Our chums at the SNP have let us know about a Business Brunch Nicola Sturgeon is holding tomorrow, Friday 29 April 2016, in Glasgow. Register here to attend (FREE): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/join-nicola-for-brunch-tickets-24842187652
An exciting free event being hosted in Glasgow next Thursday with MIT’s Bill Aulet.
The Ask Me Anything session is being hosted to encourage entrepreneurs with scalable businesses to apply to take part in Scotland Can Do SCALE.
The event is being streamed on Periscope, so people unable to attend in person in Glasgow can also register to watch the session online. Tickets (in person and online) are available free here:
About Bill Aulet
Bill Aulet is the managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship at MIT and a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Prior to joining MIT, Bill had a 25 year track record of success in business himself. He has directly raised more than $100 million in funding for his companies and more importantly has led to the creation of hundreds of millions of dollars in market value in those companies.
Bill started his career at IBM getting training and experience in technical, marketing, sales, financial, and international business operations and management. Upon graduation, he resigned from IBM and became a serial entrepreneur running two MIT spinouts as the president/chief executive officer (Cambridge Decision Dynamics and then SensAble Technologies). The latter became a two-time Inc. Magazine 500 Fastest-Growing Private Company. With a presence in over 20 countries, SensAble also won more than 24 awards and was featured in Fortune Magazine, BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications for its innovative products and strong business foundation.
Today, in addition to his work at MIT, Bill works with individuals and companies to become more successful through innovation-driven entrepreneurship. From single entrepreneurs trying to launch new ventures all the way up to large multi-billion dollar corporations seeking to achieve their goals through entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and innovation, the same fundamentals have been successfully applied. He writes as much as possible in places such as Xconomy.com, MIT Sloan Experts, The Boston Globe, the Kauffman Foundation, The Huffington Post and the MIT Entrepreneurship Review.
About Scotland Can Do SCALE
Scottish entrepreneurs with potential to scale-up their businesses are being offered world class training from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard Business School with Scotland Can Do SCALE. The programme has two strands, an introductory online course teaching how to put customers at the heart of a business and a residential summer school. Applicants must complete the online course (four modules each taking around four hours) to qualify to apply to summer school. Everyone taking part will be supported by Scotland’s exceptional entrepreneurial ecosystem to develop and grow their business.
Funded and delivered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council, and sitting under the Scotland Can Do government banner, the programme will inspire entrepreneurs to grow scalable businesses. The deadline to complete the online course and qualify to apply for summer school is 29th April. To sign up visit the www.cando.scot/scale website and click sign-up today.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last night helped us launch our new partnership with Edinburgh Napier University and Bright Red Triangle. Edinburgh Napier University, our new parent organisation, hosted a special invitation only reception at their Craiglockhart Campus in Edinburgh. The following people made rousing, informative and inspiring speeches:
Morna Simpson, Founder of Girl Geek Scotland
Gordon Stuart, Informatic Ventures
Sally Smith, Dean of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University
Andrea Nolan, Principal, Edinburgh Napier University
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister
Then the guests were led to the foyer where refreshments were served, networking was had, and tables with GGS information topics were laid out prompting discussion, ideas, plans, and support for the following areas:
Technology and Startup Cultures
Thinking Big Requires a Change of Mind
Big Data & The Global Supply Chain
Creating Learning Resources Online & Off
Diversity Workshop with ScotlandJS
Financial Support
GGS have plans, BIG PLANS. We hope you will help us achieve them!
If you are bursting with ideas on a subject that GGS might be interested in, please get in touch via the website or by emailing hello@girlgeekscotland.com
EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY
February 9, 2016
First Minister meets the Girl Geeks
FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon will be guest of honour tonight (February 9) as an organisation for women working in the creative, computing and enterprise industries moves forward into a new era.
Girl Geek Scotland (GGS), formed in 2009, enables women to develop a career-long mutual support network through dinners, fundraisers, business breakfasts, research projects and skills workshops.
Edinburgh Napier University is taking over as parent organisation and partner, and will tonight host an event for 200 guests at its Craiglockhart campus, which will be addressed by Nicola Sturgeon, Girl Geek founder Morna Simpson, the University’s Principal, Professor Andrea Nolan, and Sally Smith, Dean of the School of Computing.
Girl Geek Scotland recognises the need to tackle skills shortages by making technology-based working environments as welcoming as possible and redressing the gender balance in a currently unequal workforce.
Speakers bring their personal life into discussions about business, with functions including a strong focus on work-life balance and women who have been successful in male-dominated environments.
