By Camas Frank ~
With another Steve Jobs biopic on the horizon, old stereotypes about Silicon Valley and the brains behind modern technology will soon be in the spotlight once again.
Among the tropes perpetrated by the oft-retold tale of Job’s rivalry with Bill Gates and the rise of two tech giants, is that it’s a boy’s game.
Quite the contrary, women have always played a crucial role in humanity’s journey to the Information Age. Before the term “computer” referred to a powerful device carried around by billions of people, it was a job title. Usually staffed by young women, the work entailed long hours of tedious but complex calculations carried out with a pen and paper and a disciplined mathematical mind.
So, what does all that have to do with the Central Coast? Well, it’s a microcosm of society, and society has shifted. There’s a growing backlash against wage disparities, impractical family leave policies and other professional hindrances.
Almost 20 years ago, when Softec was established (now the largest and most recognized software and technology association in the region), women played key roles in many of the companies that the organization drew support and membership from.
In the years since, Softec has focused on promoting technology education, networking and formed subgroups that meet monthly for discussions between CEO’s, designers, 3-D printing enthusiasts, and robotics aficionados. Now they’re making an effort to directly support the female members of their target demographic.
After a well received and well attended Women in Technology themed dinner last February, the organization looked to establish something a little more permanent.
“I love living in this area and am very excited to be working with Softec to get an interest group focused on women,” explained Becki Walker, a San Luis Obispo-based business consultant. “Most business events do not take into account school schedules or families where both spouses are working. My hope is that this group helps fill in this gap and provide women in our varied tech community with an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with each other.”
Softec president, Joshua Erdman, later added that the key was finding a good venue and schedule more conducive to the needs of women who couldn’t always attend the other interest groups.
The schedule that seemed to work best was an 8 a.m. breakfast on the second Tuesday of each month. Held at the Whole Foods Market on Los Osos Valley Road, the event starts after any kids might be packed off to school, but doesn’t require heading Downtown to a cafe. The market has a classroom and meeting room adjacent to sit down dining.
“The Tuesday meeting are permanent,” said Erdman. “We had a fantastic response to the Women in Tech dinner, something like 80 percent of the turnout were the women we wanted to hear from. One of the things we realized is that we hold a lot of events but there’s no childcare available.”
The first event in September also had better turn out than expected he added, with about a dozen local professionals getting together to compare notes.
“It’s an interesting and exciting time right now,” Erdman said. “It’s all an open forum at the moment but we’ll schedule topics and possibly speakers once it’s established and set out.”
For more info and a schedule of event, see: softec.org/groups/women-in-technology.
