In the News – Page 8 – Women Tech Council

Utah girls get hands-on experience at SheTech

OREM— American Fork High School senior Abbie Rogers has a plan for the future, and it’s one that was shaped in part by a novel effort to boost the number of young Utah women seeking careers in technology fields.

On Friday, the SheTech Explorer event drew almost 1,200 girls from 90 high schools to the Utah Valley University campus for a day of activities designed to show them that tech careers are not just for boys.

Cydni Tetro is the founder and president of the Sandy-based Women Tech Council, which started SheTech three years ago. She said women are drastically underrepresented in advanced-industry employment, even now as Utah’s tech sector experiences rapid growth.

“Women are only represented by […]

Kristin Wright2017-09-20T15:37:57-07:00

1,200 Utah High School Girls Experience STEM Careers to Expand Tech Sector and Economy

SheTech Explorer Day engages girls with more than 100 companies and industry experts to activate and inspire future careers in STEM

OREM, Utah (March 3, 2017)—The Women Tech Council today launched the first event of their SheTech program in 2017, a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program that activates, engages and inspires high school girls to pursue STEM fields through giving them hands-on experience and mentoring.

The event, called SheTech Explorer Day, was launched in partnership with Utah Valley University (UVU) and drew 1,200 high school girls to earn industry certifications, problem solve with mentors from more than 100 companies and explore STEM careers through activities like robotics, coding, 3D printing, pixel art and […]

Kristin Wright2017-06-02T00:00:56-07:00

SheTech Explorer Day

March 1 marks the first SheTech Explorer Day of the year. 300 different STEM industry experts will be at UVU to mentor the 1,500 high schools girls expected to attend.

The event offers engaging hands on experience. Attendees can expect to dabble in robotics, coding, diamond cutting, pixel art, biotech, and forensics under the guidance of experts. This exposure helps inspire girls to pursue STEM in their educations and careers.

“As the technology sector continues to grow in Silicon Slopes and worldwide, so does the demand for skilled, qualified workers to fill the multiplying number of jobs in […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-14T03:10:44-07:00

Utah tech leaders unite on Capitol Hill to advance workforce initiatives

SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 30, 2017)— Less than a week after Gov. Herbert announced Talent Ready Utah in his State of the State address, Utah tech leaders joined legislators for Tech Day on the Hill to show their support for collaboration between industry, government and education. Today the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the Women Tech Council and Silicon Slopes announced a partnership to unite technology workforce development efforts.

“Utah’s tech industry has pressing workforce challenges that need to be addressed,” said Val Hale, executive director of GOED. “Formal partnerships with Women Tech Council and Silicon Slopes are an investment in the tech industry’s sustainable growth. We are grateful for their support and for our industry […]

Kristin Wright2018-07-11T22:19:02-07:00

Utah tech leaders unite on Capitol Hill to advance workforce initiatives

SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 30, 2017)— Less than a week after Gov. Herbert announced Talent Ready Utah in his State of the State address, Utah tech leaders joined legislators for Tech Day on the Hill to show their support for collaboration between industry, government and education. Today the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the Women Tech Council and Silicon Slopes announced a partnership to unite technology workforce development efforts.

“Utah’s tech industry has pressing workforce challenges that need to be addressed,” said Val Hale, executive director of GOED. “Formal partnerships with Women Tech Council and Silicon Slopes are an investment in the tech industry’s sustainable growth. We are grateful for their support and for our industry […]

Kristin Wright2018-07-02T22:12:08-07:00

Tech summit highlights Utah’s Silicon Slopes

SALT LAKE CITY — Developing more home-grown talent is a major concern for Utah business and technology leaders gathered at a two-day summit at the Salt Palace.

“We have to get more into our high schools and into our colleges to create the skills that we need in this state,” said Cydni Tetro, co-founder and executive director of Women Tech Council, at Thursday’s opening of the inaugural Silicon Slopes Tech Summit.

With about 5,000 tech companies in Utah, and more created each year, the need for qualified, educated talent is constantly growing, Silicon Slopes executive board member Carine Clark said. The tech industry needs to help develop a statewide program that can cultivate and inspire more young […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-12T05:11:07-07:00

Women Tech Council president aims to turn women into business champions

Cydni Tetro has worked with companies some people only dream about, like Disney, Star Wars and Warner Bros.

