The WISE Way To Empower Female Tech Talents

Even in the digital age, personal connections remain one of everyone's greatest professional resources. For women navigating careers in the male-majority tech industry, intentional communities can provide platforms for collectively validating experiences, addressing challenges, and celebrating achievements. 

These communities represent far more than corporate diversity initiatives; they are all about
resilience in action. Lingaro's WISE (Women of Inspiration, Support, and Empowerment)
Community is the result of more than six years of evolution that demonstrate how such an initiative can be tailored to meet members' changing needs while advancing the broader mission of gender equality in technology.

Bringing Women Together the Lingaro Way(s)

At Lingaro, we have a core value of "No Barriers" and a formal commitment to achieving United
Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 5 of achieving gender equality and
empowering women and girls. We strive to eliminate discrimination, avoid unconscious
bias, and ensure equal opportunities for all. Like all tech companies, we have a long road
in front of us with respect to these aims. Despite significant progress during recent years,
women remain significantly underrepresented in our industry. Nevertheless, it is imperative to act and make continuous progress. Every step counts. One of our first steps to empower our female colleagues was the establishment of the Lingaro.

Women's Community in 2017. Over the following five years, the initiative primarily involved annual meetings featuring distinguished guest speakers and opportunities for female Lingarians to connect with and inspire each other.

But as time passed and the popularity — and necessity, for more than a year — of remote work grew, Lingarian women began to wonder:

• If there should be a different formula for these meetings?
• If the community itself should be reorganized to better address its members' needs?

The overwhelmingly positive experience many of our female colleagues had at the 2024
Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit inspired us to start formulating answers! We did so by:

• Inviting volunteers to brainstorm with an external expert at a 4-hour workshop we organized.
• Gathering valuable insights from our colleagues.
• Holding dedicated workshops for female managers to hear their perspectives.

This collaborative effort sparked the creation of our WISE Community, the purpose of which
is to provide Lingarian women with a sense of belonging and continuous support beyond just
periodic meetings. WISE is structured as a network in which participants can reach out to each other at any time to seek and provide guidance, inspiration, and encouragement. It provides an always accessible safe space for sharing experiences, asking questions, and celebrating achievements.

For community members, this new and improved format minimizes the risk of feeling isolated
or unheard, a phenomenon that is all too common among those who tend to work remotely.
Different members expect different things from the community depending on a wide variety
of factors such as seniority, skillset, personality, and background. By understanding and
acknowledging these diverse needs, the community can provide tailored support and resources
to help each member thrive.

For example, some members treat WISE primarily as a platform for giving back to others.
Strongly embodying what the community is all about, they have stepped up as champions
to serve as relatable role models. By sharing their stories, they inspire colleagues and reinforce the belief that success is within everyone's reach.

Transformative Impact and Agile Evolution: Key Lessons from WISE

As the tech industry continues to evolve, the role of women's communities like WISE is becoming increasingly vital. These communities are not just support groups; they are catalysts for positive change related to gender equality, inclusivity, and closing the gender pay gap.

By fostering a culture of empowerment, mentorship, and solidarity, tech companies
can unlock the full potential of their female team members. For organizations aiming to do so in the future, Lingaro's path to creating and leveraging WISE holds two valuable lessons:

1. A women's community can have transformative impact.
   We have created a thriving community that empowers women to excel in their careers and contribute to our company's success.
2. Agility is an asset.
   By continuously adapting and responding to the evolving needs of our women, we have
   been able to ensure that our community for them has remained relevant and effective. 

The Future of Women's Communities in Tech

The journey toward gender equality in tech requires intentional action from organizations
of all sizes. We invite you to consider:

• How might your organization create spaces where women can authentically connect and grow?
• What existing initiatives could evolve to better meet the changing needs of your female talent?
• Who within your teams could champion these efforts and become role models for others?

The tech industry's future success depends on its ability to harness diverse perspectives
and experiences. By establishing and nurturing communities that empower women, companies
don't just fulfill corporate responsibility obligations — they unlock innovative potential that drives business forward.

The path that led to our WISE Community wasn't always straightforward, but the destination has proven invaluable. We encourage you to begin or continue your own journey toward creating meaningful communities for women in tech. The industry we build together will be stronger.