Women in tech refers to women’s involvement in the technology field. In the past, most tech jobs were held by men, and women faced barriers to entering and advancing in the industry. However, there is a growing recognition of the importance of diversity in tech, and efforts are being made to support and empower women in this field.
Initiatives to support women in tech include:
- Connecting women with experienced professionals who can offer guidance and support.
- Providing coding workshops, scholarships, and resources to encourage women in STEM education and technical skills.
- Raising awareness about gender diversity in tech and challenging biases and inequalities.
- Online communities where women in tech can connect, share experiences, and find job opportunities.
- Focusing on developing leadership skills and empowering women to take on tech industry leadership roles.
Challenges faced by women in tech include:
- There are fewer women in tech roles and leadership positions due to stereotypes, biases, and limited opportunities.
- Women often experience unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace, creating an unwelcoming environment.
- Finding successful women in tech to look up to and receive guidance from can be challenging.
- Women may doubt their abilities and feel like they don’t belong in the industry, impacting their confidence and career growth.
Top programs for women in tech :
1. Outreachy Internships
Outreachy is a three-month internship program organized by the Software Freedom Conservancy. It is designed specifically for individuals who are underrepresented in the field of software development. This program offers paid internships that can be completed remotely. It takes place twice a year, from May to August and December to March. During Outreachy, you have the opportunity to contribute to open-source projects, so having familiarity with open-source software can improve your chances of being selected for the program. The stipend provided for the internship is approximately $7000. While the internship is entirely remote, if you need to attend any program-related events, a travel stipend of $500 is available. It’s important to note that the Outreachy Internship program is not limited to programmers or developers. There are also various opportunities available for individuals with non-technical backgrounds.
Eligibility :
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old when they apply for the program.
- Participants need to be able to dedicate 40 hours or more per week to the program.
- Individuals who have been interns in the Google Summer of Code (GSoC) program in the past, even if they didn’t complete it successfully, are not eligible for Outreachy.
- Those who have previously applied for Outreachy but were rejected can still apply for future rounds.
- Candidates with part-time or contract-based jobs are eligible, but those with full-time jobs are not.
- If the applicant is a university student, they can only apply for the first round if their university is in the Northern Hemisphere. They can only apply for the second round if their university is in the Southern Hemisphere. If the university is near the equator or the candidate is in their final year, they can apply for either round.
- The program primarily aims to support women, transgender, genderqueer, non-binary individuals, people of colour, and individuals who have faced discrimination based on caste or tribe. However, men who have also experienced discrimination in the industry can apply for the program.
Advantages :
- Learning Opportunity: Participating in Outreachy allows you to enhance your learning curve as you contribute to Free and Open Source Software. You will gain knowledge about new technologies and tools, and you’ll also have the opportunity to learn from your mentor.
- Industry Experience: Completing a project within a given deadline during the program gives you a taste of how things work in the industry. You’ll understand how tasks are divided into smaller parts to be achieved within specific time frames.
- Stipend: In addition to gaining knowledge and experience, your hard work, dedication, and commitment to the program are rewarded with a stipend of $7000.
- Exposure and Practical Experience: If you’re a college student, participating in Outreachy provides you with valuable practical experience. This experience can later benefit you in job placements & career opportunities.
2. Adobe India Women-in-Technology Scholarship
Adobe’s Women in Tech Scholarship demonstrates their dedication to increasing gender diversity in the technology industry. The scholarship is specifically designed for talented female undergraduate and master’s students who are studying computer science. It offers them a chance to learn, develop their skills, and advance in their field. Every year, Adobe invites applications for the Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship, which aims to encourage women’s participation and innovation in the field of technology. The application portal typically opens in the latter half of the year. This scholarship specifically recognizes undergraduate female students in India who are pursuing computer science studies.
The application process involves:
- Essays: Applicants are required to answer short essay questions.
- Resume: A resume outlining the applicant’s academic and professional background is needed.
- Letter of Recommendation: A recommendation letter from a professor who has taught the applicant in a college course is required.
- Academic Transcripts: Applicants need to provide academic transcripts from their current and previous educational institutions.
Eligibility :
- Applicant must be a female candidate pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate engineering courses in the academic year 2023.(as of 2023)
- A candidate who is pursuing full-time UG or PG courses for the academic year 2023 can apply.
- The aspirant must be majoring in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field.
- Candidates must have an excellent academic record.
- A candidate whose close relative working in Adobe research cannot apply for this scholarship.
Advantages :
- Tuition Fee Coverage: The scholarship includes funds that cover the remaining tuition fees for the recipient’s university education.
- Summer Internship Opportunity: There is an opportunity for a summer internship at Adobe India for the scholarship recipient.
- Mentorship: The recipient will receive guidance and mentoring from a senior technology leader at Adobe.
- Grace Hopper Conference India: The scholarship also covers travel expenses and participation fees for attending the Grace Hopper Conference in India.
3. Amazon WoW
Amazon WoW is a networking platform in India specifically designed for women engineering students. Its purpose is to connect them with Amazon leaders, recruiters, and the wider Amazon community. This platform offers various benefits such as skill-building sessions, access to resources, conversations with alumni about their career experiences, and getting familiar with the Amazon culture. The ultimate goal is to support women students in building successful long-term careers in the field of technology.
