Women in Technology Club
Learning of a Lifetime
- What is WIT?
WIT is an educational, confidence-building venue that will give access to professional success stories and insights to the power of networking. This accessibility will also provide a platform to experience various technological careers and learn more about the advancing field of technology and the newest technologies currently being marketed as well as a venue to work on projects involving technology. Also this club will give quality skills to women that are intersted in the fields of advertising and business as well.
- The Club at SHS
This club advances the reach to women and inspires them to become more involved in technology as well. Our mission will be to advance women in technological skills that will empower women for a lifetime by providing advocacy, leadership development, networking, mentoring and technology education. My vision for this club is that it will be the premier organization empowering women to be architects of change in the technology industry. Hence, we will have a large number of Sherwood women graduates attending top universities in our nation that deals with technological careers and subsequently, we will be reading headline articles about how Sherwood's graduates were responsible for developing responsible technological solutions. Making our world a better place!
In order to achieve this mission and vision, we will have:
- Monthly speakers (that are successful women in industry) to come and discuss a variety of topics with a diverse array of speakers. Each meeting will have a networking and educational component.
- Six Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to address audience-specific issues—Diversity Outreach, Executive Women, Women Business Owners, Technology, Sales & Marketing and Young Professionals. (depending on enrollment, this may be started in the 2011-2012 year)
- "Women Mentoring Women" - this formally structured Mentor/Protégé Program provides for a member protege to obtain advice from a senior member of WIT.
- Professional presentations from key speakers on protege-selected topics and networking among all participants. (depending on each student's level of commitment and involvement with the club, they will be assigned to a mentor; after this year, they will be given a Big Sister status and they in turn will be able to an associate mentor to new club members.)
- Attending the Annual Leadership Awards Banquet, recognizing women in technology organizations or affiliated organizations for their outstanding leadership and accomplishments in the areas of mentoring, entrepreneurship, and technology.
- Attending special events facilitate networking and draw attention to Sherwood's WIT and/or the technology industry.
- Why WIT at Sherwood?
Previously to teaching, I worked in the high tech industry with increasing levels of responsibility from a systems engineer to CEO and Chairperson. Women are definitely a minority in the industry, yet they do have a lot of offer. It is my inspiration and previous experience with WIT that I believe our Sherwood students can and will benefit by giving them an opportunity to explore and to become well-informed first-hand on what the industry offers. Every year (including this recession), roughly 500,000 jobs go unfilled because there are not enough qualified people to work in this industry.
WIT, the professional organization, was founded in 1994 and represents professionals who work for technology companies or those that support technology companies in the metropolitan Washington DC region. Members of WIT, the professional organization, are characterized as:
- - 63% have been in the technology industry for more than 10 years; 19% have 6-10 years of experience
- - 33% hold senior management positions and 30% are owner, principal, or sole proprietor
- - 47% work for consulting/professional services companies, 12% work for software development companies, and 5% work for telecommunications companies
- - 30% are in sales and marketing roles; 22% in technical roles; and 42% in management
The most important result is that Sherwood's female student population needs to know that they can do anything.
More resources that create compelling evidence for this focus can be found here.
- When does WIT meet?
The club meets once a week on Wednesdays during lunch to plan, learn and prepare for the event(s).
In order for the club to be successful, the team members will meet certain criteria and make a commitment to the organization, such as eligibility, attendance, and teacher recommendation. Parents would have to agree to the level of commitment and be supportive to their kids so that we don't have someone drop out. Multiple opportunities will be given for developing leadership and working with others.
Club Leadership
Congratulations to the following ladies who will be serving in leadership roles in the 2011-2012 school year:
- Elaine Bell: President
- Brooke O’Connell & Erin Lakey: Co-Vice Presidents
- Devayani “Devi” Srinivasan: Secretary
- Lenny Mendez: Treasurer
- Erin Lakey: Webmaster
This club meets weekly during lunch in A109. Mrs Pam Johnson is its club sponsor.