A conversation begins, most often, with a question. IT blogger Selena Deckelmann suggests that when those in control “ask women directly to speak up, we open the door for participation,” and diversity and inclusion can begin. “If we insist on equal participation, the structure of our organizations will change. The first time I spoke up in a user group was terrifying, but I did so because a peer politely, but repeatedly, asked me to speak.”

In this session you will learn from an observational research study of gender participation in the fields that comprise technology. You will explore the various opportunities that exist for inclusion. You will discuss the barriers that are the most difficult to break through for women who have all the skills and talent necessary to be successful. You will discover strategies to encourage conversations that lead to more participation and greater inclusion.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to explain the concepts of diversity and inclusion as they relate to underserved populations
• How to describe how inclusion strengthens practice communities and leads to better overall creativity and performance
• How to illustrate the positive and negative factors that impact a single gender and how those factors can be mitigated
• How to apply lessons learned regarding implementing strategies for a more diverse workforce
• How to demonstrate an understanding of the case study outcomes and how they can lead to new approaches and methodologies for increased cooperation and participation among a diverse workforce

Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, project managers, and managers.      

Technology discussed in this session:
N/A