Events are often themed around common challenges facing tech-based start-ups, such as finding investment and growing a product user base.
GGS dinners which have been held in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen have helped build social and career networks, and provided opportunities to learn from leaders in the field. The events have helped establish the Girl Geek brand across the UK and even in America’s Silicon Valley.
In 2016, the network aims to consolidate these connections, especially with London, and to look east to develop new relationships with female leaders in the IT industries of Vietnam and India.
Although GGS is marketed towards women, it also recognises the need to include men because of the support they can offer in working towards a gender-balanced working environment.
Girl Geek founder Morna Simpson said: “We have a reputation for our high quality events, that weave together a community of inspiring women. I’m very excited to launch this ambitious programme in collaboration with like-minded partners.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “A career in digital technology and industries is something women have traditionally been less likely to pursue than their male peers. Organisations like Girl Geek Scotland not only help Scotland in its ambition to create more women entrepreneurs, but they also allow women to discover the opportunities and benefits that a career in technology can bring.
“I admire and support the work of Girl Geek Scotland to help address the gender imbalance within the sector’s workforce, which is a vital part of our own ambition and efforts to develop a world class digital economy in Scotland.”
Edinburgh Napier University currently holds an Athena SWAN bronze award, which recognises its work on gender equality and supporting women’s careers in science, technology and engineering. Individual Schools are now investigating the feasibility of applying for a silver award in the November round of applications.
Sally Smith, Dean of Edinburgh Napier’s School of Computing, said: “Our strengthened relationship with Girl Geek will support our application for the charter. The Girl Geek events are an excellent way to reignite our passion for technology and reclaim the toys from the boys, ensuring that we retain both our female staff and our students.”
Girl Geek Scotland will also be working with Bright Red Triangle, an Edinburgh Napier-based one-stop shop for extra-curricular student enterprise activities which supports links to the community through start-ups, incubator space, consultancy services and social innovation projects.
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “The University, like the whole of the higher education sector, has a role to play in helping create a world-beating digital ecosystem for Scotland.
“Key to this is ensuring that our businesses draw talent from across the workforce. Inclusivity is one of our core values and as a University we have a great track record in supporting women’s careers, a record which will only be enhanced through our association with Girl Geek Scotland.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
For more information on this press release please contact Media & Communications Officer Jack Mathieson on 0131 455 6251
About Edinburgh Napier University:
Edinburgh Napier has around 18,000 students from more than 115 countries. It is among the best universities in the UK for graduate employability.
For more information about Girl Geek Scotland, visit:
Skills Development Scotland are working with a range of partners to deliver a programme to inspire girls to consider careers in the digital sector.
In March, 36 girls are participating in a three day programme of visits, talks with role models, and “hands on” activities with employers Edinburgh College and Heriot Watt University.
The girls will:
- Hear about varied and interesting career opportunities in this growth sector
- Speak to women working in digital and information technology
- Be encouraged to explore diverse career pathways including Modern Apprenticeship and degree routes
We are looking for volunteers to support these activities by coming along and speaking to girls in a speed networking session on Tuesday 15th March from 2pm in central Edinburgh.
If you are a woman working in the tech industry and you’d like to help, please contact Nicola Swan nicola.swan@sds.ac.uk
Girl Geek Scotland have been working hard to try and get some things up and running for 2016. If we succeed, keep a look out for our happenings and get involved.
Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us!
Best,
Girl Geek Scotland
Harvey Nash would like to invite you to take part in the first Harvey Nash Women in Technology Survey. The survey takes 5 minutes to complete and all participants will receive a full copy of the report and invitation to follow up events/our Women in Technology Network.
Harvey Nash are passionate about diversity and the careers of women. From the most recent Harvey Nash CIO and Technology Surveys the statistics concern us, only 8% of respondents to our 2013 CIO Survey and 13% of respondents to our 2014 Technology Survey were female. Therefore we have devised a short survey which we believe will allow us to gather useful information in our quest to helping more women pursue careers or remain in technology. The questions cover your education choices, career path and feedback on the benefits of working in technology.
To take part, please click here.
With the information gathered, we aim to:
- Increase awareness about the importance of STEM subjects in secondary/tertiary level education
- Increase awareness about the breadth of roles within IT
- Organise role models and career guidance talks in schools and colleges/universities around the country
- Publish our first Women in Technology report and a series of events
The survey will only take 5 minutes and for every completed survey, Harvey Nash Ireland will donate €1 to the Irish Cancer society and Harvey Nash UK will donate £1 to Action for Children. To take part please click here Women in Technology
Ever wanted to go to TechMeetup but been unsure about it? Not sure where it is? How do you get into the building? Don’t know anyone there?
