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RailsConf 2017: We've Always Been Here: Women Changemakers in Tech by Hilary Stohs-Krause Steve Jobs. Linus Torvalds. Alan Turing. Been there, done that. The interesting stories often aren’t the ones we grew up with; they’re the ones we’ve left behind. When it comes to tech, that means its women, and especially its women of color. And while there’s been a greater emphasis lately on rediscovering women’s contributions to technology, we need to expand our focus beyond just Grace Hopper and Ada Lovelace. From Radia Perlman to Sophie Wilson to Erica Baker, let's explore both tech’s forgotten heroes and its modern-day pioneers, and help end the silent erasure of women in technology.
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In her presentation titled "We've Always Been Here: Women Changemakers in Tech" at RailsConf 2017, Hilary Stohs-Krause highlights the under-recognized contributions of women, particularly women of color, in the tech industry throughout history. Stohs-Krause argues for a broader recognition of these pioneers beyond the famous figures like Grace Hopper and Ada Lovelace. The talk is structured into four main sections: - **Need for Diversity in Tech**: She emphasizes the value of diversity in tech companies, citing studies that show diverse teams are more likely to perform better financially and create more innovative products. For instance, companies with diverse leadership were found to be 35% more likely to outperform competitors. - **Historical Context and Transformation**: The speaker reflects on how perceptions of women in tech roles have evolved from the clerical view in the 1960s to the high-skill recognition today. Stohs-Krause outlines how women's programming was initially seen as clerical work and how this perspective shifted as the industry matured, often leading to exclusionary practices that have affected women's presence in tech roles. - **Celebrating Historical and Current Changemakers**: The presentation highlights numerous influential women in tech history, starting with figures such as Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper, and moving to contemporary innovators like Erica Baker and Sophie Wilson. Each story illustrates the significant impact women have made on technology, from early computing to modern advancements. - **Call to Action**: Finally, Stohs-Krause calls attendees to action by encouraging them to support women in tech, volunteer with coding bootcamps, and advocate for diverse hiring practices. She provides resources for further engagement, such as curated Twitter lists and organizing Wikipedia edit-a-thons to improve visibility for women in tech. The main takeaway from the presentation is the importance of recognizing and uplifting women in technology to not only honor their contributions but also to improve the overall landscape of the tech industry. By fostering diversity, the tech community can enhance innovation and success across the board.
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