The Women Tech Council in Utah is thinking ahead. They first asked, “What will it take for there to be more women in technology, knowing that currently there are over 4,000 technology jobs open in their state, but women represent only 23 percent of the state’s technology workforce?” Their answer was “SheTech Explorer Day”.
This year’s event drew a record 2,000 high school girls from across Utah for a day-long event intended to inspire girls to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on experience and mentoring.
Since its’ launch in 2014 over 12,000 girls have passed through SheTech, and the Council reports that some participants are now enrolled in university STEM degrees based on their experience at SheTech. The growth of the program has also forced its move to a larger venue.
“After five years, SheTech is shifting the career trajectories of thousands of girls at a critical point in their lives to keep them in STEM,” said Cydni Tetro, president of Women Tech Council. “Helping these girls enter the talent pipeline and stay engaged has a direct impact on the growth of Utah’s economy, and is an essential part of helping advance the entire technology sector by better leveraging talent to create high performance environments.”
The Council continues to build upon the initial program with this year’s event pairing girls with 700 mentors from 200 of Utah’s leading technology companies including Adobe, Ancestry, AT&T, and others. Hands-on activities included robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, genetic testing, 3D printing and diamond cutting.
Participants benefit from ongoing engagement that includes industry internships, receiving information about college scholarships and aid in finding relevant courses that match their interests.
