AV俱乐部

International Women鈥檚 Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women, raise awareness about gender equity, and recognize their contributions across industries. At AV俱乐部 Information Technology Services (ITS), women have been instrumental in shaping the University鈥檚 digital landscape, driving innovation, and advancing technological progress. 聽

ITS women have come together to share their experiences, celebrate their contributions, discuss the ongoing journey toward gender equity in technology, and inspire the next generation of women pursuing careers in IT.

Celebrating International Women's Day聽

As efforts toward gender equality continue, recognizing women鈥檚 contributions in IT remains extremely important. International Women鈥檚 Day is a powerful reminder of the progress made and the work still needed to close the gender gap in the field. 聽

鈥淚nternational Women鈥檚 Day is a day to make us visible. If we were treated fairly and equitably, then the day wouldn't exist,鈥� emphasizes Diane Oram, End Point Administrator.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to highlight where equity and equality stand because we鈥檙e not there yet. It鈥檚 also crucial to empower other women, so they know we stand together,鈥� says Jennifer Whynot, Service Operations Manager.

Accelerate Action聽

This year鈥檚 International Women鈥檚 Day theme, 鈥淎ccelerate Action,鈥� recognizes women鈥檚 contributions across various fields, raises awareness about gender equality, and promotes empowerment. By amplifying the voice of women in IT and encouraging mentorship opportunities, we can establish a more equitable environment where聽women can lead and thrive.

鈥淧eople are either going to assume that you were hired because you're a female. Just prove them wrong鈥�, reminds Cheryl Connell, Senior Wireless Administrator.

鈥淚 have worked on co-op hiring and understand the importance of mentorship for students and early-career professionals,鈥� says Jeevitha Ravi, Junior Information Security Officer.聽

Drawing from her experiences, Jeevitha 鈥渁dvocates for workplace policies that support women and accessible learning opportunities.鈥澛犅�

鈥淏eing loud, visible, amplifying each other and not being quiet to protect people's egos聽is really important鈥�, highlights Jody Couch, Chief Information Officer Assistant, Vice-President, Information Technology Services.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also about recognizing and celebrating each other鈥檚 contributions,鈥� urges Heather Fraser, Deputy CIO & Director, Enterprise Application Services.聽

Women Entering the Tech Field

While the tech field has made progress in reducing the gender gap, there is still significant room for improvement. Women in ITS shared their insights and advice for women aspiring to build careers in IT.聽

鈥淒on't wait for society to tell you what job you should do or what path to take. If it's something that interests you, just go for it,鈥� says Diane.聽

鈥淲e haven鈥檛 achieved equity and equality yet, and it鈥檚 an ongoing effort that we鈥檙e all working on,鈥� reflects Stephanie Muise, Software Developer.聽

鈥淲e shouldn't sell ourselves short in recognizing our role in IT鈥�, says Manjula Devaraj, Director, Service Delivery

鈥淲omen often have to go above and beyond to be seen as equals,鈥� explains Tammy Zinck, Telecommunications Infrastructure Supervisor. 鈥淵ou may need to exceed job requirements to prove your worth, but it鈥檚 essential to keep pushing and striving for excellence.鈥�

Moving Forward

The ITS team is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment where all voices are heard and respected. International Women鈥檚 Day is a powerful reminder of the progress made and the journey ahead toward a more equitable society. 聽

ITS women's expertise and leadership continue to transform the IT landscape at AV俱乐部, paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic future.