If you are a female student currently enrolled in an engineering program, whether it be for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, Amazon WoW will offer you a series of sessions throughout the year focused on technology and leadership development. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, including interview preparation, insights into technical online assessments, tips for crafting an impressive resume, guidance on choosing a career path, opportunities to apply for roles at Amazon, and much more.
Eligibility :
- Only Female Candidates are allowed to participate.
- BE/B.Tech/Master degree in Computer science or related stream with no backlog and CGPA more than or equal to 6.5/10
- Candidate should have coding knowledge of any one programming language such as C, C++ or Java, etc.
- Understanding of Design Patterns, Data Structure & algorithms, and relational databases.
- Should have better problem-solving skills
Advantages :
- Reduced Competition: The competition is reduced by half as the scholarship program is exclusively open to female candidates.
- Learning Sessions: Participants have access to learning sessions aimed at enhancing their skills and knowledge.
- Internships/Full-time Opportunities: The scholarship provides opportunities for internships and potential full-time positions at Amazon.
- Higher Package: Scholarship recipients are offered a higher package compared to the average industry package.
- Optional Telecommute/Work from Home: Participants have the flexibility to work remotely or from home if desired.
- Better Career Growth: The scholarship program offers better career growth opportunities within Amazon and the tech industry.
4. Rails Girls Summer Of Code
Rails Girls Summer of Code is a program that helps women and non-binary individuals get involved in the world of coding and improve their skills. It is open to those who have some coding knowledge but want to become more advanced. The program runs from July to September and provides a monthly payment to participants, which helps overcome financial obstacles. Students work in pairs and receive support from a mentor who is involved in an Open Source project, as well as experienced coaches. The program aims to make coding more accessible and diverse by offering this valuable opportunity.
It aims to increase diversity in the Open Source community. The gender gap in this field is significant, with only 3% of women and 1% of non-binary individuals participating, according to GitHub’s 2017 Open Source Survey.
In order to create a more inclusive environment, it is crucial that the tech industry becomes less hostile towards women, non-binary individuals, and other minorities. To promote diversity and ensure a safe space for all participants, it is important for everyone involved in Rails Girls Summer of Code to follow and respect the program’s Code of Conduct. This helps create an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Eligibility :
- All people with non-binary gender identities or who identify as female (transgender or cisgender) are welcome to apply.
Advantages :
- Collaboration and Effective Teamwork: Learn to collaborate and work effectively as a team, reflecting valuable teamwork skills.
- Daily Activity Logs: Develop the habit of writing daily logs to track and document team activities, enhancing organization and accountability.
- Guidance and Support from Mentors: Seek guidance and support from mentors through the Slack channel, facilitating learning and growth.
- Open-Source Opportunities: The scholarship provides one of the best ways to enter the world of open-source, enabling participation and contribution to open-source projects.
5. Grace Hopper Conference Scholarships
AnitaB.org, in partnership with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), organizes the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC). GHC is a major event that brings together a large number of women and non-binary individuals in the field of technology. Attending GHC provides valuable access to workshops for career and academic development, networking opportunities, inspiring role models, and unforgettable experiences. Scholarships are available to students, faculty, and individuals in the technology industry, providing them with the opportunity to virtually participate in the annual celebration.
GHC is a three-day conference that aims to gather women in the field of computing to talk about their research and career interests. The conference offers presentations on different subjects, activities to enhance professional growth, a day dedicated to open-source projects, and many other engaging events.
Eligibility :
- You need to be a full-time student currently enrolled in a recognized college or university program. If you have completed your degree, you may still be eligible if you have been accepted into another related program.
- You should demonstrate satisfactory progress toward a degree in fields like electrical engineering, human-computer interaction, math, physics, or management information systems.
- You should show an interest in computer science.
- If you received an AnitaB.org-GHC Scholarship in the previous year, you are not eligible to receive another scholarship.
- You must be at least 18 years old by a specific date (e.g., September 24, 2018).
- You cannot accept multiple scholarships for attending GHC.
- If you receive a scholarship and are unable to attend, it is important to inform AnitaB.org beforehand to ensure fairness to other students who could have benefitted from the scholarship.
Advantages :
- Networking Opportunities: Meet and connect with professionals from diverse backgrounds, creating valuable relationships.
- Professional Development: Attend sessions, workshops, and presentations by industry leaders to learn about the latest trends and best practices in technology.
- Career Advancement: Access career resources like job fairs, resume reviews, and interview opportunities to explore new paths and advance in your career.
- Open-Source Engagement: Collaborate on projects, learn from experts, and contribute to the broader tech community through open-source initiatives.
- Industry Insights: Gain knowledge about emerging technologies, industry trends, and advancements, staying competitive in the tech field.
Thus, there are many programs and initiatives that help and empower women in the tech industry. These programs offer opportunities to learn new skills, meet other professionals, get guidance from mentors, and receive support. They aim to make the tech field more equal and diverse. By joining these programs, women can gain knowledge, make connections, and feel more confident in their tech careers. These initiatives create a positive environment and provide fair chances for women to succeed in technology.