Being a woman in tech is a challenge. Ask any woman working in the industry, and she will definitely have at least one challenge to share. I’m no exception. That’s why it is so important to have spaces where women can connect, and share their knowledge and experiences - furthermore, even if just for a little while, to forget the struggles they face daily. Just being an awesome women working in tech, doing cool technical stuff.
This is where initiatives supporting women in tech truly make an impact. And we need them now more than ever! These communities provide more than just a place for professional exchange; they create environments where women can speak up, be open about their experiences, and feel valued as well as feel seen. Even more importantly, they offer opportunities to meet others who share similar challenges. Who can inspire them, and who remind them that they are good enough just as they are. Not to forget about the opportunity to connect regarding job offerings or other opportunities!
The Magic of Community: Attending the AWS Women’s Usergroup Berlin
On March 6th, I joined AWS Women’s Usergroup Berlin for their Women’s Day special event as a keynote speaker and panelist. It was an incredible experience, being on stage with fellow inspiring speakers -Linda Mohamed, Suzana Melo and Thembile Matis.
📸 Panel discussion at AWS Women’s Usergroup Berlin March event 2025 | taken by Ruth Otero
The atmosphere that evening was so empowering. It might sound cheesy, but I truly felt a deep sense of belonging even though it was my first time at AWS Women’s Usergroup Berlin . No awkward feeling of being the only woman in the room, because I was not the only woman in the room! No questioning whether I was “techie enough” or “too much of a techie”. Instead, I was surrounded by a community of like-minded women, all eager to learn, share, and grow together. This is the magic of tech communities!
My talk “CTRL+ALT+Explore: Why A Broad Tech Skillset Is Your Superpower” focused on emphazising the tech skills you already have and how widening your knowledge, but not getting overwhelmed by all the shiny new things popping up like every second in the tech industry.
Furthermore, it was the first time presenting a topic alone on stage after my year-long break. You can guess, I was a bit nervous. The more I prepared for the talk the more I felt, that this was an important topic not only to present the audience, but to remind myself, as well:
“You are good, as you are!”
A huge shout-out to the AWS Women’s Usergroup Berlin team, the fantastic supporters at Amazon & AWS Berlin, and my lovely colleague Vanessa at superluminar, who took care of the sponsoring! They all did an amazing job in creating a space where people felt welcomed, valued, and empowered.
📸 Nora’s Talk AWS Women’s Usergroup Berlin March event 2025 | taken by Ruth Otero
Why These Meetups Matter
This is not about creating “safe spaces” just for women in tech. It’s about providing women the opportunity to network and connect in a way that fits their lives.
Let’s be honest! Many of us multi-task through a bunch of responsibilities: work, relationships, family, household tasks, personal time, and hobbies. Networking often falls to the bottom of the priority list. But when there’s an event organised by and for women in tech, where coming together is made easy and accessible, the chances of prioritising networking and career growth increase significantly.
And that’s why it is so important to support these spaces! In uncertain times, many companies become hesitant to support initiatives like the women focused tech events. The recent news about decreasing budgets for DEI initiatives or renaming the initatives in general in the US made rumours around the world. But companies will miss out, if they opt out of diversity and inclusion programs. First, they lose the opportunity to be an authentic ally to women in tech. Second, they fail to connect with an audience that is eager to learn, grow, and innovate.
At the AWS Women’s Usergroup Berlin event, I met so many incredible women looking to switch career paths, return to tech after a break, or move up their careers. There is so much potential. Supporting women in tech isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in the future of the industry.
But there’s still room for improvement! Even though many tech events aim to be inclusive, they often overlook the needs of mothers. I’m struggling with it, too. With She ‘n IT the tech meetup for women in tech for the Nuremberg area, I co-founded with my wonderful friend Anna, we usually start in the evening, right around bedtime for little kids. Mothers with older children might struggle to join because they don’t have a babysitter, and single moms even face more challenges. Most meetups simply aren’t set up to accommodate kids.
Honestly, I don’t have a good solution, yet. But I’m eager to figure out how we can make these spaces more accessible for mothers, beyond just hoping they can find childcare. If you have anything to share about this, I’d love to hear!
Local Initiatives in Nuremberg: She ‘n IT & Digital Women Night
With AWS Women’s Usergroups in Berlin, Munich and Vienna we have a great networking opportunity for women in tech focussing on AWS across the DACH region. I’m so happy, to be part of it and joining events both as attendee and speaker whenever I can make it!
Although Nuremberg is rather small in contrast to these bigger cities, I want to emphasise the diversity we have in the area with our local meetups like She ‘n IT Nuremberg and Digital Women Night. They play a crucial role in strengthening communities at a regional level. She ‘n IT Nuremberg, which was founded in 2022, creates a welcoming environment for tech-savvy women in the greater Nuremberg area to exchange knowledge and grow together. With a strong focus on women speakers and an open-minded atmosphere, it has proven to be the right mix to bring women in tech closer together, but also bringing them on stage! Similarly, Digital Women Night cultivates an inclusive space where women working in tech and digital industries can network, share experiences, and inspire each other.
These meetups not only empower individuals but also help build a strong, supportive ecosystem for women in tech close to your home base. An ecosystems that flourishes when we collectively support and uplift each other.
And, on a sidenote: She ‘n IT and Digital Women Night are joining forces together with Coworking Nürnberg to host again the Digital Women Day on 2nd of July as part of the Digital Festival Nuremberg 🙌🏻 Be sure to come by and say “Hi”! 💜
A Call to Action: How You Can Help
To embrace diversity in tech, we need to actively support and promote initiatives that create inclusive spaces, wether for women in general or for other marginal groups in the tech industry.
Here’s how you can help:
💜 Attend and Participate: Show up, contribute, and encourage others to do the same.
💜 Sponsor or Support: If you’re in a position to do so, advocate for company sponsorships and resources for women-focused tech events.
💜 Amplify Voices: Share these initiatives with your private as well as your professional sphere. Share it on social media, highlight women in tech, and use your platform to uplift others.
💜 Be an Ally: Whether you identify as a woman in tech or not, your support and encouragement will make a difference.
Tech evolves best when it is diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all. It is neither a elitists, special nor secret group you only can enter when you earn enough wisdom about the Linux Kernel! So we shouldn’t act like it! Be open. Be welcoming. And among all other things, don’t think you will loose something if you open the room for others. You will gain more with more perspectives! This counts for women-focused tech meetups, as well. They aren’t just about supporting women! They are about creating better, more innovative communities for everyone.
Let’s make sure these spaces continue to grow. Because we need them now more than ever.
📸 Group Selfie of AWS Women’s Usergroup Berlin March event 2025 | taken by Suzana Melo