Two important events in the tech industry over the last few weeks have highlighted the need for raising the bar around the women in tech conversation, says Debby Edelstein, founder of the Wired Women Conference, which takes place in Johannesburg later this month.
"The first was the now infamous comment by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella that women should keep quiet and trust in 'good karma' rather than asking for a raise, and the second was when successful female game developer Brianna Wu was driven from her home after threats of violence were made against her."
Edelstein says incidents like these underscore the importance of finding more role models in the business world in order to change the pervasive workplace culture and create an equitable environment for all workers.
"Innovative high-impact female entrepreneurs and corporate leaders should inspire, mentor and encourage tomorrow's rising stars if we are to ensure a diverse, innovative business sector."
According to Edelstein, it's time to shift the conversation around women's role in business. "It's time for a different conversation. We need to kick-start diversity and representation in the workplace, and start building companies that allow for a diverse collection of views and personalities that enable every employee to contribute their best to the future success of the organisation."
Edelstein, a long-time women leadership champion, believes South Africa and Africa as a whole have an immense amount of value to contribute to the broader global community. "Industry leaders such as Enyonam Kumahor and Rapelang Rabane have shown just how much influence and positive impact female leaders can have in the organisations, communities and sectors they serve. While international stars such as Marissa Mayer and Sheryl Sandberg have paved the way for female leaders around the world, there is also a uniquely African and South African conversation that needs to take place right here."
Further evidence of the work still needing to be done is around the lack of female representation at tech conferences and how women-owned start-ups are reluctant to enter pitching competitions.
These are both themes to be addressed at the Wired Women Conference and at future initiatives to be rolled out by leadership development and event specialists QualityLifeCompany.
This year's Wired Women Conference features a line-up of well-known male and female tech stars, as well as a few names that most people won't immediately recognise. "Tech is a fast-moving sector that's great for anyone who enjoys innovation and energy. You find business graduates, arts graduates and people from all walks of life entering the industry, creating a melting pot of talent and possibilities. It's vital then to ensure we keep the conversation as open as possible, and not use jargon and acronyms to the point where only the most highly qualified engineering grads understand what's being said."
According to Edelstein, the inclusion of male speakers and delegates in the conference is of paramount importance. "You can't have this type of conversation separately anymore. All the best male leaders understand the impact of the enormously talented women in their organisations and the broader industry. Successful companies will be the ones that are able to create workplaces with diverse people who all excel at what they do. Women and men aren't two homogenous groups; you find huge variation in leadership styles and skills even within gender groups, so embracing and empowering that diversity is what will set the successful apart from the rest."
The fourth annual Wired Women Conference will take place at the Protea Hotel Parktonian in Braamfontein on Thursday 23 October. Speakers include Enyonam Kumahor, regional managing director of ThoughtWorks, which was nominated as Best African Company of 2013; Professor Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering; and Dr Miriam Altman, Head of Strategy at Telkom. A number of guest speakers will also tackle topics that range from 'Creating a culture of innovation' to 'Tech start-up: who dares wins' and 'Best tech tools for marketing your business and career'.
In Edelstein's own words, there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to encourage gender diversity. "The younger generation is resisting gender stereotypes in a very encouraging way. For the first time in years, celebrities are also picking up the cause of gender rights issues and giving it much-needed mainstream exposure. The Wired Women Conference is about more than gender issues; however, it's about leadership, innovation and change, and how we can use technology as a driver for broader societal change. Anyone who is intrigued by tech or feels they can make a contribution, regardless of their level of expertise, should attend this year's event and join the discussion with a diverse range of like-minded individuals."
For more information on the Wired Women Conference, click here.
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