Insights from The Women in Tech Panel at Community Summit 2024

A few weeks ago our team attended Community Summit 2024 in San Antonio, Texas, where we acted as media sponsors for the Women in Technology Panel and Luncheon. The session brought together an impressive array of thought leaders, including our very own host, Marie Wiese, along with Grace Bolen, Kristen Sage, Meron Gebremedhin, and El Bush! Together, they unpacked fresh approaches for rebranding the technology industry as a truly inclusive space where diverse voices can thrive. Find out more about some of the key takeaways below: 

Visibility Drives Representation 

Grace Bolen stressed that visibility across tech roles — from junior developers to executives — is key to inspiring women and gender diverse folks to join and stay in the industry. It’s not just about filling roles but valuing the contributions they make at every level. Seeing diverse representation in a wide range of roles is crucial. Companies can support this by showcasing women’s achievements, promoting from within, and creating mentorship opportunities. By doing so, the industry can inspire a new generation of individuals to see themselves in tech careers.

Creativity is Welcome in Technology 

El Bush encouraged the audience to reimagine the tech sector as a space that welcomes creative and strategic thinkers, not just traditional coders. They pointed out that tech is as much about collaboration and creativity as it is about programming, with roles in UX design, marketing, and project management all playing critical parts. Shifting this perspective can open tech to people with diverse talents who might not otherwise consider it. By promoting tech as a sector where innovative, cross-disciplinary thinkers are needed, companies can attract individuals from all backgrounds, creating a broader and more inclusive talent pipeline. 

Responsible Adoption and Implementation of AI is Essential

The topic of responsible AI was on the top of everybody's minds of Community Summit, especially as it becomes increasingly present across the technology industry and world at large. Kristen Sage emphasized the responsibility companies have to build AI systems that promote fairness and inclusivity, while El added that AI has to be human-centered from the ground up. The panelists highlighted that without diverse voices shaping AI, there’s a risk that existing biases will be inadvertently reinforced, widening disparities instead of closing them. By involving underrepresented perspectives in AI development, companies can create tools that better serve all communities, using AI to empower rather than exclude. It was clear: responsible AI isn’t just a technical goal but a social imperative.

We Must Build a Culture of Belonging

Meron Gebremedhin shared insights on creating a culture of belonging, which she believes is crucial for retaining diverse talent. She pointed out that it’s not enough to have diversity programs; employees need to feel valued and included in their everyday work environments. Fostering belonging means encouraging team members to bring their authentic selves to work, where their unique perspectives are recognized. When companies build these inclusive cultures, they create lasting impressions that help retain talent and attract others who may have previously felt tech wasn’t for them.

This panel showed that every step toward a more inclusive, diverse tech industry creates positive ripple effects. We were thrilled to be able to not only support such an important event but have two members of our Women Talk Tech team share their insights on stage! We look forward to continuing such important conversations moving forward. 

Ready to get involved? Download our Women Talk Tech Responsible AI Guide to join the conversation on shaping a tech landscape that values every voice and drives meaningful change!