Greater Vancouver's Gender Equity Playbook A Study of Women in Tech
The intention of this playbook is to share the successes, challenges, and stories of women in tech in Greater Vancouver and their ideas to support actionable change within the tech community. Download the full study, Canada’s Gender Equity Roadmap, at www.womenintechworld.com.
Driving WinTech is a community-based research initiative that brought together diverse stakeholders from Canada’s tech communities in order to uncover the experiences and stories of women in tech. The initiative featured a series of research activities, including Community Conversations engaging participants in individual and group discussion.
Primary Research Questions • Who are women in the technology sector in Canada? • What are the successes and barriers experienced by women in the technology sector in Canada? • What are community-driven recommendations for creating more gender-diverse and inclusive technology communities across Canada?
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Voices from Canadian Tech Communities: Research Participants Our research participants are from over 30 tech communities, large and small, across Canada. This playbook is a subsection of the research outlining what was said by participants in the Greater Vancouver Area. This snapshot compares the voices of 268 research participants in the Greater Vancouver tech community to 385 research participants from throughout British Columbia. And while it gives us an important glimpse into each community, we recognize that this may not be representative of all views. Throughout the research, the term “women” includes all womenidentified people. For the
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WOMEN IN TECH WORLD - CANADA'S GENDER EQUITY ROADMAP
purpose of Driving WinTech, we invited participants who self-selected into one of the following groups: (a) woman currently working in tech (technical or non-technical role), (b) woman who recently left the tech industry, (c) ally or advocate of women in tech, or (d) other stakeholder in the tech industry. Our full approach and results are outlined in detail within Canada’s Gender Equity Roadmap: A Study of Women in Tech.
What's Working: Regional Perspective Greater Vancouver
British Columbia
• Appropriate family/parental policies in the workplace • Role-specific training at work • Communication skills training • Career and confidence building workshops • Encouragement from management and peers at work and school • Women-focused groups to learn programming • Networking among women
• Funding programs for women to learn to code • Family-friendly policies in the workplace • Training on-the-job • Policies on workplace diversity • Networking
While these supports vary across the Greater Vancouver tech community, the list is extremely valuable.
What's Not Working: Regional Perspective Greater Vancouver
British Columbia
• Sexism and bias against women • Feelings of isolation in a male dominated industry; overall “broculture" • Lack of flexibility at work • Lack of women in leadership • Navigating the boys’ club culture
• Inequality in representation at work; low participation from women • Gender stereotypes • Old-school leadership • Bias against hiring women
I was mentored in a group by the former [executive of a multinational investment bank] and it was not only beneficial to be mentored by her but the mentees still encourage and help each other.
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Coming into a role at a junior level has been intimidating because of the realization that I have so much more to learn. As the only woman in the office it can be difficult to find someone to confide in and seek advice knowing that the person is coming from a similar place.
...destigmatizing the tech industry by showing how women of all ages and [backgrounds] can [...] be part of the tech world.
‘[W]ell I don’t do or see that, therefore it’s not a problem.’ Doesn't acknowledge that there [is a] systematic problem upstream.
We got to have more collaborative spaces where it's not just women at the table. Men can't [support] if they're not part of the conversation.
Build Your Plan: Ideas from the Road
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Greater Vancouver
British Columbia
1. Provide a transparent work culture by opening your books, showing your salary scale and making sure everything is equitable. 2. Make tech industry jobs more family friendly and flexible. 3. Provide coding groups and mentorship for women and girls. 4. Encourage company leadership to address gender biases. 5. Broadcast the stories of women like the Heritage Minute campaign to showcase the diverse contributions of women in tech. 6. Hold events to showcase opportunities for women within the tech industry.
1. Increase funding for women-led ventures and women-focused programs. 2. Create a work culture where people have a voice. Ask for the role, the support, the mentorship and the money. 3. Provide unconscious bias training within the education system (for students, teachers, guidance counsellors) and within companies, in order to raise awareness about not only gender bias, but all intersections within the ‘women in tech’ community. 4. Establish technical learning groups for young girls and women.
WOMEN IN TECH WORLD - CANADA'S GENDER EQUITY ROADMAP
Acknowledgements
Publishing Information
Canada’s Gender Equity Roadmap: A Study of Women in Tech is a testament to the Canada's tech communities and we want to acknowledge everyone who shared their expertise and time to build it. From our incredible community of volunteers, women in tech, and allies who dedicated thousands of hours to #DrivingWinTech Canada, to our community partners, sponsors, and crowd funders for the generous support. We thank you all.
No part of this study may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief passages quoted in critical articles and reviews with citation. For more information, visit our full study at www.womenintechworld. com. Date of Issue October 2018
Supporting Women in Tech World To learn how you can support Women in Tech World, please contact: Partnerships, Women in Tech World Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada e: partnerships@womenintechworld.com w: womenintechworld.com/donate
Thank You To Our Local Sponsors
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