And she also leads a nonprofit in Utah that aims to embolden women in the tech community.

Tetro spoke on the Deseret News Silicon Slopes Hour this week. She and host Clint Betts discussed her previous work with Disney and her leadership of the Women Tech Council.

She said she started her career at Disney as an entrepreneur in residence, working in a tech lab there to help build products for the company. She worked for the theme parks, the different businesses associated with Disney and the corporation itself.

She now serves as president for the Women Tech Council. The platform […]

Kristin Wright2017-09-20T15:38:25-07:00

Women Tech Council to Launch TechArt Hour of Code Creating Largest Girl-Coded Living Digital Display

Announced today in the White House Fact Sheet as part of National Computer Science Education Week Programs

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 5, 2016) — Women Tech Council (WTC) today announced the launch of TechArt Hour of Code, the largest girl-coded initiative engaging 10,000 girls across the state to create a living digital display. The program was announced today in the White House Fact Sheet for its impact and opportunity to engage more girls in computer science education, and is part of a national movement around coding during National Computer Science Education Week.

The TechArt program is in partnership with Dell EMC, Comcast, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Utah STEM Action Center, school CTE directors, and the University of Utah Athletics.

The TechArt Hour of Code program teaches students basic coding skills as they create a tile including […]

Kristin Wright2018-07-11T22:15:47-07:00

Women Tech Council TechArt Hour of Code, Largest Girl-Coded Living Digital Display

Women Tech Council (WTC) today announced the launch of TechArt Hour of Code, the largest girl-coded initiative engaging 10,000 girls across the state to create a living digital display. The program was announced today in the White House Fact Sheet for its impact and opportunity to engage more girls in computer science education, and is part of a national movement around coding during National Computer Science Education Week.

The TechArt program is in partnership with Dell EMC, Comcast, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Utah STEM Action Center, school CTE directors, and the University of Utah Athletics.

The TechArt Hour of Code program teaches students basic coding skills as […]

Kristin Wright2017-09-20T15:38:53-07:00

The Leonardo and Women Tech Council Launch Women Innovators

The Leonardo and Women Tech Council (WTC) have partnered to open the Women Innovators exhibit, a highly interactive exhibit showing the impact of women in driving innovation in business and technology. Unveiled Wednesday, November 16, the exhibit features a touch screen interface with profiles of 162 women leaders in a variety of industries, including tech, aerospace, computer science, engineering, life sciences and business. The interactive touch screen display allows viewers to see the innovations and accomplishments of each woman. The exhibit also includes physical assets showcasing other innovations donated by some of the companies featured within the exhibit.

“Inspiring innovation and creativity in our visitors is at the center of everything we do here at The […]

Kristin Wright2017-09-20T15:39:25-07:00

Where are the women in computer science?

Women earn 57 percent of undergraduate degrees, but only 18 percent of degrees in computer and information sciences, according to the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). This trend starts before college where girls comprise 56 percent of Advanced Placement (AP) test takers, but only 19 percent of computer science AP test takers.

In the workforce, this discrepancy widens. The National Science Foundation’s 2016 report cited that only about 15 percent of women are part of the engineering and computer science workforce.

What causes this gap? Three Utah women share their observations and opinions on the gap, and what’s being done in the state.

Dr. Shalini Kesar is […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-06T00:24:43-07:00

SUU professor receives Women Tech Council award

Shalini Kesar, associate professor of information systems at SUU, received the education excellence awarded at the 2016 Women Tech Awards on Sept. 22 in Salt Lake City.

The event, hosted by the Women Tech Council (WTC), recognizes Utah women in tech fields “who are innovators, leaders and key contributors in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields,” according to a news release.

“It was an honor to be nominated among such talented woman with great accomplishments,” Kesar said. “To win an education excellence award was inspiring and motivating to continue work on efforts that increase participation of women in IT.”

Kesar was one of six Utah women to be receive the distinction this year. The recipients represented some of the […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-06T00:02:44-07:00