DORIANA ALLYN
BROTHER INTERNATIONAL CORP.
AWIT Community Chair 2015
As the holiday season approaches, nostalgic thoughts dance their way into our heads — just like the sugar plum fairies. As I look at the list of prospective new executive council members for CompTIA’s Advancing Women in IT (AWIT) Community for 2015, it makes me feel a bit sentimental. After all, our community’s journey has been one of growth, made possible thanks to the dedication and expertise of some of the IT industry’s most incredible women.
Who would have thought that ladies with very diverse IT careers could come together to create such a beneficial program in such a short time? We’ve done so much to empower women in just a couple of years. We’ve developed key initiatives and campaigns to help spread the word, and we encourage women of all ages to choose a career in IT, giving them valuable tools they can use to improve their success.
We’ve done so well at getting girls to enter the IT field that our mission statement needs to change. To bring it to the next level, we’re now planning on helping businesses adopt practices that attract and retain women. The AWIT Community mission marches on!
Looking to the New Year, our group will continue empowering women with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue enriching IT careers. In addition, AWIT will support businesses that are creating cultures that promote a more diverse IT workforce. We are building a number of campaigns and programs to help accomplish these goals, including a new webinar series that kicks off in 2015. Be sure to register for the first one as soon as possible and save the dates for the rest.
Here’s the series:
- January 7 Relax, Focus, and Succeed with Karl Palachuk of Small Biz Thoughts
- April 8 Changing the Face of Technology — Creating Cultures That Close the Gender Gap, presented by Jan Molino of Aspire Ascend
- July 8 Being Heard: Why Meetings Matter Even More for a Woman
- October 7 The Impact of Gender Diversity on Technology Business Performance and Profitability
The AWIT Community remains a vital information resource and will continue to provide mentorship and networking opportunities in 2015. We will forge ahead developing new member-driven initiatives and programs, and be active in legislation involving women and careers. Whenever we can showcase women as leaders and technical experts, we will.
I see it all clearly, with the approaching holiday and nostalgic thoughts of family. Our members are incredible, forming a close-knit community that keeps the initiatives flourishing. That means putting aside differences, occasionally holding our tongues and commending others for their contributions and greatness. Even when they have little time to give, are dog tired and ready to drop, members of the AWIT Community still give everything they have to the greater good of our industry.
AWIT involves many such acts of giving and kindness. That’s what I will remember as I head off to my family’s holiday gathering.
Doriana Allyn is the 2014 Chair of CompTIA’s Advancing Women in IT Community and senior environmental health and safety manager at Brother International Corp.
