By Jaqui Fernandez 

A study by the Girl Scout Research Institute shows 74 percent of teen girls are enthusiastic about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects, but in Indiana, women represent only about 28 percent of the tech workforce.

This significant discrepancy raises important questions about the barriers preventing these talented young women from entering and thriving in the tech industry. What factors are contributing to this gap between interest and representation? It is crucial for Indiana to address these issues by implementing targeted support programs, fostering mentorship opportunities, and creating inclusive educational pathways. By investing in initiatives that bridge this gap, such as Mission 41k, Indiana can help transform the landscape of the tech workforce and ensure that the growing number of young women interested in STEM have the support they need to succeed and contribute to the field.

Governor Eric Holcomb’s proclamation designating September 15 – 22, 2024, as Women IN Tech Week is a pivotal step in Indiana’s journey towards fostering inclusivity and innovation in technology.

Indiana has long produced legendary basketball players, and recently welcomed top female basketball players such as Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. This summer we have witnessed women achieving parity at the Paris 2024 Olympics.  It is the first Olympic Games to achieve full gender parity, with women representing 50 percent of all athletes.

My hope is that support for gender parity and the celebration of women does not remain inside sporting arenas, but transcends into all areas, especially in growing to diversify our tech workforce here in Indiana.

I see Women IN Tech week as a great opportunity to build on this momentum, especially as emerging technology creates new and exciting positions and opportunities. Indiana must remain focused on ensuring women and other historically disadvantaged groups have equal opportunity to fill those exciting roles in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity to name just two of the most areas currently in high demand.

The week’s events offer all of us opportunities to hear stories about women in tech and the trailblazing impact they have had on members of their community and to meet and network with women across all sectors in the state. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by women making their mark in tech like TechPoint leaders Ting Gootee, Chelsea Linder, Kristen Elfering and others, but I’m also eager to learn about stories I have never come across before and for this chance to connect with more women in tech.

In celebration of the upcoming week, I want to highlight two women in tech who have impacted me.

• Mary Ryan: Mary Ryan displays the many opportunities an individual can have within the tech ecosystem. Our paths crossed when we were both colleagues at Lev, where she helped showcase to me, early on in my career, the different roles in the tech industry. Mary currently serves as the Executive Business Partner at Stitch, a Martech Consulting and Business Services company. She has been an executive assistant for multiple tech companies here in Indiana, helping chief executive officers remain focused on the company’s goals and essentially keeping the company running towards those goals. She was also recently recognized with the Leadership Award by the Admin Awards. Mary was highlighted for her servant leadership and leading by example with tech certifications. Her work has immensely helped her tech startup company to continue to excel in Indiana and highlight the different roles one can have in the tech ecosystem.

• Crystal Bell: Crystal Bell is a bright young leader who is a force to be reckoned with. I had the opportunity to serve under her in the Orr Fellowship while she was the Chief of Staff. In this role, she inspired all of her colleagues to go out and make an impact in not only our careers, but also our local Indianapolis community. Crystal currently serves as a technology program manager at Open Lane, working closely with the Chief Technology Officer to advance OPENLANE's transformative initiatives. Outside of fostering tech growth for her company, she volunteers as a Big Sister with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Indiana and hosts the Startup Executive podcast, where she interviews current executives on what it takes to become an effective startup executive. Crystal inspires me to prioritize pouring into the next generation and sharing our community's stories.

I challenge you to share stories of others who have impacted with you, whether it be on LinkedIn, or just over lunch with friends. This isn’t boasting or bragging: it’s shining a light on accomplishments, that for too long have remained in the shadows. In celebrating these inspirational stories, we can encourage other women to take a chance, to launch their own companies or make other positive change.

How will you celebrate the inaugural Indiana Women in Tech week? What can you do to inspire the next generation to strive for careers in tech?

I encourage you to take time to reflect on the women in your lives who have made an impact within the Indiana tech communities and to celebrate them. You can do that by giving them a shoutout in a meeting, writing a personal note, sharing their story on your social media accounts or some other forum. I guarantee you that your words will have a positive impact. They might even inspire someone to take step that changes her world, and ours.

Want to learn more about Women IN Tech Week on September 15-22, 2024? Be sure to read up on all events happening on the Women in Tech Week website and look for me at one of these or some of the other events that will be announced soon.

• CTRL+ALT+EMPOWER: A Women in Tech Mentorship Event
• Women IN Tech Week Symposium & Showcase
• There's More to Tech than Coding

I hope to see you at a Women in Tech Week event!