Open source, open mind, open future - –
is IT ready for diversity?

Only every fifth employee of the new technologies industry is a woman, despite the fact that women statistically more often than men graduate from higher education. In the European Union, only 24 out of 1000 female graduates have studied in the field of ICT, and only 6 decide to develop a career in this industry, while for men the number is 49.

Legal regulations, both local and abroad, comprise the idea of equal treatment of persons in the field of employment, education, access to goods and services regardless of gender or racial or ethnic origin. And yet, the number of those who declare unequal treatment due to age or ethnicity is increasing. In studies from 2018, 16% of 3,900 people surveyed indicated unemployment because of the age as the most common manifestation of ageism.

What is the reason for these inequalities? Why, despite programs encouraging women to take up a career in ICT, are they still lacking in the new technologies sector? Where do age and ethnic prejudices come from, since so much is said about the benefits of building diversified teams? What impact does a lack of diversity have on business?

As a company that has accessibility and openness in our DNA, we have been developing a conference with "open" in its name, an event considered as a platform for the exchange of experience and knowledge. Nowadays, however, this discussion cannot only be about technology. We decided that it should also be extended to matters related to the culture and openness in the entire IT industry.

To the debate we wish to invited a group of exceptional women who have been successful in the world that has been considered "masculine" for a long time. We are interested in their perspectives and personal experiences - how they designed their careers, what limitations they had to face and what advise they could give to other women working or pursuing to work in IT.

We also want to see how contemporary companies approach the issue of diversity. We will try to find the answer to the question whether the huge pace of the digital arket development and the growing diversity of available technologies also bring changes into the organizational culture of IT companies and increasing diversity in teams in terms of gender, age and ethnicity. And if so - is the pace of these changes sufficient. And finally - we will consider whether companies that do not include the factor of diversity in their strategic and operational activities do not deprive themselves of the opportunity to increase their competitiveness.

The event will be conducted as a panel debate with 4-5 female speakers, an IT authority figures, with the participation of a debate’s moderator, with an audience of about 50 women working on IT market.