How Mentorship Can Spark a Lifelong Passion for Tech
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How Mentorship Can Spark a Lifelong Passion for Tech

Every year, on the fourth Thursday of April, thousands of professionals within the technology industry will take a break from writing code or developing the next ground-breaking application to do something even more important — mentor girls and young women. This is part of Girls in ICT day, a global program of the United Nation’s International Telecommunication Union that takes place in 140 countries worldwide. This day of mentorship is incredibly important, because as of today, women only make up approximately one-quarter of the ICT workforce[1].

Over the next decade, the Internet of Everything will transform everything from the clothes we wear, to the cities we live in, to the way we provide healthcare and education. This $19 trillion Internet of Everything economy will generate millions of new jobs in every sector, and we must ensure our workforce is ready to help us take advantage of the opportunity these advances will offer. Globally, there will be shortage of around 40 million jobs that require high-skilled workers, according to McKinsey. We must make sure that these positions are open to young people from all backgrounds, including girls and young women who enter the technology industry. 

If we do, the results will be incredible. In South Africa, a young woman named Soso was able to move not only herself, but her entire family out of poverty because she had the drive, means, and motivation to take technology training classes and develop a high-level of expertise in networking. We need a generation of young women with careers in technology, like Soso, in every corner of the world. We’ve got to spark an interest in, and a passion for, technology for girls and young women all over.

It will take focused strategy and execution that includes not only wide-scale mentoring, but also the following:

Technology training programs that meet the needs of the Internet of Everything economy.

Training programs can accelerate the number of skilled networking employees that enter the global workforce. Cisco’s Networking Academy, for instance, has trained over five million students, and 96 percent of those reported say that the skills they learned at NetAcad have been important to their overall career. This is just one example of the impact we can have by offering tailored programs that prepare students for the Internet of Everything economy.

A massive infusion of technology in schools.

To increase the pipeline of students interested in technology, engagement with technology needs to happen much earlier than it does today. We can achieve this by equipping classrooms with robust Wi-Fi, putting technology in the hands of students at a younger age, and incorporating elements of technology and computer science in primary and secondary level curricula.

The transformation of classroom models

Our teachers do an incredible job. But introducing new technology into the classroom will change the way that teachers teach and students learn, for the better. Imagine the possibilities if we put a Wi-Fi enabled tablet in the hands of every student in a classroom. Also, we need to make sure that curriculum keeps up with the pace of technology. Additionally, non-governmental organizations – like the MIND Research Institute – are finding new ways to teach subjects like math and science in better, more universal ways. We have to take the pilot programs that work and bring them to scale.

The bottom line is this: the opportunities that exist today are incredible, and those on the horizon are beyond anything we can imagine. But if this technology transition is truly to be successful, we must ensure that students of all backgrounds — especially girls and young women — have the opportunity to participate in the developing Internet of Everything economy.

 

Cisco has been a proud supporter of Girls in ICT Day since it began in 2010. This year, on April 23, Cisco employees will mentor 3,000 young women in 80 Cisco offices around the world with programs including mentoring with engineers and hands-on technology demonstrations. Click here to find out more about how Cisco is supporting Girls in ICT Day, particularly with our newly launched global mentoring initiative, Girls Power Tech.

 

 

[1] http://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/IDPM/working_papers/di/di_wp49.pdf

La'Treall Maddox

Trusted Advisor | Customer Success Executive

8y

Jay Koehler S&TO could leverage this for a) giving back and b) talent pipeline...

Mentor is most important for success -- especially for coming home veterans & in second-career transition professionals. I myself 'perform' duty with ACP ..best

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Lydia Schumm

Global Strategic Marketing Leader | Program Management | Partner & Channel Development

8y

Women in IT should take time to inspire young girls in school, in our communities today - while leading by example. Let's pay it forward to the next generation of women. The possibilities are endless with IoE.

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Alveena Bakhshi

Capital Markets | Product Management | Digital Transformation | Data Intelligence

8y

That is praiseworthy. I know a few more firms which are creating or helping create opportunities for women in IT. I must however comment that I am always impressed by how driven young girls are and being able to help them is more a privilege than anything else. At any time in one's career one should be mentoring at least one young professional whether it is a summer intern or your kid's friend or volunteering. And I don't remember a single time when I did not have a mentor who did not take the time out for a cup of coffee.

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Being a mentor multiplies your impact, enriches your day, and equips you with new perspective. Enjoy!

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