Diversity has long been a pressing issue in the tech sector. According to Women Tech Network survey data, women earn an average of $15,000 less per year than men, with even lower salaries for Black and Latina women, and also encounter more obstacles when advancing to managerial positions compared to their male counterparts.
Here are the top 10 conferences women in the technology sector must attend to advance their careers or simply advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Black Women Tech Talk
The Roadmap to Billions conference by Black Women Tech Talk empowers Black women tech founders, which provides resources, workshops, and insights from industry experts, investors, and successful founders. The three-day event offers keynotes, hands-on workshops, business strategies, and tailored sessions for students, professionals, investors, and founders.
Conference Date: May 16-18, 2024
Conference Location: Brooklyn, New York
Ticket price: $99 for students, $399 for general admission, and $599 for the VIP bundle.
The Global Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference
The Global Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference, established by Stanford University, unites data scientists globally to empower women in the field, which will be held at Stanford, with over 150 partner events worldwide featuring panels, keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and a closing reception.
Conference Date: March 8, 2024
Conference Location: Stanford, California
Ticket price: TBA
Grace Hopper Celebration
The Grace Hopper Celebration, co-founded by Dr. Anita Borg and Dr. Telle Whitney in 1994, is the world's largest gathering of women technologists that covers various topics such as technology, culture, career shifts, C-suite roles, and emerging trends in the tech industry. The conference honors Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneering computer programmer known for developing COBOL.
Conference Date: October 8-11, 2024
Conference Location: Philadelphia and virtual
Ticket price: TBD
Pride Summit
The Pride Summit by Lesbians Who Tech, touted as the largest LGBTQ professional event, is an event that highlights LGBTQ individuals, including women, trans, and nonbinary people, focusing on those underrepresented in tech. Previous speakers include Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Susan Wojcicki, and Glennon Doyle.
Conference Date: June 10-14, 2024
Conference Location: Virtual
Ticket price: Free
Simmons Leadership Conference
This year marks the 45th annual Simmons Leadership Conference, a gathering for women's professional growth and networking to elevate women in leadership and encourage more to pursue such roles, particularly in fields like technology where they are less represented. Hosted by Simmons College, it boasts prominent speakers like Serena Williams, with past luminaries including Michelle Obama, Madeline Albright, Anita Hill, Oprah Winfrey, and Barbara Walters.
Conference Date: April 3, 2024
Conference Location: Boston or virtual
Ticket price: $299-$399 for online virtual attendance; $1,299 for in-person attendees
Tech Up for Women
Tech Up for Women is a single-day conference dedicated to advancing women in technology, which covers topics like cybersecurity, blockchain, AI, VR, digital transformation, big data, entrepreneurship, startups, and healthcare tech to enhance women's digital literacy to address gender imbalances in the workplace. Scheduled during International Women's Week, this year's event aims to promote and support women's progress in the tech industry.
Conference Date: March 6, 2024
Conference Location: San Diego
Ticket price: From $74 to $2,750
WeCode 2024
WeCode 2024, an annual tech conference by Harvard University, promotes community and scholarship for undergraduate women in technology globally that aims to bridge gender gaps in STEM and provide support for women in the tech industry with essential skills and professional networks. Held on the Harvard campus in Cambridge, Mass., it features keynote speakers, networking, and workshops.
Conference Date: February 17-18, 2024
Conference Location: Cambridge, Mass.
Ticket price: $35-$85
Women Impact Tech
The Women Impact Tech conferences connect top women in tech with companies dedicated to inclusion and innovation, which offer women engineers networking opportunities with over 350 tech companies one-on-one meetings at seven national events. The 2024 events are scheduled in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Denver, and New York City from February to November, with a virtual attendance option.
Conference Date: Varies by location
Conference Location: Several cities across the US
Ticket price: $99
Women in Cloud Annual Summit
The Women in Cloud Annual Summit, usually in Redmond, Wash., at the Microsoft Conference Center, is going on tour this year, with virtual and in-person events in various cities, highlighting women's role in cloud computing and inclusivity in tech and all genders.
Conference Date: February to March, 2024
Conference Location: Austin, Texas; Atlanta; and virtual
Ticket price: $74-$250
Women in Cybersecurity
The Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) conference was started in 2012 by Dr. Ambareen Siraj of Tennessee Tech University, supported by a National Science Foundation grant. WiCyS is a nonprofit offering memberships, scholarships, and networking opportunities for women in security. The two-day conference allows members and nonmembers to connect with industry peers and learn about cybersecurity trends.
Conference Date: April 11-13, 2024
Conference Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Ticket price: $600 for WiCyS members, $850 for nonmembers; discounts available for students, faculty, government, and nonprofit workers.
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