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Women in IT

Its objectives are to: � Enhance the image of the Women in IT forum through knowledge transfer and education � Act as a platform for skills development in order to alter the perception of career in IT for women � Create formal and informal networks through the hosting of programmes for members and young women in order to connect and access positive roles in the IT field. "IT is an ideal career for women as it includes opportunities to work online from home, keeping experienced female IT professionals in the industry when they start a family". Celeste Whitaker of Fizz Marketing said. The organisation offers bursaries to girls in their last year of study. Part of the funding is for undergoing psychometric testing, thereby helping students get a better understanding of their strengths and to establish what area of IT they should be pursuing - be it programming, project management or marketing. Women in IT facilitates a mentorship programme, bringing people together to share their expertise. The relationship between mentor and mentee is closely monitored to ensure that both parties enjoy maximum benefit from the programme. To date 20 mentor-mentee relationships have been successfully undertaken. As the process becomes better-known the programme is expected to grow and add value to more people in their career development. "All IT professionals with the necessary experience are invited to join the programme as mentors. It is not limited to women, men are also invited to become mentors", Whitaker said. IT is an attractive career option for women -but flexible, improved working conditions would make it even more so. So said the majority of respondents in the latest Women in IT survey, conducted by BMI-T among 275 individuals. Ulrlke Weltz of Microsoft and Celeste Whitaker of Fizz Marketing promoting their organisation at the recently INSITE 2009 exhibition. "management" as the areas with the greatest shortage of ICT skills. It also pinpointed unclear future prospects as one of the biggest challenges that participants in development programme currently face. A more recent activity is a campaign to make IT a more attractive career choice for schoolgirlsl. "We started with a talk at a Soweto school, attended by over 300 girls. Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe, CEO of HP addressed the girls about opportunities for women in the IT industry. Having grown up in Soweto, coming from a humble background and having risen to be one of the most respected women executives in the IT and telecommunications industry, Mokgosi-Mwantembe is a role model. "We started on a small scale but hope to expand this next year to perhaps a road show, thereby reaching many schools", said Whitaker. The survey highlighted "technical" and Regular networking events are arranged with speakers from the industry sharing their expertise with members. "We communicate with our members through our website and quarterly newsletters". Woman in IT is sponsored by Microsoft with support from Fizz Marketing, Axiz, HR Bytes Technologies, BMI, Words Worth, Siemens, Verizon and Room. Has Women in IT been successful in creating more awareness of career opportunities? Whitaker is convinced that the organisation has been successful, "Just look at the attendance at last year's Tech-ed. Participation by women had more then doubled to over 20 %." "The forum has helped to create more awareness of the skills and abilities that women in IT can bring to a company. We have certainly brought about debate and discussion". For more information: www.womeninit.co.za

Date: 01 October 2008