Despite sixty years of space exploration, gender inequality has kept women from being equally represented in the space industry. At present, 656 individuals have traveled to space. Less than 12% were women. To date, there are just 12 countries that have sent female astronauts into space. Clearly, it’s time to change those stats.

Cosmic Girls Foundation is looking for six girls from all around the world to train so one of them can reach the stars 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟.

Women in Tech Netherlands is proud to have our beloved chapter member, Selen Demir, hosting an exclusive interview with Dr. Mindy Howard, Founder and CEO of Cosmic Girls Foundation, on 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟰𝘁𝗵, 𝟭𝟴:𝟯𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗧!

The space industry’s long-term sustainability depends upon broadening the astronaut talent pool and space industry pipelines.

Cosmic Girls is driven to play a part in these developments for two reasons.

First, they want to bring as many qualified individuals into space programs as possible.

Second, as space travel becomes an industry, they want to do everything they can to equip young girls to be part of the conversation – and participation!

Until now, space travel has been shaped by the concerns of men. Cosmic Girls knows that space travel must also be informed by voices that represent women, the other half of humankind.

Join us for a COSMIC conversation!

If you clicked on this blog post, it’s probably because you are a young woman trying to find her path while starting a professional life in the middle of a pandemic.
Well, hello there! It’s very nice to meet you!

I am Rita Prota, 22 years old (almost 23!), I am Italian, but I grew up in France. I now live in The Netherlands and I just (finally) obtained my beloved master’s degree in biotechnology engineering. Passionate by life sciences communication, I aspire to work in this field, and I am starting my professional journey here in The Netherlands.

During my whole life, the main idea that my mom would try to make me understand was “Never give up, always stay determinate and at one point, you will achieve your goal”.

I know, maybe you are thinking “Well, nice to meet you too Rita, but I am seeking experienced professional advice”.

Yes, I might not be a super experienced professional, but I am writing to you because I understand you. I understand in which position you might be, I understand what you might think, what anxious thoughts might invade your mind…What is going to happen next? Am I going to succeed in what I really want to do? What about my student loan? Am I going to be able to be financially independent? Is this pandemic going to continue for long? What to do? Where to go?

We are young professionals trying to build a career, and suddenly, Mister Covid-19 arrived and canceled all our plans, all our ambitions of a promising future. I feel you!

I am writing to you because I would like to tell you to not give up. Dare to reach out to professionals, dare to be determined in what you want, even more, dare to be obstinate!

Us women – especially young women- tend to under-estimate ourselves. We don’t usually dare to put ourselves out there. We usually think we are not good enough.
What I can tell you in my -short but intense- working experience is that you have to take initiatives, that you don’t have to hesitate to reach out to someone, you have to show the world your value! Yes, YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH AND EVEN BETTER THAN “GOOD ENOUGH”!

Because, let’s be honest. If reaching out to someone doesn’t work the way you wanted, this person would lose a brilliant professional…but what would you lose? Nothing…thank you, next.

What I would like to tell you is to PERSEVERE. Hard work will always pay back.

This strange Covid-19 period might change everything and make it very difficult for us to predict our future, but let’s set up new working methods ourselves! Try things that you never dared to try before. You would like to be an entrepreneur but always thought that it was too difficult? TRY! You would like to reach out to someone on LinkedIn but don’t feel legitimate enough? TRY! Try your ideas, spread your creativity, build your path and achieve your objectives. It might take some time, but don’t loose hope.

If Covid-19 puts distance between us and our dreamed professional life, let’s destroy this distance by trying things that not even Covid-19 would have thought about!

What I can also advice you, is don’t compare yourself to others. Each individual has a different path, different ambitions, a different rhythm.

Of course, all this doesn’t mean that you can’t have down moments or sometimes be disappointed.
In this case, continue to reach out. Don’t reach out to professionals of course while you have a mental breakdown, this might not turn as good… but reach out to your friends, to your parents and even to Women in Tech if you feel like it! We will be happy to help if needed!
There will always be someone to cheer you up and to remind you to not give up.
Don’t stay alone. Let’s lift each other up!

Our generation is creative, proactive, passionate and caring about our planet. Let’s show everyone that yes, even with a pandemic, we can make things work, we can work hard to achieve our dreams. Let’s help each other to stay positive and to persevere.

How badass will we appear in front of our kids in 15 years while telling the story about how we built a perfectly splendid career during a pandemic? 😉

Thinking of a job in Tech? – Listen to Aurélie Krau to find out how to follow your passion for Tech fearlessly!

