How Digital Her is encouraging young women into the tech sector

By Kirsten Peters Roebuck, Manchester Digital. 2nd October 2023.

Since launching in 2018, our Digital Her initiative has run numerous events, workshops, schools opportunities and panel talks and now has a community of 350 role models across Greater Manchester. Our mission is to help increase gender representation, diversity and inclusivity in the digital and tech sector. Digital Her exists to address these issues, by inspiring and encouraging more women across Greater Manchester to consider careers in technology and digital.

Here’s some recent updates from our programme:

Ada Lovelace Day events - October 10th

To celebrate Ada Lovelace Day on October 10, Digital Her is running two events, supported by Bruntwood SciTech at No 1 Circle Square, to continue to inspire women around careers in tech. Ada Lovelace was the first person to foresee the potential of the computer, including the ability to create music and art, and her vision went unrecognised for a century.

Our breakfast event will see four members of the Role Model community take the stage for six-minute lightning talks, each connected to the theme of inspiration. Each talk will spark a short discussion over breakfast.

The next event will be a thought-provoking afternoon, with a number of inspirational speakers, the opportunity to meet some of Digital Her’s industry role models as well as activities to help inspire your digital future.

You can sign up to our free Ada Lovelace Day events on October 10 here:

• Breakfast event

• Afternoon event

Digital Her podcast launch

In order to further shine the spotlight on women and tech careers, we have just launched our new Digital Her podcast, which will see the release of five initial episodes. With our podcast, we’re bringing together women from across our 350 strong network of ‘Real Role Models’ - real women currently working in tech in every role and area you can think of - for a series of inspiring conversations.

Whether you’re thinking of moving into tech, want to understand what careers in tech might be like or are already thriving in tech yourself - there is something for everyone.

Episodes focus on particular areas of the industry, like careers in fintech or on big themes that affect us all - like stepping into leadership or understanding and overcoming imposter syndrome.

You can listen to the Digital Her podcast as episodes are released:

http://thedigitalherpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

MentorHER

Our MentorHER programme was launched last year and is now fully up and running, with 40 mentors and mentees. Our mission was to build a sustainable mentoring programme supporting women to thrive in the tech sector in our region. We launched with a fantastic kick-off event, as well as training days for mentors and mentees.

Our aim is to build a community of mentees who, once they have completed the programme, will then ‘pay it forward’ and give back to the next generation of women joining the industry.

Community is a huge part of MentorHER, with participants forging relationships not only with their partner but a whole network of women across Greater Manchester and beyond.

Visit Digital Her to find out more about their work and how to support or sponsor upcoming events.