Connection

““The energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued. When they can give and receive without judgment””

— Brene Brown

We all know that traditionally the tech world has been dominated by men. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Elon & Zucks, the list goes on. Many tech companies are run by men. Female role models in the IT industry are thin on the ground. It’s the way it’s always been. I really hope it’s not the way it’ll always be.

We’re lucky enough to have our first female tech unicorn here in Australia, Melanie Perkins, CEO & co-founder of that beautifully designed platform we’ve come to love, Canva. There’s also Lucy Liu of Airwallex, and a handful more rising through the ranks.

But a few, out of the whole of Australia…. C’mon!

For the past 8 months Red Apple IT has been fortunate to partner with Charris Talent, a Sydney based Career Consultancy, to deliver Project Roar Tasmanian Emerging Leadership Program which aims to empower more Tasmanian women for leadership roles in ICT. We can do this thanks to the grant we received from the Supporting Women to Succeed Grant Program 2021 TAS from the Tasmanian Government. We’re forever grateful for this opportunity.

We’ve just completed the first 6-month program. We’re wrapped with the results.

We’ve seen women ask for promotions (and pay rises) and get them. We’ve seen new businesses born and we’ve seen confidence rise sky high (think goosebump moments). And the best bit, we’ve only just begun.

When women feel seen, heard, and valued connection is made and that’s where the magic begins.

Deloitte were recently engaged by the ACS to help publish the 2022 Australia’s Digital Pulse. Modelling from this report finds that increasing diversity in terms of age, gender, and people living with disability in the technology workforce would grow Australia’s economy by $3.1 billion every year on average, over the next 20 years. In employment terms, it would create almost 13,900 full-time equivalent jobs each year on average.

Read that again and let it sink in.

Businesses have better financial performance and higher market value with gender diverse company boards and senior executives.

Greater gender diversity is associated with improved productivity and innovation.

Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity were 15% more likely to have financial returns above their industry median.

It’s a win/win.

Through Project Roar, we’re building a meaningful network of Women in IT here in our beautiful island state, Tasmania. Women who build you up. Women who inspire and support you to build a wildly successful career.

So, have you registered your interest?

If you’re interested in joining the program, or you’d like to recommend someone from your team please ask them to fill in this form.

We’re full for 2022 but will have another 32 spots available for 2023.

We are women, hear us roar.

Georgi Brown – Managing Director, Red Apple IT