At the WomenTech Network we’re fortunate to have a wonderful, global community of ambassadors who help us spread the word about our work and especially our upcoming WomenTech Global Conference 2020. We would like you to meet these wonderful people as well; therefore, we’re going to be introducing you to some of our most active members.
Today, get to know Abir Ghenaiet:
She is the Founder and CEO of “The Algerian Desk Institute: Technology by Engagement’’, which provides digital training to Algerian teachers of English since 2017.
Abir is a certified TEFL teacher by the Algerian Ministry of National Education for the last 5 years and is implementing methodology of creating quality learning environments and experiences for students. Through deliberate and structured exposure to instructional materials, learning activities, and interaction, she helps students access information, obtain skills, and practice higher levels of thinking in both English and Coding.
Abir has a Master’s in Language Sciences as well as a Higher Education Leadership Diploma from Amherst C&P University. She is an active member of The International Association of Engineers (IAENG) among other programs like Code First Girls. Abir is an active online volunteer for humanitarian and educational causes.
Beside her passion for technology, Abir is an independent researcher interested in machine learning in Education, speech-language pathology studies, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, natural language processing, and has been certified in various related fields.
“If there is support, diversity and inclusion for women in technology fields, we can overcome a great challenge facing the tech industries today which is lack of a good talent pool and this is why I believe that the WomenTech Network is going to help me and others reach Tech goals. WomenTech Network is a community that promotes gender diversity and focuses on skills and competencies. I would recommend everyone to participate in the upcoming event and unlock their full potential.”
In Abir Ghenaiet’s Own Words:
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Do you think we need to be writing code to be in the tech industry?
I am a TEFL teacher by definition, and I had zero clue about what coding even meant. I do not have a computer science degree, and yet I had a calling within me to learn. I have self-paced myself to a learning path, I have learned a lot, and got certified in a lot of Tech related subjects, and now I am networking solution for a future workforce of no-collar professionals - creators, entrepreneurs, and freelancers. I have acquired practical and professional milestones in the tech industry.
Diversity is key to innovation, thinking alike is not feasible.
Diversity is not just about gender, ethnicity, neurodiversity, socio-economic diversity, etc., but it’s also about having a tech industry diverse in skillset. So if you’re a woman contemplating joining the tech industry, my advice is ‘take the leap’ - because if I can, you can too, and I can say that taking risks will lead to greater opportunities like being endorsed by the WomenTech Network on a mission to unite IT enthusiasts and pave them the way to embark on an exciting tech journey.
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Have you ever been played down because you’re a woman in tech?
I have faced bias and sometimes overt discrimination from society. For example, I recently entered a hackathon tournament round, and I had to select "male" as my gender for the entry to be taken seriously because my contributions are usually disregarded. At Tech webinars discussions, attendees would only direct questions to male presenters, but I always knew that my insights were on point and that’s what matters!
I also met some incredible people along the way, who have taken me under their wing like Anna Radulovski (Founder & CEO of the WomenTech Network). These incredible people want the industry to change, they want to see more women rise the ranks, and they’re actively mentoring and supporting aspiring Tech females like me.
Female IT employees often report feeling as though they don’t have the full support of their coworkers.
They also feel a lack of support at home in cases where their family members and friends still embrace cultural biases regarding women in the workforce. Attitudes about the role of women at home often prevent female IT workers from achieving a healthy work-life balance. Also, new mothers often cut short their paid maternity leave because they feel as though they will lose their job or promotion because of their absence.
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How can women get the right support?
Handling inequality and discrimination in the workplace is hard on its own, but handling it without any support for their chosen career makes things even harder. Working on improving the quality of family communication can go a long way in making sure that every female IT worker’s family member understands that their job in the IT industry is important to them.
Technology exists for men and women and so does IT employment.
As companies and families work to erase gender-based prejudices, more women will aspire for a career in the tech industry. Girls need positive male and female role models so that they will never consider their gender as a negative attribute.
To help young women succeed in technology, the WomenTech Network is on a mission to unite 100 000 women in tech to discuss things that matter! Join (June 10-12th) the WomenTech Global Conference.
