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Ultimate Guide to Women in Technology in Minnesota Published: Feb 2017 Produced By:
Ultimate Guideto Women in Technology
in MinnesotaPublished: Feb 2017
Produced By:
IntroTECHdotMN has created a resource that showcases the myriad of organizations across the Twin Cities who have made it their mission to promote and support women in technology. By providing a cohesive overview of the technology ecosystem for women in Minnesota, our goal is that more women interested in tech will be able to find a community of like-minded individuals to further their professional goals. Much like the tech scene itself, we intend for this guide to continue to grow and evolve on a quarterly basis as things are always changing. Thank you for reading.
Jeff PesekLinkedIn
Adrienne Clairmont EngelLinkedIn
Cassi GoozenLinkedIn
01
Table of Contents
Our Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04
Advance IT Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06
Girl Develop It Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07
Minneapolis Mad Women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08
Minnesota Women in Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09
Technovation[MN]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Startup School Femtech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Twin Cities Geekettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Twin Cities Lesbians Who Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
UMN Women in Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Women Leading in Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Women Who Code Twin Cities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Hack the Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
02
Our Method First we scoured our internal database of organizations identified as being focused on women in tech. Then we reached out to peers and asked them if there were others omitted from that list. Finally, we compiled the results, and then paired down based on currently open/active organizations. We probably missed something along the way, so email us [email protected] with any feedback or comments!
03
Overview
ADVANCE IT MINNESOTA
GIRL DEVELOP IT MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS MAD WOMEN
MINNESOTA WOMEN IN TECH
TECHNOVATION[MN] TWIN CITIES
Are you a Legally Recognized Entity?
Chapter Size Membership Base (Developers, Marketers, Sales
Professionals)
Membership Dues
Event Frequency
Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities System
Employers, Students, Educators with IT Talent Interests
Nonprofit
Nonprofit
Operated under Ninja Media International
(for-profit)
Nonprofit
1000
1500
2,183
450+
400+
Women who are interested in learning how to code
Mostly those in creative/ad agencies, we also have
technology folks
The entire spectrum, from novice to ninja
Middle and High School girls who want to learn how to code and technology professionals
who want to inspire them.
No
No
No
Nobut some events
have a fee
Nobut some events
have a fee
Mn Aspirations in Computing Event is annual, with SPARCS program offerings occurring
year-round.
We offer programming/events monthly. Whether it is a social event, a workshop like Code & Coffee, or a weekend class, we
have something to offer members to stay active with us frequently!
We have events at least once per quarter with additional
pop up events throughout the year depending on support and
funding and need.
Usually monthly, but plans are in the works to have more regular programming and class
opportunities.
We host several coding events for girls and facilitate the Global
Technovation Challenge here in Minnesota, which runs from
Jan-Apr each year. Appapalooza is typically in early May.
04
Overview
TWIN CITIES GEEKETTES
TWIN CITIES LESBIANS WHO TECH
UMN WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY
WOMEN LEADING IN TECHNOLOGY
WOMEN WHO CODE TWIN CITIES
For ProfitWomen in tech within any
sector of technology.
For Profit
Nonprofit
Nonprofit
Nonprofit
150
20
255
225
604
Some of our members include persons who work in Internet
Marketing, Data Security, Informatics, Customer Service,
HealthCare and Website Design.
Students, Staff, & Faculty - Developers, Sysadmins, Professors,
Managers, and other women interested in technology and/or supporting women in non-
traditional careers
All levels of women and men in technology
Mostly developers or those interested in coding
No
No
No
No
No
Monthly
Twin Cities Lesbians Who Tech has a once a month (2nd Thursday of the month) gathering. Lesbians
Who Tech has two national summits every year.
Monthly
Quarterly
Once a Month
05
Are you a Legally Recognized Entity?
Chapter Size Membership Base (Developers, Marketers, Sales
Professionals)
Membership Dues
Event Frequency
Advance IT Minnesota
How do you measure success?Qualitative and quantitative data is collected and analyzed to inform future program direction.
Membership BenefitsEmployers have access to high school, college and recent graduates to fulfill their talent needs; students have access to employers for experiential learning, networking and support; educators benefit from employer relationships to ensure students receive relevant learning experiences.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?Russell Fraenkel - DirectorWilson Garland - Executive Director Amy Lane - Director
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?Yes, Education-based talent development strategiesMission
Advance IT Minnesota engages employers, educators, and learners to develop a more robust IT Workforce in Minnesota.
How do you fulfill this objective?Through collaboration strategies involving employers, educators and students.
