by Dot Cannon
Empowerment has many voices.
Attendees at Day 1 of the 2016 Wonder Women Tech Conference had the opportunity to hear a number of them.
“With all these technical women at home (raising families), …why aren’t we seeing more of them in the workforce?” asked IBM Pathways Program Executive Jennifer Howland.
“Mentoring is a beautiful privilege and it goes both ways,” said Social Entrepreneur CEO Kimberly King.
“It is my goal to connect the entire fashion industry on one social platform,” said FashionTap founder Amy Roiland.
And these were just three of the more than 150 speakers presenting at this weekend’s conference, at the Long Beach Convention Center.
In her presentation, “The 40-Year-Old Intern”, Jennifer Howland acquainted her audience with a relatively new innovation: re-entry internships. Howland, and IBM, were the first to sign up for this program, introduced by the STEM Re-Entry Task Force. Re-entry internships, she explained, allow technical women to return for a twelve-week “internship”, when they’re ready to re-enter the workplace after raising a family.
“The company (culture) might not be right for you. You can test the waters for twelve weeks,” Howland commented.
In addition to IBM, she said, six other companies have implemented re-entry programs. Among them: General Motors, which has a “Take Two” program. “They’re trying to create (a whole new way we look at this),” she said.
In an afternoon “Fireside Chat” on mentoring, moderated by “F-Show” Founder Lolita Taub, four management professionals discussed what worked–and didn’t–in mentorship situations. The women agreed that mentoring was a two-way process, with the mentee assuming responsibility for taking action.
“Some of my best, most effective mentors made me feel very uncomfortable,” said MUFG Union Bank Senior Project Manager Diane Beck. “They were bolder than me, and I like that.”
The panel that followed, “How Tech and Fashion Merge Into the Next Decade”, also articulated some of that magic.
Among the ideas these four fashion professionals discussed?
“We’re working on technology where you can go onto the site and scan, and actually see what the item will look like on you,” offered celebrity designer Dalia McPhee (far left).
“I didn’t want to have another sports bra,” contributed Bloom Bras Founder Elyse Kay. “I wanted to make one that looks good.”
“We are encouraging our users to share their experience,” said DealMoon Co-Founder Jennifer Wang. “Things are changing so fast. I think it’s accelerating.”
(And after the panel, we also had the opportunity to see Dalia’s light-up jeans. She actually created these thirteen years ago, she says–but stores weren’t ready for them then. Can we say “ahead of her time” here?)
While the panels and fireside chats highlighted the day, the Wonder Women Tech Conference also included an expo floor, a “Pitch Stage” for jobseekers and numerous workshops and learning opportunities.
Day Two of the conference–which is in its first of three contracted appearances in Long Beach–starts at 9 on Sunday morning. Robotics, wearables, talks and hands-on learning opportunities will all be a part of the program.
And perhaps, for Day One, Womaneuvers Founder Barbara-Ann Yates best summed up what Wonder Women Tech is all about.
“It starts with you,” she said. “In order to be effective, you have to know who you are. Be able to articulate it, and magic will happen.”