International Women’s Day 2019 (Balance for Better)
March 8, 2019
For the past 100 years March 8th has been recognized around the world as International Women’s Day (IWD) bringing attention to the power of gender diversity and inclusion. This year to celebrate IWD, the women in Information Technology Management have come together to provide information and resources as we all work together to build a more balanced workplace.
Forbes Technology Council 2018’s statistics shows that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are predominantly occupied by men and only
- 25% of technology jobs are held by women
- 5% of technology startups are owned by women
- 28% of software jobs are held by women
Data from Statistics Canada (2012) also indicated that many women have chosen to enter non-technical fields by seeing the low number of women in technology.
- 39% of university graduates with a STEM degree are women
- 66% of non-STEM university graduates are women
Technology leader and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg speaks to why we have too few women leaders in her 2010 Ted Talk.
Helen Mets, President Resins & Functional Materials at Royal DSM recently blogged about Canadian Scientist Donna Strickland’s comments ‘We’re not “women in science” – we’re scientists’.
In 2019 the ITM Women in Technology (WIT) group is focusing on three priority areas:
- Monthly gatherings and conversations to share resources, ideas and success stories.
- Posting blogs to raise awareness and foster leadership development, technology education, networking and mentoring
- Address barriers to inclusion for Women in Technology within ITM at TRCA.
The WIT group is also planning on raising awareness among all Conservation Authorities in Ontario by presenting at the upcoming CACIS (Conservation Authorities Collaborative Information Sessions) and A. D. Latornell Conservation conferences in 2019.
Join us as we celebrate “Balance for Better” in 2019.
Women in Technology Group
Information Technology Management