Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Google & Qualcomm Lead Women Enhancing Technology Group


At the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting last week, the Institute of International Education announced that they were launching a new CGI Commitment to Action called Women Enhancing Technology (WeTech). This action is aimed at helping girls enter and succeed in technology careers. To achieve the goals that they have outline, the IIE recruited Google and Qualcomm Incorporated to lead the initiative.

“WeTech is driven by our partners’ shared vision of getting more women into the tech pipeline, from entry level to the C suite,” said Trish Tierney, Executive Director of IIE’s Center for Women’s Leadership Initiatives. “This is good for business and good for society. Career success will enable women to gain respect and influence in their offices, in their families, and in their communities.”

In the United States, the percentage of computer science bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees awarded to women has declined from 32 percent in 2002 to 21 percent in 2012, and women make up only 18 percent of computer science bachelor’s degree recipients. Among Fortune 500 technology companies, women represent fewer than 14 percent of corporate officers and board of director positions. (Source: CGI Press Release)

“We are pleased to be part of this collaboration which supports women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education,” said Peggy Johnson, Executive Vice President of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and President of Global Market Development for Qualcomm. “STEM skills serve as the building blocks for the next generation of scientists, inventors, engineers, and entrepreneurs, and it is our sincere hope that, through programs like WeTech, women around the world will continue to enter technology fields and become great inventors.”

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