The Women in Technology movement aims for an equal representation amongst a typically male dominated work such as web development and coding, often women in these sectors have to work much harder just to get a foot in the door. The community offers a huge scope of support, programs and resources to progress women in technology – Cisco is currently encouraging female students to pursue careers in IT, and are very much behind the Women in Technology movement.
Recently Cisco has addressed topics like bridging the gender gap, the ‘Internet of Women’, and are now calling out for female students to pursue careers in technology.
Recently, Cisco hosted its yearly Girls Power Tech event, hosted in their Dubai. Here, 75 female students from several schools were given the chance to connect with technology experts, Cisco directors, and other female role models. Here, the girls were further educated about STEM and assured, that smart is the new cool.
Going hand in hand with the UN’s global Girls in ICT Day, Cisco’s Girls Power Tech is a worldwide teaching initiative. It uplifts and pushes women to consider an education, and or career path in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Otherwise known as STEM.
The students have further inspired with thought-provoking talks by the likes of Azza Al Mughairy, a huge advocate of anti-bullying campaigns.And, Fatima Al Kaabi, the UAE’s youngest inventor and winner of the UAE Pioneer Award.
‘Cisco has multiple initiatives aimed at encouraging young females to pursue careers and education in technology and they stem from our conviction that gender inclusion and empowering women is vital to business and society,’ stated Mike Weston, Vice President of Cisco Middle East.
Cisco has put the Women in Technology very high up their list of priorities for almost 20 years, and pride themselves on having a diverse, yet equal workforce. In the near future, they plan to hold similar events. These are set to take place in over 100 Cisco offices across the globe, hoping to reach over 5000 young females/students and roping in nearly 2000 Cisco employees.
