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Wittenborg Welcomes Marianne Dorder-Servet: Championing Diversity in Tech In October 2023 I received a request from Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences to speak at the Global People Lunch & Talk. Because of the many invitations and requests we receive and because I only wants to be on stages where I can add real value, I requested for a telephone conversation to get some clarification. After this telephone conversation I said yes and we planned my presentation. It was a good decision. On June 13, I spoke with a full room of students of Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences. It was a very interactive talk with many questions from the students. For example questions about how they can combine their expertise with technology. Also questions about how we take into account EU regulations and the impact of the elections on what we are doing. It was a very thoughtfull conversation. I also became to know the lecturer Amy Abdou. An important connection for our network. A journalist has written an article about my exchange with the students. To read the full article see the link in the comments. Some paragraphs from the article are: "As for addressing misconceptions and challenges in IT, Dorder-Servet stated, "In most cases, I’m underestimated. Because people underestimate me, I can surprise them in both positive and negative ways." She emphasised the importance of refusing to be boxed into categories like diversity and free services: "We are an IT knowledge-oriented organisation with black women as our primary target group. If you want diversity then you have to invest in diversity." Thank you students, lecturers and Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences. It was good to be at your location. Greetings, Marianne Dorder-Servet #stichtingzvvt #zwartevrouwenvoortechnologie #zwartevrouwen #vrouwenindeict #ict #zvvt #tech #techjobs #WittenborgUniversityofAppliedSciences #technology #diversity #wittenborguniversity

The work of women in science needs to be told and known, to make it a source of inspiration for all young women starting their careers in STEM subjects. That's why I'm loving the series of articles by WIRED titled "Women in STEM”, offering interesting portraits of women who have left and are leaving their mark. Like Nergis Mavalvala, Dean of the MIT School of Science. In this article Dr. Mavalvala explains how her passion for physics and the questions behind the mysteries of the universe led her to study gravitational waves. Most importantly, Dr. Mavalvala shares reflections that prove invaluable not only in academia but also in her everyday work. Two in particular are of great inspiration to me: - Working with young people: she wants students to know that they shouldn’t be afraid to jump in. Getting contaminated by fresh ideas is always a good idea. - Asking questions. As she explains, it is the basis of science and discovery. And, I would add, it is the basis of curiosity and motivation that allows us to change, each in our own field, one step at a time, the world around us. You can find the other articles published so far here: https://lnkd.in/dtEyigVa And to dive even deeper into this topic, I recommend watching the excellent 2016 movie "Hidden Figures", which casts light on the essential yet hardly ackowledged contribution that three female, black scientists gave to NASA during the Space Race in the 1960s.

I'm thrilled to visit the University of Reading tomorrow for an International Women's Day event, where I'll deliver two sessions for early career researchers, lecturers, and professors. We'll discuss potential options outside academia and how to prioritize yourself, whether you're staying in or leaving academia. 👊 I'm going ahead and tackling the BS around resilience and imposter syndrome! We'll examine the narrow context of various "excellence" metrics, how they neglect many people who are seen as misfits, create a competitive culture, and fail to measure excellence more widely. We'll talk about why women leave academia, especially during mid-career stages. The toxicity of academia often makes women feel stuck, unchallenged, and unable to grow. So what can they do? Don't worry; there's a way out We'll break down what success means to us! 💛 💪 And reframe failure as protection, a source of awareness of ourselves and the systems we find ourselves in, and consider how women are rocking the business world with their entrepreneurial spirit! We'll explore career options outside academia while connecting with all of our skills and knowledge - not just the knowledge gained in the ivory tower. Much of our education happens outside those walls! I'll then provide a skills workbook I created, encouraging empowerment and self-awareness. We'll consider how our skills, experiences, and approach to life can be leveraged for alt-ac careers. And lastly, how community can provide much-needed support! I'm excited to inspire this new community of academics and hopefully make them feel ready to take on the world!

