Ten years in the past, Cisco Networking Academy launched the Ladies Rock-IT initiative within the APJC area to assist deal with the gender imbalance within the tech business.
This system was designed to indicate younger ladies that there’s a future for them in tech, with actions together with Be taught-A-Thons, volunteer occasions, and stay digital broadcasts that includes distinguished ladies in IT who may function inspiring role-models for Ladies Rock-IT contributors. Throughout this time, Ladies Rock-IT has hosted 82 broadcast occasions with 141 audio system, seen by over 2 million viewers, leading to 868,481 course registrations.
Present LinkedIn knowledge suggests ladies compromise simply 29.2% of all Science Know-how Engineering Math (STEM) employees. As a result of this underrepresentation of ladies within the STEM workforce at this time reinforces an underrepresentation sooner or later, it is important we deal with this challenge.
At Cisco our company function is to energy an inclusive future for all, and addressing a gender imbalance in STEM is an integral a part of that.
Attracting ladies to tech
I’m thrilled to report that efforts like Ladies Rock-IT are paying off. Over the previous ten years, we’ve elevated the presence of ladies and women in Cisco Networking Academy programs from 20 % to 27 %, globally. Clearly, now we have additional to go, however a 35 % improve in participation of ladies in this system is a big achievement that speaks volumes about our collective dedication.
Large points
Yearly because the inception of Ladies Rock-IT in 2013, ladies on the reducing fringe of technological innovation talk about their expertise within the area. Members acquire beneficial insights about how ladies can thrive in what remains to be too regularly seen as a male area.
From its first regional APJC speaker Monica Morrow who, on the time, was the area’s Chief Technical Officer and spoke about having a seat on the desk, to final yr’s inspiring world panel broadcasting on efficiently making use of know-how to local weather tech challenges, Ladies Rock-IT contributors get to listen to from those that have cast significant careers in tech, addressing urgent problems with the day.
Women in ICT Day: a marquee Ladies Rock-IT occasion
The annual marquee occasion of Ladies Rock-IT aligns with Worldwide Women in ICT Day. This yr, the Ladies Rock-IT program addressed Synthetic Intelligence (AI), which has the potential to vary every thing, together with its inherent moral challenges.
AI is about to vary the world, and tomorrow’s IT workforce must be AI-literate. In our Q2 FY24 Cisco Networking Academy Scholar End result Survey of 1,400 college students, 63 % of Cisco Networking Academy college students inform us they’re utilizing AI at this time and 17 % have already got superior expertise on this space.
We’re proud our college students are at the vanguard of know-how studying. The truth is, 88 % of our college students imagine Cisco Networking Academy is on the forefront of this quickly evolving tech world.
Our latest Cisco Networking Academy pupil survey reveals that 53 % of males are already harnessing AI at work, in comparison with simply 44 % of females, however that extra ladies than males are anticipating AI schooling.
Women in ICT Actions
This yr’s Women in ICT Day on April 25 impacted 36,025 college students reached by way of the stay broadcast, World Be taught-A-Thon, and Cisco worker volunteer occasions, with 1.23 million attain on social media channels.
Congratulations to the Ladies Rock-IT crew and Cisco volunteers for orchestrating a really impactful Women in ICT Day occasion. It was an inspiring showcase that highlighted our dedication to fostering variety within the tech business.
Inspiring audio system
For our stay broadcast, main ladies in AI shared their expertise within the area.
Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf mentioned her work as a computational ecologist working on the distinctive intersection of laptop science, wildlife biology, and social sciences. Tanya is Director of the Translational Knowledge Analytics Institute and Professor of Pc Science Engineering, Electrical and Pc Engineering, in addition to Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology on the Ohio State College.
Dr. Elizabeth Bondi-Kelly, Assistant Professor on the College of Michigan explored the impression of AI on society. She mentioned moral issues of AI and advocates for accountable AI improvement to mitigate dangers and guarantee helpful outcomes for all.
World Be taught-A-Thon
This yr, the World Be taught-A-Thon noticed college students team-up to take introductory programs in Knowledge Science or Cybersecurity, with a digital badge awarded to these reaching 70 % or extra on their examination and a Cisco Be taught-A-Thon expertise digital badge.
“I’m actually impressed by Ladies Rock-IT,” says attendee Thendeka Zesuliwe Zikode from rural Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. “My want is to check extra and get full help in know-how and AI, in order that I might help different women round my ’hood.”
Cisco occasions
Over 230 Cisco volunteers organized occasions in Cisco places of work and faculties worldwide this yr. Attendees had been in a position to meet ladies working for Cisco and discuss to them about their expertise in tech.
Become involved
Lastly, I’d wish to take this chance to thank all of the Cisco staff, Academy companions and instructors, and our audio system for getting behind Women in ICT. The impression this makes wouldn’t be attainable with out you.
Be taught how one can become involved in 2025
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