This month, James Baster and Rachel Willmer are holding a pre-meetup for TechMeetup newbies.
We’ll be in the Pear Tree pub on West Nicholson Street from 5pm onwards.
There’ll be a sign on the table so you know who we are.
Come and say hello! We’ll chat in the pub from 5 until about 6.20pm, when we’ll all go down to TechMeetup together.
By Belinda Love, Feb 2014
NEW BARBIE ALERT – BEHOLD THE ENTREPRENEUR (MODEL)
Recently, Mattel launched ‘Entrepreneur Barbie’ at the American International Toy Fair in New York.
Clad in a hot Mattel-pink businessy wiggle dress, and accessorising with her essential entrepreneurial tools of a smartphone and tablet, this forms part of Barbie’s “I Can Be” career line launched in 2010 in an effort to show and encourage up-to-date careers for women. The range has also included computer engineer, president, and astronaut.
I’m baffled as to whether I like the idea or not. I think I’m fifty-fifty?
I like the acknowledgment that women can play a significant role in business, and have the same ability as men to spark new, creative and profitable concepts and products. I like the fact there are four ethnicities, and I even like the fact that I, personally have a business frock, smartphone, tablet (er…and handbag and heels etc) – perhaps one of the first times a career-related Barbie I don’t feel I have to work too hard to achieve (such as owning my own riding stables, veteranary surgery, or …rocket ship?).
BARBIE – GO FIGURE
But, good grief I do wish her ankles looked more stable! Like the project this lovely artist worked on to show a more realistic Barbie doll: http://www.demilked.com/barbie-as-standard-woman
BARBIE – DO YOU EVEN NEED TO STUDY?
Apparently our dear Barbie has had over 150 jobs in her time-irrelevant life. I know she’s immortal (and fictional) but is there actually a University course Barbie?
<quickly searches>
Oh…I see: http://www.barbiecollector.com/collection/university-barbie-dolls
…well at least she’s not exclusively in PINK I guess. And at least this is some evidence that she spent SOME time in a course of study before embarking on all these career paths.
BLONDES CAN GO TO UNI TOO
While doing my masters at University, one of the assessments on my course of study was to conduct and deliver a market anaylsis on a particular film audience market. I didn’t have an immediate idea as to which market I would analyse, until someone suggested watching the boxset of Legally Blonde I and II. Not, my normal cup-of-tea, but I was assured it was a must-watch from a critical perspective. By the Gods I thought it was awful. Laughable even. In fact I belly-laughed a lot. But in the same way I burst out laughing when I first saw the Spice Girls ‘Wannabe’ video, or Britney Spears’ ‘Oops I did It Again’ video. As I quickly realised that they weren’t in fact jokes or spoofs, they were in fact genuine, and moreover…EXTREMELY popular. A-ha! I had found my market to analyse; and delivered a suitably artistically scathing report; but nevertheless accurate, respectful and admiring of its impressively high numbers and market bouyancy. Just for added irony, I handed it in on PINK paper scented with Coco Chanel. It just gave it that little something…extra (for any Legally Blonde fans out there).
BARBIE – WHAT DOES MATTEL-PINK ACTUALLY SAY TO A GIRL?
We know that Barbie has always had a thing for PINK don’t we? Terrifyingly though when I think of ladies with a rather significant penchant for PINK, I don’t see a whole bunch of difference between exhibit A and exhibit B below:
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- Exhibit A
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- Exhibit B
Or for example this stupid lady (no really…I wasn’t just being mean – she actually WANTS to be stupider): http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/19/barbie-doll-fan-has-hypnotherapy-to-make-her-brainless-like-her-icon-4310750
(Dear Lady, I’m concerned your next moves might be to have your nipples removed, sew up your foo, or even try to have yourself hollowed out.) (By the way, Barbie’s jugs are not that big – by quite a lot).
PINK BASHING
But what, for the love of the whole frigging colour spectrum, is the recent obsession toy manufacturers have with moving more and more products to PINK, just for girls (supposably), – all about? Exhibit C here shows that we have now been allocated OUR OWN bricks (presumably because we were having too much fun with the boys’ ones and they wanted them back?), and Exhibit D shows that even our own gender-conventional toys have been given a PINKover (I’m sure I had a brown pram, and it was fine, and it was made better).
