reflect on the value of diversity and inclusion.
- Tech Inclusion Journey
Tech Inclusion Journey
The Tech Inclusion Journey (TIJ) is a unique, scalable software platform that empowers change leaders to implement systemic, sustainable approaches to the creation of inclusive cultures.
- Aspirations in Computing
- News & Events
- News & Events
- NCWIT Summit
NCWIT Summit
The NCWIT Summit: where conversations lead to change is the world’s largest annual convening of change leaders focused on significantly improving diversity and equity in computing.
- News
News
Check out NCWIT’s latest press releases, press mentions, newsletters, blogs, and articles we are talking about!
- Events
Events
NCWIT offers various in-person and virtual events throughout the year and is also present at many other industry events. Find out about past and upcoming items here.
- re:think Magazine
- NCWIT Summit
- About NCWIT
- About NCWIT
- LOG IN