This Friday, the DigiWomen community will officially launch with a website to promote upcoming events and a video starring women in Ireland who are working in the digital space.
The founders of the new interactive community are asking women working in the digital industry – be it in web design, online marketing, software development or what have you – to become part of the launch of DigiWomen by supplying an image of themselves that shows their name and what they do (and they can even include a bit of shameless self-promotion if they like).
Images can be posted to the DigiWomen Facebook page and submissions will be accepted up to lunchtime on Thursday, 7 March.
These images will be featured in the DigiWomen video being produced by John Hyland, which will debut at a lunchtime event in the Fumbally Exchange on Friday, 8 March – which, no coincidence, is also International Women’s Day.
The DigiWomen website will also be launched at this week’s event, which will be key to the community’s aims of promoting members’ work and providing educational supports and information, all the while addressing the gender imbalances that exist today in tech.
“We want to help other people who are doing the same things as ourselves, to just get their names out there and get involved,” said Rita Tobin, online marketing consultant and principal of Asar, and also one of the founders of DigiWomen.
The easy way to become part of the DigiWomen community
Encouraging female entrepreneurship
According to reports from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), increasing the number of female entrepreneurs starting new businesses is critical to a country’s long-term economic growth – but Ireland has one of the lowest rates of female entrepreneurs in the developed world at just 15-18pc.
However, the GEM report also claims that women are five times more likely to set up their own business as a result of meeting other female entrepreneurs, which is why highlighting these women and forging connections is important.
It may be a female-focused initiative, but it is not female-exclusive. Men who would like to see more women enter the digital space are also encouraged to get involved with the community.
Tobin also tells us to expect a series of talks and perhaps workshops later in the year. What not to expect, however, is a “pity party”.
“It’s not like, ‘Look at the little women and see what they’re doing,’” she said. “The fact that we’re women is really beside the point; just look at the amazing work.”
On International Women’s Day, 8 March, Silicon Republic launches Women Invent Tomorrow, a year-long campaign to champion the role of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. Watch this space!
