Standing on the ground at the Diversity Empowerment Summit at Open Source Summit today, I’m struck by how drastically the conversation has changed over the past few years. A decade ago, I couldn’t have imagined a full day dedicated to diversity within an open source conference. Our content is finally beginning to accurately reflect the experience thousands of women have been having for years within the tech industry — one that was discussed behind closed doors for a very long time.
Today, I’m thrilled to be speaking on the panel Chasing and Redefining Grace: Stories of Women in Tech alongside many of my female colleagues, and facilitated by the inimitable Jennifer Cloer. Inspired by the untold stories of women in the tech industry, Jennifer made it her mission to spearhead a project that would give ample volume to the experiences of women.
As we kick off our panel today, Jennifer will be launching the trailer of The Chasing Grace Project, a six-episode documentary series about women in tech. As Jennifer explains on her blog: “Each episode is focused on a different topic within the women in tech narrative…The Project aims to give a voice to the everyday women in tech, not just the ones who make the headlines.”
I am extremely proud to announce the Cloud Foundry Foundation is a sponsor of this fabulous documentary. As Jennifer always says, “You can’t be what you can’t see” — and we believe deeply that giving visibility to the everyday lives of women in the tech industry is the first step to inspiring other women to rise above the common obstacles they face in order to find the fullest, most successful career possible. It is vital for women to know they are not alone in the impediments they face — and it is equally crucial for everyone in the tech industry, regardless of gender identity, to recognize the unique experiences of women and face their own biases.
If you are at Open Source Summit in Los Angeles, please — join us for the panel at 2:10 pm today, Thursday, September 14 and see the trailer for The Chasing Grace Project. Otherwise, please visit www.chasinggracefilm.com, contribute in any way you can to the project and tell Jennifer what you think on Twitter @cgFilmProject, Facebook or Instagram.
And if you’re passionate about diversity and inclusivity, please come check out my presentation at Grace Hopper in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, October 6 at 10:30 am.