Volunteering Opportunities?Yes, many avenues for employers, students and educators to be engaged in our business strategies.
Contact: Russ Fraenkel
advanceitmn.org
06
Girl Develop It Minneapolis
How do you measure success?Our success is measured by the members’ stories themselves. We stay in touch with several active members, so it is exciting to see how they have grown personally and professionally after taking our classes. We inspire them and they inspire us to push boundaries in our own curriculum and other endeavors. Many working women feel that it is a challenge and financial obstacle to go back to school and get a degree in computer science. They are surprised and relieved when they discover GDI because we are an affordable, easy step to consider that can have a lasting impact on their career path. If we are driving awareness and inspiring women to pursue their goals then we have succeeded.
Membership BenefitsWomen feel part of a community. It’s a great group to be involved with if you are especially new to the IT field and want to learn from other women of diverse backgrounds with all sorts of web dev and programming experience. They can actively stay engaged with us at our free workshops, become a TA after taking some of our classes, engage with fellow members on Slack for help with coding questions, and much more.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?Kelsey Siqveland and Amy Gebhardt are the Chapter Leaders and we have a leadership team that encompasses us and 3 other woman.
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?Through in-person classes and community support, we help women of diverse backgrounds achieve their technology goals and build confidence in their careers and their every day lives. We are focused on offering affordable and judgement-free opportunities for women interested in learning web and software development. While our classes in the Twin Cities over the last two years have been most appropriate for new coders, we continue to offer unique ways for all women to get involved and feel empowered.
MissionGirl Develop It is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable programs for adult women interested in learning web and software development in a judgment-free environment.
How do you fulfill this objective?GDI offers intro and advanced-level coding classes to women in the metro area, as well as supplemental career-enhancing seminars/workshops. We also encourage our members to build relationships with mentors and volunteers at our social networking events to motivate and inspire one another.
Volunteering Opportunities?Yes several. We are always looking for volunteers to TA, teach, assist with marketing, events, etc. They can find more information and apply on our website.
Contact: Kelsey Siqveland
gdiminneapolis.com
07
Minneapolis Mad Women
Membership BenefitsFor $250 a member/company can become a community supporter. This gets them early access to event tickets and are mentioned on the website and at events.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?See bottom of main page for all board members: mplsmadwomen.com/
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?We focus on having real and candid conversations with our members. We ask the tough questions and don’t take ‘fluff’ for answers. We also believe we put on events that people are really looking for with topics that are relevant for the members.
MissionWe inspire women to pursue their ambitions and achieve professional goals by igniting conversations to bridge the gender gap in the creative community.
How do you measure success?Post event surveys, feedback from members, attendees at events
Volunteering Opportunities?Yes, we are always looking for people to help put on events.
Contact: Alison Beattie
mplsmadwomen.com
08
Minnesota Women in Tech
How do you measure success?Feedback from members, attendance at events, engagement with the group itself. Since my start, I have doubled our numbers and expanded the topics covered by our meetings.
Membership BenefitsFellowship with other women in tech, job opportunities posted, referral and networking opportunities, feeling like you belong to something bigger that can sustain you while you’re working alone in the field.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?Right now it is myself and a couple of the member who act as leadership/coordinators.
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?I feel like we cover a wider spectrum of topics that some of the other groups don’t ever touch on, like multi-media asset creation, open access, and how to handle recruiters, to security, accessibility, and user experience.
MissionTo support women in all aspects of technology, whether they’ve worked in the field for decades, or are just getting their start, this group is a place for learning, support, and encouragement.
How do you fulfill this objective?Monthly meetings on different topics across the spectrum of technology, sharing other group’s events, promoting new technologies and/or ideas and opportunities.
Volunteering Opportunities?Pretty consistently. I try to keep engaged with all of the other groups and pull together people and resources as I can.
Contact: Valerie Lockhart
meetup.com/The-Minnesota-Women-In-Tech-Meetup-Group
09
Technovation[MN]
Membership BenefitsGirls, ages 10-18 - Teams of girls participate in a 12-week technology entrepreneur program where they develop a real-world combination of technical and entrepreneurial skills. Community mentors help walk them through the curriculum which includes ideation, competitive analysis, business modeling, coding, of course, and marketing. At the culmination of the challenge, teams pitch their app at our state pitch event, Appapalooza. Then, 10 teams internationally are selected to fly to Silicon Valley where they pitch to real venture capitalists in the hopes winning $10K in seed funding and help commercializing their app on the Google Play store.
