At ABI, we are committed to increasing the participation of women in technology not just here in the US, but all around the world. One of the most interesting parts of our work is our striving to understand how challenges are similar or different for technical women in various countries, and how we can adapt successful interventions to meet the needs of women across cultures.
There is a lot of energy around increasing the representation of women in technology coming from leading groups in Japan. Last year, ABI visited Tsuda College where we had productive dialogue about the similarities and differences in the issues facing technical women in Japan and in the US. Tsuda then participated in the 2009 Grace Hopper Celebration and continued the dialogue.
Last week, we had the visit of 20 students and faculty from Toyama National College of Technology. Toyama is committed to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women technical students. After the leaders of Toyama college visited ABI a month ago, they decided to send 20 students and faculty on a trip to Silicon Valley, where their female students and leaders could meet with nonprofit and industry leaders, form partnerships, and exchange ideas. The group met with ABI CEO Telle Whitney and with me last week. We were impressed with their passion and their awareness of the issues facing technical women in Japan and in the US. One student asked about how we work with executives to change the culture of organizations to make them more inclusive for women, as opposed to solely focusing on giving women the tools to navigate existing cultures. These young women were ready to work towards changing the culture of technology.