Ada Lovelace Day – Celebrating Female Role Models

Ada Lovelace Day has become more widely celebrated in recent years in recognition of the contributions of Lovelace and the many women who followed her into the STEM field. In Lovelace’s case (as in many others) this realization came long after her death in 1852, at the age of 36.

Lovelace effectively reimagined the possibilities of friend and collaborator Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. She created a set of instructions for the machine, which is understood to be the first attempt at a computer program. did. Lovelace was an innovator, a brilliant mind who combined extraordinary mathematical ability with creativity and imagination.

Below is an excerpt from Lovelace’s letter to Babbage asking him to stop interfering in her calculations. This helps remind women working in STEM that she still encounters some attitudes that wouldn’t have been irrelevant in the 19th century (if necessary).

Why Role Models Matter

Some of Lovelace’s experiences working with Babbage may be relevant to modern women, so young girls who are considering or taking their first steps into a tech career Young women can find more contemporary role models.

A good place to start is Computing & CRN Women in Tech Festivalwhich will be streamed live in London on the 3rd^rd In November, it will be available digitally on November 9th. The festival celebrates and shares the successes of women working in technology. The agenda is filled with motivational keynotes, case studies, her panel discussions, virtual sessions and fringe events with truly inspiring women. All are great role models and inspirational whether you are just starting your tech career or more experienced.

Growth and Innovation Consultant and Co-Founder Tech North Advocate, Naomi Timperley explains how important role models are. It’s especially important to the young people she speaks to and leaders in schools, colleges and universities.

“Whether it’s digital skills, a woman on a board, or a female VC, role models are very important. College computer science courses start with a certain number of women attending the course. , 3 years later, why is that happening? I still have a lot of work to do to understand why, but I think role models are great and should be championed at every opportunity.

“When I go to elementary school and share these stories with my kids, they all go, ‘Wow, that’s amazing.’ Also, people don’t have linear careers anymore. You can be interested in technology regardless.”

Flavilla Fongang, CEO and co-founder of a technology branding and marketing agency 3 color rule and non-profit founder GTA Black Women in Tech We will hold the Women in Tech Festival. One of her reasons for founding her Black Women in Tech is that the number of high-achieving Black women is low, so Black women and girls need to find role models and support them to achieve their goals. It left me with no confidence that it would help to inspire. Fongang is Tech London Advocate

“I’ve been to a few events and I’ve noticed that there aren’t many women who look like me. Sometimes there aren’t any women at all.”

Fongang founded the network to support black women and increase their visibility.

“It’s our vision to normalize excellence for black women,” she explains.

The passion that women like Fongang and Timperley have to seed a more diverse tech workforce is more than just realizing diverse talent, it’s important in and of itself. Employers are well aware that if the tech industry is to continue to grow and contribute billions of dollars to the UK economy, the pool of talent employed by tech employers will need to grow significantly. I’m here. If technology employers continue to look for talent in the same small pool, the skills gap will not get any smaller.

You don’t need Ada Lovelace’s mathematics to figure it out.

Computing and CRN will host the Women in Tech Festival in London live on November 3rd and digitally on November 9th.See agenda details here

We are happy to celebrate Ada Lovelace Day with a 20% discount code for tickets. Use code ADA20 at checkout.