According to a recent National Academies’ report, women of color remain underrepresented in tech fields. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is hoping to change that. 👏 Action Collaborative on Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech is a new initiative that is working to increase the number of non-white women in STEM-related fields. This initiative is made up of 35 government, higher ed and nonprofit institutions and employers, who will collaborate on future efforts to make STEM fields more representative. 🔬 “Changing the culture, climate, norms and values across the tech ecosystem requires cross-sector engagement and participation. It is with this in mind that we hope more higher education, industry, national laboratories, government, and other organizations join us on this journey.” — Jeena Thomas, director of the Action Collaborative. Read more about this important initiative. 👉 https://buff.ly/3vxqBgg

Career Pivoting is projected to accelerate in the next 5-10 years, an outcome of the pandemic. "The Art of the Pivot" conversation is critical for you to define your obstacles and strengthen strategies that others have found successful. - According to McKinsey data, "the most pernicious challenge to parity in the workplace is the BROKEN RUNG—the gender disparity in the first step up from entry level to manager, where women immediately lose ground to men in career advancement." - As a female leader, what will you do to break through from entry level to manager . . . to cross the BROKEN RUNG and beyond?

Attending conferences can be beneficial for personal and professional development in various ways: 💜💜 1. Networking Opportunities: Conferences provide a platform to connect with peers, experts, and professionals in your field. Networking can lead to collaborations, job opportunities, and valuable relationships. 👋🏾👋🏾 2. Knowledge Sharing: Conferences feature presentations, workshops, and panel discussions by industry leaders and researchers. You can gain insights into the latest trends, research findings, and best practices in your field. 💭💭 3. Professional Development: Conferences offer opportunities to enhance your skills, knowledge, and expertise through interactive sessions, training workshops, and educational sessions. 📊📊 4. Exposure to New Ideas: Conferences expose you to diverse perspectives, ideas, and approaches from speakers and attendees. This can spark creativity, innovation, and fresh thinking in your work. 💡💡 5. Personal Growth: Conferences offer a chance for personal growth, self-reflection, and self-improvement. You can learn from others' experiences, gain new perspectives, and challenge your own assumptions. 🤝🏾🤝🏾 6. Inspiration and Motivation: Conferences bring together like-minded individuals passionate about their field. Being surrounded by motivated professionals can inspire and energize you, reigniting your passion for your work. 🌻🌻 Overall, attending conferences provides a valuable opportunity for professional networking, learning, growth, and development, making it a worthwhile investment of time and resources. 💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 ‼️‼️‼️BWICR Conference 2024‼️‼️‼️‼️ 📣 Early bird tickets for the Black Women In Clinical Research Conference are now on sale! Don't miss the chance to attend this amazing event. 🎉 Stay tuned for the exciting program that we have in store for you. Don't wait until the last minute to purchase your ticket! Get yours now at https://lnkd.in/e6etK29r Early bird ticket sales end on 07 Apr 2024. #bwicr #clinicalresearchassociate #conference #clinicaltrial #clinicalresearch #clinicalresearcHER #clinicalresearchassociate

All month we at Fable 🎊 celebrate Women's History 🎉 , and what better way to honor the specific contributions of women, than to recognize their stories 📑 . The world knows her as Hedy Lamarr, a noteworthy beauty and film star; what went under the radar was her brilliant mind and penchant for invention, including the technology that would one day form the basis for WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth communication systems! 🤯 Learn more about the incredible true story of this scientist and glamour icon: read The New York Times Bestseller "The Only Woman in the Room", on Fable.

During the International Day Against Racism and Discrimination, it is important to talk about #justice in technological systems. "Justice is essential to consider, especially given the increasing complexity of technological systems related to societal issues like energy transition, urban planning, and artificial intelligence." Says Ibo Poel, van de, Scientific Director at Delft Design for Values Institute. An example of justice in the design process is recognizing and addressing the existing inequalities in society. For instance, medical technology is primarily tested on white male subjects, resulting in healthcare inequalities for women or people of colour. Recognition justice prompts designers to create tests considering #diversity in gender, ethnicity, and other relevant factors. In the pursuit of just design, Delft Design for Values Institute is a pioneer, actively involved in creating awareness, providing guidance, and fostering a dialogue on justice in technological design. Interested in this topic? The Delft Design for Values Institute invites you to the Share Fair: Design for Justice on June 4th! ⚖ Read more about just design and upcoming events: https://lnkd.in/eAx29a2V