Bridgetalk Basel December 5th, 2012

1. Empowering Women in Tech -
Lessons from Rails Girls Zurich
by
Stella Schieffer

2. 13% Women in ICT

3. Switzerland is slacking, why?

4. «We have a massive image problem»
Abraham Bernstein, Professor for Computer Science, Universität Zürich
Image-Problem
Technical, abstract, mathematical
Life in front of the computer
Computer Scientists
Shy, badly dressed, eating pizza, drinking coke
Fear of being the only woman
Fear to standout, lacking confidence
Cultural prejudice
Technical jobs are not for girls

5. Why are women an asset?
Users Developers
20-30 year old men develop for
20-30 year old men

6. New Perspectives
Understand customer problems, develop & implement solutions
Communicative & interactive
Colorful & creative
Artistic

7. Rails Girls
Rails Girls
First experience in Software craftsmanship.

8. Rails Girls
Hands on, minds on.
Building an international network of volunteers with an open
source stack of coding curriculum to teach technology. We want to
give girls confidence & a global network.

9. Rails Girls
30 Girls, 10 Coaches, 2 Days

10. Rails Girls
First started in Helsinki 2010,
Now in Berlin, Washington, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Kyoto,
Rotterdam, Riga, Munich, Austin, Dublin, Prague, Dallas, Cologne...

11. Rails Girls Zurich

12. Impressions
http://vimeo.com/53032561

13. Women can be excited
about IT & web development
It needs a
• Welcoming atmosphere to open up
– Good Food & Drinks
– Great Event Space
• Active Coaches & Personal Support
– Girls are shy to ask questions
– Simple explanations to a flood of new techy words

14. What do girls need
to continue

15. Get Involved
• Active Supporters/Promoters
• Coaches
• Sponsors
– Space for Workshops
– Events: Food, Drinks...

16. Get involved!
Like us, follow us, Help out
Rails Girls Zurich
@railsgirls_zrh
contact@railsgirls.ch

17. Rails Girls is coming to Basel