-
- Exhibit C
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- Exhibit D
OLD SKOOL
One of my own personal favourite toys (one of the few I had that wasn’t a piece of string or a lump of coal [crofter]) was this epic toy which gave me YEARS of entertainment (and was also really well made):
I ALWAYS wanted some LEGO of my very own, and STAR WARS toys of course. But I had to go visit my male friends to play with theirs – look at this fantastic 80s ad for LEGO (that’s what I’m talking about – that was pretty much me, only wearing MUCH MORE BROWN).
And here she is now: http://www.themarysue.com/girl-in-old-lego-ad
I’ve heard of specific compalints about LEGO recently from parents, and indeed from little ladies themselves: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/31/7-year-old-letter-to-lego_n_4682874.html | http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/lucy-tobin-forget-pink-lego-for-girls–just-let-toys-be-toys-9128078.html
Some folks have taken issue with the number of or portrayal of female characters in the otherwise five star rated “The LEGO Movie”: http://www.hypable.com/2014/02/23/pieces-what-the-lego-movie-taught-me-about-toys-and-equality
And there’s even talk of a smaller pinker girlier version of the movie: http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2014/02/22/slightly-smaller-and-pink-version-of-lego-movie-announced (they’ve actually got a job title called “Head of Marketing and Gender Separation”?)
I BLAME THE…
Some might say it is the resposibility of the parents who purchase the toys. But not all parents are taking this sitting down: http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-toy-companies-our-girls-deserve-better-choices-than-princess
The GoldieBlox toy company has deliberately run with this edge and wants to “show the world that girls deserve more choices than dolls and princesses”:
SHORT TERM GOOD INTENTIONS CLOUDED BY LONG TERM SELLING STRATEGY?
But could this all have started out with the best of intentions? Logically speaking, perhaps the toy companies were trying to widen interest in more unconventional play, career and life interests for girls by tempting them with pink versions?:
Look GIRLS! It’s LEGO! Did you know YOU could build too! And we’ve popped it in a handy large massive PINK brick for you (because we know how you like to be organised and stylish)
Look GIRLS! Just think! You too can be a musician and play outrageous instruments like the DRUMS (see how we’ve made it pink so you know it’s ok?)
Have you seriously thought about the potential of a career in agriculture? Don’t write off farming just yet (look see? And the pig poo wipes off a treat)
Amelia Earhart. Just saying!
Geekdom isn’t just for boy geeks too! (Look how more female friendly Darth and Halo person look now they’re doused in PINK)
Good news Girls! You can also use an offensive weapon! (See how we’ve cleverly doused one in PINK so you know which one you should have?)
[I have no cheeky caption for this – what the smeg?]
DON’T BE SO HARD ON PINK
Are we being too hard on PINK? Here’s a few REALLY COOL PINK THINGS just to make up for all the pink bashing:
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- The Pink Ladies
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- The Pink Panther
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- Miss Piggy
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- Breast Cancer Research Foundation
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- The Pink Teddy from Breaking Bad
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- P!nk
LINKS AND SOURCES
Articles/ links on PINK toys topic:
The Telegraph: “Now’s the time to end the boys’ and girls’ toys gender divide”
– “In the run up to Christmas now’s the time to drop the damaging “blue for boys, pink for girls” toyshop nonsense and for children’s retailers to join the 21st century argues”. Eleanor Muffitt, Dec 2013: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10498316/Nows-the-time-to-end-the-boys-and-girls-toys-gender-divide.html
Independent: “Gender-neutral toys: Why dressing your daughter in pink ‘damages the future of our economy'”
– “Jenny Willott MP and Labour’s Chi Onwurah explain why limiting children’s play may impact their future career choices and hurt British industry”. Felicity Morse, Feb 2014: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/genderneutral-toys-why-dressing-your-daughter-in-pink-damages-the-future-of-our-economy-9111397.html
MyLifetime.com: “Lego Sets For Girls – Cheap Shot Or Good Idea?”: http://moms.mylifetime.com/parenting/blog/lego-sets-girls-cheap-shot-or-good-idea
