WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
ENGR 075 – Section 010
Description:
This class looks at the transformative role women play in promoting prosperity and human progress through technology and innovation. The class will shine a light on the remarkable women who are building companies and technologies that transform the way we live and work, and who are paving new paths for female entrepreneurship and gender equality. It will also look at the challenges that women in tech continue to face, including sexism, gender discrimination, unconscious bias, impostor syndrome and more. This one credit class will explore the issues over 7 sessions, meeting once weekly. The class will feature a number of guest lectures by female tech leaders who will offer points of view on the issues, and share their experiences as a guidepost for success.
Topics:
● Why diversity (gender, race, culture) matters in the workplace, especially in tech
● Entrepreneurship and the challenges/opportunities facing female founders
● Breaking the glass ceiling: the path to leadership for women in tech
● The “leaky” pipeline: how do we attract and retain more women in tech?
● The importance of coaching and mentoring young women in tech
● Venture capital’s diversity problem, and how we fix it
● Why “soft skills” matter: emotional intelligence, authenticity, communication skills
● The next “big thing”: future trends in tech
Instructor:
Samantha Walravens, Adjunct Professor & Co-author, Geek Girl Rising: Inside the Sisterhood Shaking Up Tech. Columnist at Forbes.