Volunteers - In middle school, 74% of girls express interest in STEM fields, but only 0.4% of female college freshmen plan to major in CS. This lack of participation in such an important and growing field has serious consequences for the future of technical innovation. If you teach a girl to code she can create anything she sees missing in this world and in so doing she will fix something, change something, invent something. Inspire a girl, change her world and maybe yours.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?Shawn Stavseth, Co-Founder and Executive Director; Jean Weiss, Team Recruitment Chair & Global Regional Ambassador; Dan Shand, Team Recruitment Committee; Melissa Cisewski, Marketing Chair; Abby Tuckner, Marketing Committee; Annette Evans, Fundraising Chair; Shawn Leighton, Fundraising Committee; Murid Amini, Operations Chair; Rita Horrigan, Operations Committee; Karen Winkler, Mentor Chair; Eve Poeschl, Mentor Committee; Leib Yardley, Volunteer Chair; Katie Thayer; Mona Phaff, Judging Chair
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?Technovation[MN] is the connective tissue between aspiring girls in tech, ages 10-18, and women in tech, those who mentor them.
MissionTo inspire and empower girls, between the ages of 10-18, to leverage technology to make an impact on the communities they are a part of.
How do you fulfill this objective?We host several coding events and facilitate the Global Technovation Challenge here in Minnesota. The Global Technovation Challenge is a 3 month long program that teaches girls how to build a mobile app that solves a problem in their community.
Volunteering Opportunities?Yes, we are a volunteer-led organization. Whether you have one hour to give or more we would love your help. There are numerous volunteer opportunities available - please visit technovationmn.org to learn more.
How do you measure success?We measure success by the number of girls we reach and the number of girls who complete our program.
Contact: Shawn Stavseth
technovationmn.org
10
Startup School Femtech is a full day crash course on entrepreneurship and startups taught by female founders & CEOs of Minnesota-based technology companies.
Topics covered range from bootstrapping to fundraising, lean startup to scaling out, and everything in between related to growing a tech business in today’s world.
Year after year, Startup School Femtech delivers timely inspiration, practical advice, and quality networking with women in Minnesota tech who are leading by example.
Contact: [email protected]
startupschool.tech.mn
Startup School Femtech
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FEATURED EVENT
Twin Cities Geekettes
Membership BenefitsWe have a private Slack channel and Facebook group and a strong TC community.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?See this list - http://www.geekettes.io/cities/twincities/ambassadors
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?We focus on catered events for women who are in tech in different ways.
MissionGeekettes is a new organization facilitating relationships between women in the technology sector.
How do you fulfill this objective?Through hosting monthly events for women in tech.
Volunteering Opportunities?Not formally.
How do you measure success?Through member feedback.
Contact: Caroline Karanja
geekettes.io/cities/twincities
12
Twin Cities Lesbians Who Tech
How do you measure success?Twin Cities Lesbians Who Tech members feel a sense of support from the group, an outlet to talk about their work environment, and of course a new job, then we are a success.
Membership BenefitsOur members benefit by being a part of a community of support and a networking resource.
Volunteering Opportunities?Yes.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?Most metropolitan cities have a city chapter of Lesbians Who Tech that is lead by 1-2 city directors. There is a national leadership group that provides some funding and guidance for our local chapters activities. More info on our national chapter at http://lesbianswhotech.org/about/.
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?Twin Cities Lesbians Who Tech caters specifically to the LGBTQ community and we are a chapter of an international organization who holds 2 national summits each year and events all over the country.
MissionTwin Cities Lesbians Who Tech is committed to convening queerwomen in technology (and our allies) in a vibrant and inclusive community. We work together to promote the visibility and inclusion of women, LGBTQ people, and people from other backgrounds under-represented in technology. To provide resources to the LGBTQ community and allies who are either working in tech, aspiring to do so, or are interested and connect them to mentors in their field of interest.
How do you fulfill this objective?Twin Cities Lesbians Who Tech provides monthly gatherings locally for people to network and build relationships around technology and two national summit events every year.
Contact: Susan Greve & Erica Kuhlmann
[email protected]; [email protected]
lesbianswhotech.org
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UMN Women in Technology
How do you fulfill this objective?We host monthly events, from informal networking/happy hours to coordinating a more formal Mentorship program, hosting panelists of Male Allies, and speeches on topics of interest to the community.
How do you measure success?We send out frequent survey requests after large events, or asking what types of events people would like to see.
Membership BenefitsHearing about upcoming events and getting to know and/or help other women in the technology field at the University.
