Online Program

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Thursday, October 19
Thu, Oct 19, 3:50 PM - 5:00 PM
Aventine Ballroom E
Speed Session 2

How to Use Data to Influence People and Win Friends (303943)

*Sydeaka Watson, AT&T Chief Data Office 

Keywords: gender diversity, women in data, influence, data storytelling, girls in STEM, data science

Although women in tech have been historically underrepresented, the field of data science has seen a significant increase in women graduates in recent years. Digital age has opened up great opportunities for women in data. Yet, women still make up only 26% of data professionals, according to a report by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT). When it comes to hiring, promotions or in-person interactions and ability to influence, do women encounter the inherent gender bias? Have you ever witnessed a woman being interrupted or dismissed when stating her opinion, ideas or research-based recommendations? To be successful in the data field, it's not enough to possess stellar technical and analytical skills. True value comes from the ability to relate the compelling data story and to inspire action. How women can overcome gender bias and tech sector stereotypes and use the power of data to 'influence people and win friends'? How can we work together to empower girls and women to do what they love, being recognized for their work, without wasting a single thought on the fact that they are female, to truly benefit from gender diversity for better results overall?