Encouraging Underrepresented Groups to Pursue Tech Careers

• The speaker shares her personal experience of being discouraged from pursuing a career in medicine due to her background, emphasizing the importance of representation and role models for young people from underrepresented backgrounds in tech.
• The tech industry urgently needs talent, and young people have the potential to fill these roles.

Bridging the Gap between Tech and Underrepresented Groups

• Four limitations hinder bridging the gap:
  • Lack of role models
  • Limited access to networks
  • Negative self-perception
  • Societal narratives discouraging certain individuals from tech careers

Building Bridges and Overcoming Limitations

• To build bridges and overcome these limitations, we need to:
  • Create more inclusive pathways for young people to enter the tech field
  • Address the four limitations
• Networking involves more than just attending events; it starts with someone opening a door for you.
• Competence, gained through practice and experience, is more important than knowledge.
• Many young people feel panic and uncertainty due to a lack of competence despite having knowledge.
• Education is important, but it's not enough to secure a job or the desired life.
• The "plus one" concept involves bringing people from your community to events to inspire them.
• Each individual has the potential to be a role model, a network, a source of competence, and an inspiration for others to believe in themselves.