Resources for Women in Vancouver Tech

It’s no secret that women represent an embarrassingly low percent of the technology workforce in Vancouver. So, hundreds of professional women have turned their frustrations into helpful societies, directories, forums, and communities to improve Vancouver’s gender equality quotient. I’m proud to say I know some of these women, and proud to list their services here.

I’d like to thank Jessie Kaur for her help on this post. She found descriptions for many of the links. Many of these suggestions came from Girl Gang, a Facebook group for women in Media and Communications. Thanks very much to those folks!

This is an ongoing list. Please, if you know of anything I haven’t found, let me know in the comments below.

Cheers!

These organizations hold events, conferences, and workshops.

The Society for Canadian Women In Science and Technology has encouraged women into science, engineering, and technology. The organization supports and promotes the education of girls and women through programs and activities that they develop in partnership with the community. They work to boost the numbers, retention and status of women in the workplace by facilitating networking, mentoring and advocating woman-friendly policies. They highlight opportunities, achievements and positive messages for and about women in the field by raising public awareness and guiding policy implementation.

The Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology promotes women in science, engineering, trades and technology, and celebrating their contributions to these fields. Annual conferences and publications on the advancement of women are central to this coalition.

Canadian Women in Communications and Technologies engages and advances women in careers in communications, digital media and technology through a coast to coast community network of industry support, leadership, education and mentoring.

Women in Engineering in Vancouver has promoted skill enhancement workshops and strong connections to a diverse group of women in engineering across workplaces, engineering fields, and universities, in the Vancouver Region.

Women in Film & Television Vancouver is a not-for-profit society that further the artistic and professional development of women in the Canadian screen-based media community. The organization recognizes and promotes the artistic and professional contributions of women in the Canadian screen-based media community and in the community at large.

Women In Games International, the Vancouver branch: a great resource for connecting with other game developers.

Ladies learning code is a great organization focussed on digital literacy.

Vancouver Film School offers a full ride 30K scholarship to one female candidate in it’s Game design program (Thank you Brenda Bailey Gershkovtich, Executive Director, Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland, past CEO Silicon Sisters for the last three links).

Power to Fly is for women working remotely in tech.

Westcoast Women in Engineering Science and Technology (WWEST) to the list. WWEST is the operating name for the 2015-2020 NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (CWSE), BC and Yukon Region. The organization’s mission is to promote science and to engage students, industry, and the community to increase the awareness and participation of women and other under-represented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). WWEST works locally and, in conjunction with the other CWSE Chairs, nationally on policy, research, advocacy, facilitation, and pilot programs that support women in science and engineering.

The growth of women-owned companies continues to outpace the national average. In 2015, there’s no shortage of bold, brave and brilliant females who are becoming entrepreneurs to watch and learn from.

The Vinetta Project is a female founder pitch forum and tech ecosystem based in San Francisco, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington DC. It sources high potential female founders with proven business models and offers them access to proprietary online resources, exclusive networks and capital from vetted investors. If you’re looking for seed or series A capital, enjoy networking with highly motivated people, and have a great startup idea, this is a pitch forum to join Free to pitch, $25 to attend with food and drinks.

Forum for Women Entrepreneurs provides women with the education, empowerment, and energy they need to become successful entrepreneurs. Programs and Events at FWE are designed to support and mentor women who are venturing into new business opportunities or add to existing business. From start-up advice to specific tips and tricks, FWE leaders, advisors, and business professionals share their expertise.

Young Women in Business SFU strives to engage emerging female leaders within our community by providing opportunities for personal and professional growth. They offer programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

Ladies Who Launch – Our primary objective is to give women access to the tools and education to take their business idea or project from inception to a rewarding and profitable endeavour. We provide resources, inspiration, support and access to a community of like-minded women you can network with; enabling you to share both your successes and struggles.

Girl Gang connects Metro Vancouver-based women in media, communications, tech and related fields to foster connections and support one another in our professional development. We share jobs, resources, collaboration opportunities, personal projects and feminist ephemera intended to spark conversation and inspiration.

These forums, also mentioned in Networking in Van, are outside of the tech industry but helpful to female entrepreneurs in Vancouver:

The Women’s Enterprise Centre, by Western Economic Diversification Canada, assists women starting and growing businesses in British Columbia. Through their program, One-to-One Mentoring, Women’s Enterprise Centre brings women who are in the early stages of business together with experienced women business owners to create successful mentoring relationships.

The Beedie Graduate Business Women’s Council holds forums on female leadership and business research. If you want to nerd out on feminist statistics, I suggest dabbling here.

Crave Vancouver – Innovatively connects urban gals to the sassiest, gutsiest, most inspiring people they need to know in Vancouver. Our modern marketplace of soirees, gatherings and online networking serves as your ambassador to everything there is to CRAVE in our city.

Enterprising Mom’s Network (EMN) – Chapter meeting typically lasts for 2 hours.  The format consists of: 45-min Speaker Presentation, 15-min Networking Break, 45-min Small Group Discussion. The collaborative small group discussion setting allows you to share your success stories and inspiration, brainstorm for ideas and suggestions, ask for feedback, and support other mom entrepreneurs with your own resources and experience.  We believe that more heads are better than one!

eWomen Network – Fastest growing membership-based professional women’s networking organization in North America (according to their website). Committed to helping women and their businesses achieve, succeed and thrive in the new economy.

Forum of Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) – All who are entrepreneurially-minded. It is our mission to provide tools, energy, education and support to all women, encouraging them to become wildly successful entrepreneurs. All of their leading-edge professional programs aim to build long-term relationships and foster a strong bond between our members, advisors, speakers and high-calibre members of the business community.

Momcafe Vancouver and North Shore – Our mission is simple: To provide a forum to connect and inspire women. Through meetings, seminars and internet-based communication tools, we bring positive and inspiring role models to speak to momcafé. Their experiences and successes prove that the challenges of motherhood are no longer obstacles to having a fulfilling career, business, or community involvement. It is up to you to choose how to use their advice or experience. Facebook.

Women’s Enterprise Centre (WEC) – Put on a number of small business events and workshops throughout the year. They also partner with women’s business organizations to host special events for women entrepreneurs.

Women in Biz Network – We believe Women/Mom Entrepreneurs need opportunities to connect with other like minded individuals who can support, mentor and assist each other. Our objective is to provide supportive solutions to the established and aspiring entrepreneurs through: Workshops (breakfast & cocktail parties), Small business and marketing consulting, Biz Blogging, Small business resources, Webinars, Business Referrals.

Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) – For women presidents of multimillion-dollar companies. The members of the WPO take part in professionally-facilitated peer advisory groups in order to bring the ‘genius out of the group’ and accelerate the growth of their businesses.