Sisters are hacking it for themselves

Singapore

NETWORKING events that are organised exclusively for women in Singapore's technology industry are on the rise, dispelling the prevailing view that women are unempowered in this male-dominated industry.

For Jana Marle-Zizkova, the co-founder of non-profit She Loves Data, networking events go beyond swapping business cards and names.

As a facilitator for Ladies Night at Kilo, a regular networking event organised by digital retraining firm General Assembly Singapore and nightclub Kilo Lounge, Mrs Marle-Zizkova observed that many attendees were in the midst of switching industries.

Touching base with other women in similar situations allows them to "support each other, create mentoring circles and attend professional events together", she added.

From the ladies' night event that she facilitated in November last year, Mrs Marle-Zizkova met about 10 to 15 women who later took part in She Loves Data workshops and meet-ups.

Apart from its regular ladies night events, General Assembly Singapore also hosted a breakfast event commemorating International Women's Day on March 8 this year in partnership with SGInnovate and artificial intelligence firm Appier. On the agenda was a discussion how companies could nurture a culture of inclusivity at the workplace.

Not only do women-only networking events provide a launch pad for women venturing into tech-related industries, they may also give a lift to those who are building their own tech startups.

To this end, the Singapore chapter of global non-profit Girls in Tech launched a boot camp in April this year. Designed for women looking to grow their own startups, the boot camp focused on developing business skills such as crafting pitches and winning over angel investors.

Antoinette Patterson, founder of counselling app Safe Space, was one of its 30 participants in attendance. With a background in digital advertising, she is no stranger to the ad tech startup scene.

Joining the boot camp helped her take her app past the prototype stage, giving her insight into the business models that worked best for it, as well as the multiple revenue streams she could tap into.

On the need for women-only networking events, Ms Patterson said: "At mixed gender networking events, some women may feel insecure about their credentials compared to their male counterparts even if they are highly qualified."

This sense of belonging - or lack thereof - was also the driving force behind Nurul Jihadah Hussain's decision to start Singapore's first women-only hackathon last year, with her team at volunteer-run organisation The Codette Project.

"Traditionally during a hackathon, you could be drinking beer at 2am while hacking your idea. It's not welcoming for people of different age groups and with families," she said.

The project's youngest participant last year was just nine years old and its oldest was 45. In its second edition, the hackathon will take place from July 13 to 14 and feature family-friendly hours, ending by 9 pm at the very latest.

A designated area will be set aside for child-minding, although participants of the hackathon have yet to request for this service.

Salina Ibrahim, a product lead in the mobile communications and technology industry, explained why she clocks two to three hours every week volunteering with The Codette Project.

"Women have been significantly under-represented in the tech industry. Men, on the other hand, benefit from the legacy of the 'boys' club," she said.

She added that women-only groups "help empower women to get to level playing ground", given how the lack of women in most board rooms meant that "women have to always work harder, to prove themselves or to get themselves heard".