Women in Tech @DNB
We are Women in Tech @DNB, based in Oslo and Bergen. Our primary goal is to create a social platform where women can connect, feel a sense of belonging, share experiences and knowledge in a male-dominated profession. We hope that through our activities, we can highlight role models within the field of technology and cultivate ties across various domains.
- Amanda Midttun Søreide, Maja Kjelstrup, Tonje Sandgrind Refvik, Therese Sigmundstad & Thao Tran
Foto: Stig B. Fiksdal
Role models in the tech industry is a powerful source of inspiration and motivation
The global study “The Future Tech Workforce – Breaking Gender Barriers” [1] shows that 42 % see the lack of mentors as a barrier. It’s hard to have role models and mentors when you don’t see or interact with them! Seeing other women thrive in tech roles helps to break down stereotypes and promotes visibility, which is essential for fostering confidence and ambition among women in the field. It can feel lonely to be the only woman on a team, which makes it critical to connect with another woman who share your experience. The top obstacles facing women in tech also include unconscious discrimination (39%), different growth opportunities compared to men (36%), and unequal pay for the same skills (35%) [1].
Why the focus on diversity in tech?
Gender diversity in tech is important because it fosters innovation and creativity, leads to better products and improves team performance, shows research from for instance McKinsey [2] and World Economic Forum [3]. Diverse teams bring varied perspectives, which can result in more effective problem-solving and decision-making, ultimately benefiting both industry and society. According to a McKinsey analysis [4], there is a European tech talent gap of 1.4 million to 3.9 million people by 2027 for EU-27 countries. Increasing the percentage of women in tech from the current 22 % to 45 % could close this talent gap.
"We and many other companies are in continuous transformation, and access to the right technological competence is becoming increasingly important for businesses and the public sector. Therefore, it is crucial that we recruit the best from all backgrounds, because better diversity leads to better decisions.” - Even Westerveld, Head of People & Communication, DNB
Our activities
In general, a strong network can offer guidance and encouragement, helping women navigate their careers more effectively. Women in Tech constitutes of various subgroups with specific purposes, including:
- Codelicious: A series of programming workshops, including snacks and social engagement.Coding together in a friendly environment on fun projects or tasks provides a nice break from a hectic workday. It highlights the creativity that can be applied in work life and offers opportunities to learn from each other. Most importantly, it serves as a social arena to connect across departments and enhance the sense of belonging among women at DNB. The aim is to contribute to women’s careers at DNB by making it the best place to work and encouraging everyone to enjoy coding.
- Oda x DNB: DNB proudly maintains its partnership with the ODA Network, the Nordic region’s largest network dedicated to promoting diversity in technology. This collaboration enhances diversity, leading to better decision-making for companies and society. As a partner, we host numerous networking events featuring inspiring speakers by remarkable women, who share their knowledge and experiences. These events typically include breakfast or dinner, providing participants with the opportunity to connect and engage in meaningful conversations. Additionally, we actively participate in ODA Inspiration Day, an annual tech conference for women held in Oslo. This event serves as a platform to inspire and empower women in the tech industry.
Ultimately, gender shouldn’t matter—programming skills should! We aim to inspire more women to join our internal and external networking events. By doing so, we hope to emphasize the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Kilder:
1. Women Face Challenges In Technology Careers
2. Diversity wins: How inclusion matters
3. Bridging the Gender Gap in Tech: The WEF Global Gender Gap Report 2024