Mylifetime.com: “This Goldieblox Video Proves That Girls Want More Than Just Pink Toys”: http://moms.mylifetime.com/in-the-news/this-goldieblox-video-proves-that-girls-want-more-than-just-pink-toys
Msmagazine.com: “Kids Toys More Gendered Than Ever”: http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/06/05/kids-toys-more-gendered-than-ever
Daily Mail: “Pink Stinks: Parents Urged To Boycott Shops That Sell ‘Sexist’ Toys For Girls”. Sophie Freeman, Dec 2009: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1233779/Parents-urged-boycott-pink-toys-Minister-backs-boycott-shops-sell-sexist-toys-girls.html
Zeldalily.com: “Young Kids Defy Gender’s Color Association”. Nicole Breanne, Jan 2012: http://zeldalily.com/index.php/2012/01/young-feminists
Zeldalily.com: “A Rethink On Pink Toys For Girls’ Christmas Presents In 2010?”. Amy Allen, Dec 2010: http://zeldalily.com/index.php/2010/12/a-rethink-on-pink-toys-for-girls-christmas-presents-in-2010
Mom-101.com: “Toy companies: Please please please stop ignoring what girls really want. (Hint: it’s not always pink.)”: http://mom-101.com/2014/02/toy-companies-ignoring-what-girls-want-pink-aisle.html
Iilsugar.com: “6 Classic Toys That Have Made the Switch to Pink”: Rebecca Gruber, Nov 2013:
http://www.lilsugar.com/Classic-Toys-Available-Pink-Versions-30764256#photo-30764304
Articles on Entrepreneur Barbie launch:
Forbes: “Mattel’s Latest Affront To Little Girls: Entrepreneur Barbie”. Clare O’Connor, Feb 2014: http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/02/19/mattels-latest-affront-to-little-girls-entrepreneur-barbie
Techcrunch: “Entrepreneurship Barbie Isn’t A Bad Idea Actually”. Alexia Tsotsis, Feb 2014: http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/keep-calm-and-love-math
Entrepreneur: “Introducing Entrepreneur Barbie”. Linda Lacina, Feb 2014: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/231590
Time: “New ‘Entrepreneur Barbie’ Proves That the Perfect Work/Life Balance Is Just a Tiny Tablet Away (An entrepreneur of what, exactly?)”. Jessica Roy, Feb 2014: http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/02/18/new-entrepreneur-barbie-proves-that-the-perfect-worklife-balance-is-just-a-tiny-tablet-away/#ixzz2uEUKVpzw
Daily Mail: “New Entrepreneur Barbie featuring a tiny tablet and smartphone aims to be the ‘chief inspiration officer’ to modern girls”: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2562382/New-Entrepreneur-Barbie-featuring-tiny-tablet-smartphone-aims-chief-inspiration-officer-modern-girls.html#ixzz2uEV9AnJ5
Business Insider: “The Newest Barbie Is An Entrepreneur With A Tiny Tablet And Smartphone”. Hayley Peterson, Feb 2014: http://www.businessinsider.com/entrepreneur-barbie-debuts-with-tiny-tablet-2014-2#ixzz2uEW9ryXF
Misc:
Allureworkshop.org: “Want to look like Barbie? Think again…”. Aug, 2012: http://allureworkshop.org/wanna-look-like-barbie
Elitedaily.com: “14 Lessons To Learn From Barbie”: http://elitedaily.com/women/14-lessons-to-learn-from-barbie
Themarysue.com: “Mattel Exec Defends Barbie’s Unrealistic Proportions, Says They Don’t Affect Girls’ Body Image”. Rebecca Pahle, Feb 2014: http://www.themarysue.com/mattel-exec-barbie-proportion
Blackdollcollecting.blogspot.co.uk: “Happy 30th Anniversary Black Barbie (or 29th)…”: http://blackdollcollecting.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/happy-30th-anniversary-black-barbie-or.html
Blackdollcollecting.blogspot.co.uk: “Barbie Basics From Ebony To White”: http://blackdollcollecting.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/barbie-basics-from-ebony-to-white.html
Dailybri.com: “The Naked Truth: Barbie Without Makeup”: http://www.dailybri.com/2013/04/15/the-naked-truth-barbie-without-makeup
Dailybri.com: “What Barbite Looks Like In Fat”: http://www.dailybri.com/2014/01/07/what-barbie-looks-like-in-fat
Women in IT wanted to attend an Interconnect event on 29th January to network with students. Can you help?
‘Start Up Your Digital Career’ is being held on Wednesday 29th January at the Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh. This event is being held in conjunction with Harvey Nash Scotland staff who will deliver an interactive workshop for students from 11am-12:45pm covering topics such as CVs, interviews and networking.
We are looking for women working in IT to participate in a networking lunch with students from 12:45 until 2pm. This will give students an opportunity to practice their networking skills and to hear about your experience working in technology.
If you would like to support women studying computing and are available from 12:45pm until 2pm on 29th January we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Cheryl Cairns at c.cairns@napier.ac.uk for further information and to register.