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SHARE Women in IT Effort Works to Increase Representation and Support Those in the Tech Industry

SHARE recently launched a new effort to encourage more women to pursue careers in technology, increase representation at the conference, and support women already working in the industry. The result of this Women in IT initiative became clear back in March 2019 at SHARE Phoenix, where several sessions focused on women in technology and shattering the glass ceiling.
 
The initiative has gone even further with SHARE Pittsburgh. This August, there will be 14 sessions focused on women in technology, including:

Monday, August 5

Work-Life Balance: No Regrets—Just Lessons Learned!
In this session, IBM Vice President for System Z Development Maria Boonie will share her thoughts on what has worked and what lessons were learned along the way to becoming a vice president within the IBM Corporation. 
11:15-12:15 p.m.
Room 315-316
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=9194&SessionDateID=50
 
Overcoming the Impostor in YOU
Impostor Syndrome might not be a psychiatric diagnosis, but most women with STEM careers got it. This panel will explain what impostor syndrome is, how to overcome it, and how to create a workplace where it won’t foster.
2:15-3:15 p.m.
Room 407
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=9205&SessionDateID=50
 
The Elite Squad—Early-Tenure Employees Share Their Experience
Listen to a group of exceptional early-tenure employees share their experiences and best practices on how to speed up your career growth, and excel in the world of mainframes!
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Room 407
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=8898&SessionDateID=50
 
zNextGen Project Opening and Keynote: Someone Old, Someone New, Knowledge Borrowed, z/Big Blue
This is the opening session for the zNextGen Project, open to all attendees. The project officers will take about 10 minutes to introduce the zNextGen community, describe zNextGen’s mission and welcome back returning members. 
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Room 317-318
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=9388&SessionDateID=50 

Tuesday, August 6

Encouraging Women in IT Breakfast
Join in SHARE’s initiative to encourage Women in IT. This networking breakfast is open to all attendees to discuss experiences and share best practices. Be sure to RSVP during your registration, spots are limited!
7:00-8:00 a.m.
Room 413-414
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=9412&SessionDateID=49
 
Spotlighting the up and Coming Women of Z
Join this talk for a spotlight on the fabulous and upcoming ladies of Z. Hear what they’ve been working on for the last year, and what excites them most about working on the mainframe. 
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Room 315-316
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=9032&SessionDateID=49
 
A Journeyman’s Experience Tuning IBM Z for Heavy Linux Workloads
Martha McConaghy shares her practical experiences hosting hundreds of servers on a LinuxONE.
11:15-12:15 p.m.
Room 321
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=9141&SessionDateID=49
 
20 Little Things That You Can Do to Become an Experienced Successful Mainframe System Programmer Sooner Than You Think
ISBANK System Architect Meral Temel on methods systems programmers can use to be successful at their job role.
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Room 401-402
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=9326&SessionDateID=49
 
Writing the Definitive Systems Programmer Resume
SPCI CEO Joe Gallaher on best practices for writing resumes and documenting your experiences as a systems programmer.
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Room 315-316
Read more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=8678&SessionDateID=49
 
Women in IT Panel: Real World Experiences
Bring your questions for a panel discussion with representatives from various segments of the IT ecosystem (vendors, commercial industry and academia) as they discuss their experiences as women in IT.
4:45-5:45 p.m.
Room 301
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=8675&SessionDateID=49

Wednesday, August 7 

Becoming an Extraordinary Leader
IBM Executive Systems Architect DeWayne Hughes leads a discussion to evaluate, reflect, and plan growth into extraordinary leadership.
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Room 315-316
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=8530&SessionDateID=52
 
Women in IT: Planning Meeting
Martha McConaghy facilitates a discussion on continuing SHARE’s women in IT efforts, identifying activities for future events and looking at what can be done between SHARE events to further this effort.
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Room 315-316
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=8676&SessionDateID=52

Thursday, August 8 

Success in Life and Business for NextGen Professionals
IBM Executive Systems Architect DeWayne Hughes discusses how young professionals can find success in business and life. 
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Room 315-316
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=8531&SessionDateID=51
 
Women in IT: Shining a Light on a Blind Spot or Two
Anne E. Caluori of SumThinking explores constraints between and within us that can compromise or even sabotage our efforts to support women in STEM disciplines.
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Room 301
Learn more: https://events.share.org/Summer2019/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=9156&SessionDateID=51
 
Each of these sessions aims to support women in technology, address issues that haven’t been commonly discussed, increase representation, provide resources for women in IT and inspire others to move into the technology industry.
 
This Women in IT effort has gone so far already, and the best is yet to come.