Fairfax, VA: The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) and the Information Service Industry Association of R.O.C. (CISA) today held its first virtual Women Leaders in Technology Forum, intended to encourage and inspire women who are either presently working in, or are interested in employment within, the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. The forum included notable speakers such as Google Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist Dr. Vint Cerf, one of the Fathers of the Internet, WITSA Chairman Yvonne Chiu, Taiwan Minister of Economic Affairs, Wang Mai-Hua, and Taiwan Digital Minister Audrey Tang. The Forum was host to six exceptional Women Leaders in Technology:
- Ms. Emma Arakelyan – CEO and Founder, Orion Worldwide Innovations, LLC; Formerly Partner at Ernst & Young and Managing Director at Accenture
- Ms. Marie Lou Papazian – Chief Executive Officer at TUMO Center for Creative Technologies
- Ms. Carolina Rossini – Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Portulans Institute
- Ms. Magdalena Yesil – Author, Power UP! How Smart Women Win in the New Economy; Formerly Founding Board Member and First Investor, Salesforce
- Ms. Frances West – Founder, FrancesWestCo; Formerly First Chief Accessibility Officer, IBM
- Nicole T.I. Chan, Former Chairperson of the National Communications Commission, NCC, Taiwan
The panelists provided unique insights into their own careers and backgrounds, revealing important lessons to aspiring women entrepreneurs.
WITSA Chairman Yvonne Chiu noted that while the COVID-19 pandemic poses a set of new challenges for women in the tech sector, in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity. “While the virus has caused many businesses to put hiring plans on hold, WITSA believes the ICT industry is well placed to benefit from the changes COVID-19 has forced on the working population, and more roles in tech for women could be a result”, said Ms. Chiu. “Companies have had to switch to digital incredibly fast and tech has never been more relevant. Jobs will be created in the ICT field and the new remote, flexible ways of working will likely benefit women in significant ways.”
WITSA Secretary General Dr. Jim Poisant noted the importance of gender diversity, which has multiple benefits in technology settings, referring to a research study by the National Center for Women & Information Technology[1]. “This could explain why tech companies have started to invest in initiatives that aim to boost the number of female applicants, recruit them in a more effective way, retain them for longer, and give them greater opportunities for advancement”, stated Dr. Poisant.
A complete recording of the event is available at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1qElR3GIf292dxSu_1DBYMP9t2JhIgSq0?fbclid=IwAR27_qoEO5P-7pjavHwZGzGzswBaO-va4_Jid8W02kGEdFwZBO00JhgAMMY
A complete program is available at https://witsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Women-Leaders-in-Tech-Agenda-scaled.jpg
About WITSA:
The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is the leading recognized international voice of the global ICT industry, whose members from over 80 countries and economies represent more than 90 percent of the world ICT market. WITSA is dedicated to advocating policies that advance industry growth and development; facilitating international trade and investment in ICT products and services; strengthening WITSA’s national industry associations; and providing members with a broad network of professional contacts.
WITSA members are leaders in a globally interconnected marketplace. Because the challenges facing the ICT industry are undisputedly global in nature, WITSA members work together to achieve a shared vision on important issues of common interest. WITSA makes it possible for its members — ranging from Mongolia and Argentina to Kenya and the United States — to identify common issues and priorities, exchange valuable information, and present a united position on industry issues. For more information on WITSA, please visit www.witsa.org
View it online! https://witsa.org/witsa-holds-first-virtual-women-leaders-in-technology-forum/