Working in the field of technology entrepreneurship or training in technology are proposals that take on a new meaning in the current global context, marked by a pandemic that accelerated and deepened the digitization of work, professional, domestic, training and entertainment activities. For this reason, Chicas en Tecnología decided to adapt Leading Girls in Technology, The CET Campus CET, the organization's digital campus, will be able to carry out the two 2020 editions of the program online. This is how more than 500 young people from 7 countries of the region They got to know the world of technological entrepreneurship first hand.
Participants, from 13 to 21 years of age, learned about different topics related to innovation, design, agile methodologies and job opportunities in the technological entrepreneurial field.. “We have adapted the Chicas Líderes en Tecnología proposal to continue providing quality educational programs that generate more and more diversity in work teams. In a context of unprecedented uncertainty, we believe it is essential to accompany, train and motivate the next generation of women leaders in technology.”, said Nicolás Wainer, Program Coordinator of Chicas en Tecnología.
In both editions of Chicas Líderes en Tecnología, held on Saturday, August 15 and Saturday, October 24, young women from Latin America spent their afternoons sharing activities with peers and leaders in the technological entrepreneurial field. They visited digital stands within the CET Campus, where they learned about technology through experiences with videos, games and playful proposals. As part of the activities designed for both online editions, the Girls in Technology Programs team coordinated two panels of Women Leaders. During the August edition, the focus was on women leaders. professional growth opportunities in the technology sector, The event was attended by representatives of the companies that attended the event, who shared their experiences as professional women and leaders in the technology industry, how they currently work in a technology company, what their development opportunities were and their advice for the next generation of women leaders in technology. “Teamwork is fundamental and for that it is necessary to know how to communicate with others. It is very important that we can convey our ideas and also make ourselves heard, be self-confident and know that they have the same voice as their peers.”, said Julieta Caceres of J.P. Morgan.
In the second edition, held in October, the objective was to expand the information on the various training and academic development options within the disciplines related to technology., For this reason, the Women Leaders panel told us what careers they studied, what were the challenges and opportunities and what are the skills needed to develop in the technological entrepreneurial field. “The university gives you the opening to understand that you can do things on your own. You have to keep studying, keep training, you have to try to always be on the cutting edge, understanding what is moving the world.”, shared Fernanda Trosel, from Prisma Medios de pago.
The meetings featured participatory workshops that the young women had previously selected according to their areas of interest, which addressed topics such as: diversity and teamwork; agile methodologies and communication; design thinking; IT security; feedback; soft skills; A/B testing; technology and its impact on human behavior. During these workshops, the young women interacted with people specialized in the different topics, asked questions and took away recommendations for further information.
At both meetings the participants, who connected from different parts of Latin America, had the opportunity to listen to CET Ambassadors, The young women who have gone through the Chicas en Tecnología programs and who are currently studying and working in the technology entrepreneurial sector, told and answered questions about their academic choices, the challenges they faced, their interests and experiences during their first steps as women in technology.
“I realized that I wanted to start working and then choose a career and college. It's important for them to research what they like and learn.”, Sofia Nuñez, CET Ambassador, advised them.
The young women had a space to ask the CET Ambassadors all their doubts about what it means to study a career related to technology and how is the professional world they live in on a daily basis.
“Before CET I had a stereotype of what it was like to work in IT and I think it's good to be able to see what it's like. I think it's good to generate community, to see how other people work in this, it changes your perspective of what it is to work in technology.”, Clara Móline, CET Ambassador, told them.
Chicas Líderes en Tecnología participants shared their opinions about the experience, among which read:
“It was an excellent space to learn about the current situation in the technological field.”.
“Very good the event as it provided a lot of information that I did not know and gives another look at the technological”.
“It was a very interesting experience from which I learned a lot and got to know about careers, jobs that I had no idea about and many I found interesting. And lastly, I loved the message of gender diversity that they convey.”.
“Thank you for all the information, I didn't know anything about all the scopes we can have.”.
For the realization of the events Chicas en Tecnología had the support of: Mulesoft, a Salesforce Company; J.P Morgan; S&P Global Foundation; Despegar; Prisma Medios de pago; Grupo San Cristóbal; Fundación Banco Ciudad; Mecenazgo Cultural and with the support of the Asociación de Guías Argentinas.
