Pursuit’s cohorts are 50 percent women.
But this isn’t the way the tech industry looks as a whole: women are still vastly underrepresented in the industry. In fact, they hold just 27 percent of entry-level and 14 percent of executive-level tech jobs.
A group of Pursuit Fellows is working to change that reality. They’re making women’s voices heard in tech.
They founded the Women’s Affinity Group (WAG). Launched by members of Pursuit’s current cohort, the group is dedicated to creating an environment where women can voice their thoughts, perspectives, and concerns around their professional and personal experience in tech. They also share resources and opportunities that enable women to thrive in the industry.
We sat down with the leaders of the WAG — Muna Sharma, 5.1 Full Stack Web Days; Rupa Datta, 5.2 Full Stack Web Nights and Weekends; Manny Yusuf, 5.3 iOS; and Ashley Lewis, 5.4 Android — about the group and their goals for making tech more inclusive.
Pursuit: Why did you start the WAG?
-
Rupa: To lay down the foundations for a support network for the women and non-binary Fellows of Pursuit. Once we graduate and enter the tech industry, we can expect to encounter biases in the workplace that could prevent us from rightfully thriving. This is where the WAG can serve as an enduring resource when trying to counteract these biases.
-
-
Pursuit: Why do we need women’s groups in the tech space?
-
Muna: Women in tech often feel like they’re not being heard. During our first meeting, we went around talking about everything that was going on in our personal and professional lives. We got stuff off our chests. Up until that moment, I didn’t feel like I, as a woman, could be vulnerable in a professional setting. Our first meeting showed me that there was really a need for a group that gave women in tech a platform to speak their minds. From then on, the women in our cohort felt more connected to one another. We knew that we could turn to one another for help, inspiration, or just a shoulder to cry on.
-
-
Pursuit: How is the WAG creating safe spaces for women?
-
Muna: A great example is our recent Galentine’s Brunch! Pursuit Fellows and Staff gathered to celebrate the women of Pursuit over waffles and mimosas. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other. Pursuit moms brought their children, and we offered supervised daycare with activities for the kids. It was a lot of fun!
-
Ashley: We also host networking sessions for the group to converse with women in the tech industry so we can learn how to navigate a male-dominated area. We also hold weekly peer reviews to practice for technical interviews and invite guest tutors to review our work.
Pursuit: How is the WAG preparing women to thrive in the tech industry
-
Muna: Having a group like this means women have space to confidently vocalize their thoughts, talk about issues they face, share creative ideas, and be heard. You are surrounded by people who know women can be exceptional leaders and innovators. You are surrounded by people who believe in you.
-
-
Pursuit: How can groups like these make the tech industry more inclusive?
-
Rupa: It’s our hope that the WAG will encourage other groups and/or individuals to foster the kind of community that amplifies disadvantaged voices, challenges preconceived notions, and recognizes the contributions from those who often fall under the radar.
-
-
Pursuit: What advice would you give men in the tech industry who want to support women?
-
Manny: Ask if you can volunteer at an event hosted by an all-female group like the WAG. If you communicate with us and ask how you can help, we’ll accept you with open arms. It’s so important that men support women in tech; if they don’t, it’ll be that much harder for women to achieve upward mobility.
-
-
Pursuit: Why is it important for women to be represented in the tech industry?
-
Rupa: The more that women are encouraged to pursue coding, the more likely they are to be offered leadership roles and win venture-capital funding. That will lead to more diverse profiles of influential figures and agents of change. Most importantly, it’ll eventually dismantle the systemic barriers in place to create a more inclusive industry.
-
-
Pursuit: What would you tell a CEO of a tech company about why they should hire more women?
-
Muna: Beyond the fact the women in tech are brilliant trailblazers, we are dynamic: we can think rationally when we need to, and we can be empathetic when we need to. I believe hiring more women will make any team more compassionate and work better together. Just think of innovation that can come from that.