Volunteering Opportunities?Yes.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?http://wit.umn.edu/contact-us (Marisa Brandt, KT Cragg, Donna Edelen, Jenniger Englund, Ellen Krachmer*, Lisa Larson, Susam McKinnell, Marianne Moodie, Heather Noble, Jaime Thompson, and Jill Woyak*) * desginates current co-chairs
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?We differentiate by being a free, inclusive resource open to anyone who supports our mission.
MissionWomen in Technology (WIT) formed at the University of Minnesota in 2016 as a community that provides a forum for women to share experiences and resources in a supportive network.
Women who work with technology and students interested in working in technology will grow their professional network, knowledge share with peers, and develop a support system to empower their future careers. We strive to increase diversity in technology on campus at all levels.
Contact: Jill Woyak
[email protected] for steering committee
[email protected] is subscription-based mailing list
wit.umn.edu
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Women Leading in Technology
(Cont.) We believe in “reaching back” to support students studying STEM disciplines. With the help of the MHTA Foundation, WLiT funds an annual scholarship that is given to a female undergraduate student studying a STEM discipline.
How do you measure success?We measure success by increasing our event attendance to bring more people into the community, by helping increase connections, networking and conversations; and by women continuing to move into leadership positions in Minnesota’s tech community.
Membership BenefitsQuarterly events with networking, education, and volunteer opportunities.
Volunteering Opportunities?Through our “Reach Back” initiative, event attendees get a list of volunteer opportunities and ways to help students in STEM.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?Chair: Kim Skanson, VP Information Technology, Cargill Incorporated; Steering Committee: Denise Morelock, Sr. Account Manager, Daugherty Business Solutions; Sara Schlauderaff, President, Venture Solutions; Jennifer Simon, Director of Sales; Kari Toft, CIO SE MN Region, Mayo Clinic; Sarah Wieskus, Business Development Manager, Intel Corporation; MHTA Staff Liaison: Claire Ayling, Events & Data Specialist, MHTA
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?Our events are open to everyone, and provide unique educational opportunities and unmatched networking.
MissionWomen Leading in Technology (WLiT) is a program of the Minnesota High Tech Association that works to promote, educate and empower women in technology across Minnesota. Our goal is to “Connect, Educate and Reach Back.”
How do you fulfill this objective?WLiT works to provide a network for women in technology across industry, level and line of business. We believe that no one stands alone – and strive to create community through the networking and conversations at our quarterly events.
Quarterly events provide learning opportunities in technology, career development, as well as help to promote careers in technology. We also partner with other non-profits to promote the next generation of women leaders as well as women returning into the workplace.
Contact: Claire Ayling
mhta.org/educate/wlit
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Women Who Code Twin Cities
How do you measure success?Diversity statistics are great, but many companies think diversity is a numbers game. Instead, we’re interested in engagement and happiness of our members in their careers. This is much more difficult to track, but in the end, we want women to be engaged and excel.
Membership BenefitsWe’re always looking for new ways to provide benefit to our members. Currently we offer conference scholarships (free or discounted), free educational events, a resource library (with devices and books).
Volunteering Opportunities?We are always looking for more experienced developers to provide mentorship and advice.
Who is on the board or part of group leadership?I’m the sole Director of this network. Caitlin Collins (Nerdery) is one of our Leads and helps organize events.
How do you differentiate from other women in tech groups?41% of women leave tech by their 10th year. Many diversity efforts focus on the pipeline but, our focus is on retainment. We keep the diversity we already have engaged and help them excel in their careers by creating a more welcoming and inclusive culture in tech to improve the careers of the experienced workers.
MissionWomen Who Code (WWCode) is global non-profit dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers. We work to support this generation in being and becoming leaders and role models in the tech industry.
How do you fulfill this objective?We provide a network and community of local developers who identify as women. We also offer conference scholarships and other opportunities to promote career growth. We create connections with our sponsors (local tech companies) and work to educate our local tech community about bias and other issues faced by marginalized groups to improve the tech culture.
Contact: Sarah Olson
womenwhocode.com/twin-cities
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Hack the Gap is a two-day hackathon aimed at creating a high-energy weekend where women from all backgrounds and experience levels can enjoy an accessible, approachable, positive experience.
To have fun, connect with others and challenge yourself to build a weekend project with a team. Hack the Gap is a place for women. A safe place to hack and explore and build without the headwinds of inherent bias and sexisim in tech.
Contact: [email protected]
hackthegap.com
May 15 & 16, 2017
FEATURED EVENT
Hack the Gap
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