Women in Tech® is happy to announce the WIT Challenge – Call for Projects 2019
Despite decades of progress towards workplace equality, women remain underrepresented in the technology workforce. The figures speak for themselves: according to Eurostat, just 17% of the people working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) roles across Europe are female – and only 5% of leadership positions in the technology industry are held by women.
Women in Tech® wants to put the spotlight on projects which contribute to bridging the gender gap and that help women and girls embrace Technology.
The Women in Tech® Challenge will be a great opportunity for nominees to showcase their projects. The winners and 3 finalists from each category will be invited to present their project at the Vivatech conference in Paris.
The Women in Tech® Challenge will recognize initiatives that have helped improve diversity and women empowerment in Technology at school, at work, and in society in general. We will be rewarding success stories that can be scaled-up and replicated in all parts of the world.
The technological ecosystem must be representative of all populations for our future to be just and successful. Careers in STEM should be among the most sought after in the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution. There is an urgent need to build a pipeline of skilled women if we want them to play an active role in the sector.
Diversity and inclusiveness are essential in every industry, and they are critical to tech.
President and Founder
Women in Governance
Canada
Prof. CARLOS MORENO
Co-founder & Scientific Director
Chair Entrepreneurship Territory Innovation – Sorbonne Business School | Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne | Think tank “Live in a Living city”
France/Colombia
Dr.CHRISTYL JOHNSON
Deputy Director for Technology and Research Investments
NASA
USA
SIMON DUCHATELET
Entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa and the Middle East
World Bank Group
France
Ana JAKIMOVSKA
Director of Product Management
The Guardian News & Media
U.K.
NIKOLAS BADMINTON
Futurist Speaker, Advisor, Researcher
Exponential Minds
Canada
CAROLYN STEBBINGS
Managing Director, Omniwomen Committee Member
CodeWorldwide
U.K.
JEAN – FRANÇOIS BOISSON
President and CFO
Ouishare
France
LINDALIA SOFIA JUNQUEIRA REIS
Head Management of Hacking.Rio
Hacking HR
Brazil
DAVID SAVAGE
Technology podcast founder/editor/host
Tech Talks
U.K.
AMELTO MONTINARI
CEO and Co-founder
Flutrr
Italy, Spain
FLORENCE PAVAGEAU
Déléguée régionale
La Poste Group
France
TAYO ROCKSON
CEO, 3x TEDx Speaker
Top 40 Millennial Influencer
UYD Management
USA
ISABELLE MICHEL- MAGYARIsabelle Michel-Magyar
HeForShe IMPACT initiative
UN Women
France / USA
EDUCATION
Only 1 STEM student out of 4 is a girl.
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
According to USI data, less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women.
SOCIAL INCLUSION
People belonging to ethnic minorities or from a disadvantaged background are much less likely to study and work in Tech.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
On average only 20% of people working in the technology industry are women and 5% are in management positions.
The winners will be chosen by an international jury of experts. The jury will evaluate the impact of the project, the scalability and reproducibility of the initiative, as well as the originality and clarity of the project presentation.
