The Women & Allies of Sharethrough attended the first-ever  Women in Tech Global Conference, taking place from May 9 - 11, 2023. Attending the WomenTech Global Conference was a natural fit for Sharethrough, as we strongly believe in fostering diversity and inclusivity within the digital advertising industry.

The conference, organized by the WomenTech Network and the Coding Girls Foundation, presented a mission-driven program dedicated to empowering women through leadership development, professional growth, mentorship, and networking opportunities. We were thrilled to be part of this powerful movement and contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding gender equality in the tech world.

Currently, women at Sharethrough encompass 39% of employees, with ongoing goals to achieve gender parity and increase representation closer to 50% in the future.

By attending the conference, Sharethrough aimed to shine a bright light on the underrepresentation of women in tech and advocate for change. We recognize that by raising awareness and engaging in open discussions, we could help foster a supportive environment that encourages more women to pursue careers in technology. Through our (virtual) presence at the conference, we aimed to amplify the voices of women at Sharethrough, share their inspiring stories, and inspire others to overcome obstacles and pursue their passions fearlessly. We did so by getting employees together at our offices across the globe and having a shared Slack channel with the women of Sharethrough!

3 Key Takeaways From the Women in Tech Global Conference

With over 700 speakers in 172 countries, we were able to watch sessions that catered to different time zones through an interactive platform featuring live educational and training content, keynotes, engaging panels, breakout rooms, technical workshops, and networking with virtual sessions. Below are some of our favorite sessions we attended!

1. Understanding and Overcoming Common Barriers Leads to Better Productivity

Key takeaways from: “Less Talk, More Action: How to Amplify Inclusive Teaming” with Kimberley Parsons

• Discover the most common barriers to inclusive teaming so you can avoid the inevitable costs they create
• Learn key strategies to not only overcome those barriers, but also gain greater productivity overall
• Identify the most powerful step you can take to champion more inclusion in your team and experience lasting change

2. How Women Have The Potential To Change the Industry‍

Key Takeaways from: “The Magic of Unicorns: The Powerful Impact of Women Leaders in Tech Organizations” with Nicola Buckley

• That women leaders are unicorns, with huge potential to change the tech industry to create more safe and fair cultures, inclusive to all.
• The impact of women leaders on organizations, with stats and tangible evidence … This is proven and documented, not a one day in the future dream.
• What steps to take to start, practical and real actionable steps you can take back to your organization.
• That being the only one in the room is a huge opportunity, with the right support, a team cheering you on and an organization that truly cares for ALL employees.

3. Set Yourself Up For Success & Become The CEO of Your Career

‍Key takeaways from: “How to Become the CEO of Your Career: Dismantling 3 Disempowering Myths” with Asia Bribiesca-Hedin

• The 3 mistakes that are keeping you stuck and limiting your influence, impact, and leadership effectiveness plus what to do instead so you can stand out for key opportunities.
• How to recognize why you sometimes make decisions that don’t serve you: and how to break the cycle for good.
• A powerful decision-making model that helps you become a confident, influential leader - even in times of uncertainty.

And Many More!!!

The Importance of Meeting In-Person to Continue the Conversation

The virtual format didn't stop us from having an amazing time and soaking up all the knowledge and inspiration the event had to offer! Our major hubs got together to view selected sessions and enjoy a lunch while discussing their learnings.

One of the key reasons why this conference was of utmost importance to us was its focus on addressing the underrepresentation of women in the technology field. Despite significant advancements in recent years, women still face numerous challenges and barriers when it comes to pursuing careers in tech. The North American industry average of female representation in the tech industry is 30%. Being above the industry average (39% female representation at Sharethrough), we still feel that there is a long way to go and it starts by speaking up about the issues women face in the industry.  The WomenTech Global Conference provided a platform to bring these issues to the forefront, to discuss the root causes, and to collectively explore solutions that promote inclusivity and equality.

Connecting Women Through a Collaborative Slack Channel

With employees located all over North America and the UK, we wanted one main platform where we could have open discussions on the topics. Through the shared experiences and lively conversations in our dedicated Slack channel, we deepened our understanding of the conference's key themes and collectively empowered one another to drive positive change.

We also wanted to ask the women of Sharethrough why they chose a career in tech and this is what they had to say:

Balbina Santana, Software Engineer: "Video games, big fan since I was super young! I thought I wanted to be a video game developer, until I had that class in college and learned I preferred playing them more than programming them, but the other branches of computer science were cool too."

Megha Wadhwani, Senior Legal Counsel: "In my former life, I was a corporate immigration attorney. All my clients were tech clients and I would complete immigration applications for individuals form around the world working on really cool projects. It motivated me to make the shift because I wanted to be part of the action instead of watching from the sidelines - and  now I get to solve  very unique challenges that almost always require me to think outside the box. It makes my day job way more interesting and dynamic!"

Ariane Simonelis, Legal Counsel: "I was motivated to pursue a career in tech because of the fast-paced and constantly evolving nature of the industry. There are always new challenges to solve as legal counsel, and this keeps the work engaging. I think that the tech industry offers many opportunities for personal and professional growth; whether that's through learning new skills, taking on new challenges, or working with talented / motivated individuals from different backgrounds."

Celebrating the Final Day of the Women in Tech Global Conference in Style

On the final day of the conference, we wanted to keep the conversation going. Some major hubs at Sharethrough organized a happy hour to celebrate and discuss what we learned and have fun!

At Sharethrough, we understand that empowering women in tech goes beyond attending conferences and participating in events. It is an ongoing commitment to challenging the status quo, providing equal opportunities, and creating an inclusive culture within our own organization and the industry as a whole. By attending the WomenTech Global Conference, we took another step towards driving meaningful change and promoting gender diversity in the tech sector. Check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion page on our website to see the actions we are taking to create a more inclusive workspace at Sharethrough!

We invite you to take the time to meet the remarkable women at Sharethrough, who have generously shared their invaluable insights in our recent blog post. Through their expertise and experiences, they have shed light on critical aspects of our industry, offering unique perspectives that empower and inspire. Women's History Month: Taking Concrete Actions to Elevate Women in Ad Tech”.