Want to get into the mind of a Recruiter? – Listen to Jacqueline de Werker-Schep to learn how to present yourself best!

Both our speakers are true Tech-women. We welcome anyone who is currently searching for a job, thinking of switching jobs, or wants to get that next promotion!

This session will lift you up and inspire you to be in control during the process of finding a new job succesfully. Jacqueline will tell you all about what goes on in the minds of in-house and external talent acquisition tigers and (Tech) recruiters.

You will walk away with dos and don’ts that help you be prepared and present yourself in the best way possible. Aurélie is a true Tech-geek and will take you on her inspiring journey of how she got into Tech and made her career dreams come true.

Join us!

New research has revealed the importance of Role Models for girls and women of all ages in STEM. In this 4-part Masterclass series, you will learn from experts and Role Models in the field of Tech, and become a next generation Role Model for women and girls of all ages in STEM!

When? One 2-hour Course each month, 19:00 – 21:00 CET, September through December 2020!

Where? Online .. sign up now to claim your seat in this unique Masterclass series and be prepared to participate in ALL 4 COURSES to maximize your learning and experience!

Thurs 10 September 2020, 19:00 – 21:00 CET:

• 1st Course: YOUR PERSONA
• Welcome & Introduction!
• Programme: Storytelling, Pitching Ideas, and Crafting Your Resume/CV

Thurs 8 October 2020, 19:00 – 21:00 CET:

• 2nd Course: YOUR PASSIONS
• Presentations by Role Models on Key Learning from Course #1
• Programme: Personal Brand, Deep Mining your Passions-Values-Talents, and Rockstar Media Presence

Thurs 12 November 2020, 19:00 – 21:00 CET:

• 3rd Course: YOUR PRESENCE
• Presentations by Role Models on Key Learning from Course #2
• Programme: Authentic Leadership, Mentoring and Mentee-ing, and Building your Power Network

Thurs 10 December 2020, 19:00 – 21:00 CET:

• Presentations by Role Models on Key Learning from Course #3
• Wrap Up, Pay it Forward
• Role Model Graduation!

Let’s close the gap together for girls and women in tech and become the Role Models we want to see!

We teamed up with Bol.com and Hello Mentor for this inspiring “Women in Tech The Netherlands Insights” session! We aim to inspire you by sharing the career journeys of great female and technology leaders and teach you practical tips on how to take charge of your career.

18.30-18.35h: Opening by Gaby Verwegen and Savana ter Burg, Community Leaders at Women in Tech NL

18.35-18.45h: Intro by Dr. Cara Antoine, President & Chairwoman at Women in Tech NL

18.45-19.05h: Wieneke Keller, IT Architect, Bol.com on “How an agile career approach gave me opportunities I never thought of! “

19.05-19.25h: Nathalie Neesen, IT Manager and Community Lead of Internationals, Bol.com on “Embrace your mistakes, imperfections, talents, and strengths and enjoy the pace of your own personal journey. “

19.25-19.45h: Quincy Dalh, Founder, Hello Mentor on “How mentoring could change lives and the value of mentoring. “

19.45-20.00h: Q&A panel with all speakers and Closing by Gaby Verwegen and Savana ter Burg

Women in Tech Netherlands brought together two amazing women from the region to discuss how performance, empowerment and happiness on July 16! Here below is the replay, in case you missed this interesting session!

Women in Tech Netherlands bring together two amazing women from the region to discuss performance, empowerment and happiness.

18.00 – 18.15 (CET)

Intro by Women in Tech

18.15-19.00 (CET)

Frenske van den Dries

Creating a high-performance mindset to help you achieve success, confidence and happiness

High performers are people who learn faster. During this workshop, I want to give insights into how the brain works and how you can change your learning mindset from following ‘instructions’ to personal awareness. This will enable you to see without judgement and instinct to control, getting rid of anxiousness to fail and low acceptance. We will use a few models to give insights into your (unconscious) behaviour, such as the chimp paradox.

Set up: Interactive presentation with a few exercises to make it personal. Pre-work: watch video: https://vimeo.com/159347844

19.00-19.30 (CET)

Lidia Zykova, WOW Humans!

Empowering from within

We will explore the notion of ME (her latest development) and build up on the ways to build a self-empowering ecosystem by feeding what’s true to us. Also, by looking up to others that inspire us, but starting from within.

Join us July 16 from 6pm CET!