Girl Geek Dinners Ottawa

Last Wednesday, Serena Ngai of Girl Develop It Ottawa presented her case about the revolution of women in technology. From Mattel’s Barbie career innovations to five-year old girls dreaming of being astronauts, Serena pointed out the large social gap between girls and boys in the field of computer science and everything related.

When you Google search “computer scientist”, what’s the first image that appears? Is it a guy with glasses and a plaid shirt? Trust us, we’re not being biased. In fact, research has shown the number of women with bachelor degrees in computer sciences has decreased rapidly over the past 20 years from 37 per cent to less than 20 per cent. Today, less than one per cent of women would be interested in studying computer science as an elective in university. But, there is hope!

In 2010, Mattel posted a public survey asking girls which career they would like Barbie to pursue. To everyone’s surprise, the number one career was computer engineer. Are women beginning to see technology as a fun, innovative, career savvy form of income?  Let’s hope so!

To help regain the number of women in computer sciences, Serena and Gail Carmichael founded Girl Develop It Ottawa to bring back the flare and fun of building websites in a supportive environment. Serena taught us how technical skills can be valuable for your career and any career, why this “women in technology” thing really matters, and how their upcoming workshops can help you become the next Marissa Mayer. Well, in part.

Girl Develop It is hosting their next workshop Intro to HTML and CSS on Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. They’re also looking for volunteers to help teach workshops and share technological skills with Ottawa women. If you or someone you know likes to teach and is tech savvy, contact Serena or Gail.

And lastly, congratulations to our Girl Geek prize winners who went home with fabulous gifts from our event sponsors – the National Arts Centre, Media Miser, UsedOttawa.com and Ingrid Aesthetics.

To read more about this month’s event, check out the following reviews from our Girl Geek attendees:

Amy Campsall (blog post)– @AmyCampsall

Alexandra Reid – @TechAlly

Mel Gallant – @MelGallant

Hana Abaza – @HanaAbaza

Have you heard of Girl Develop It Ottawa? It’s a new community meetup founded by Serena Ngai and Gail Carmichael designed to provide women in Ottawa the opportunity to learn programming, all with the goal to create a stronger female tech community in the Nation’s Capital.

For our 2011-2012 Girl Geek Dinner (GGD) Ottawa season opener, we’ve invited Serena to share the inspiration behind this new meetup for women. Whether you are a seasoned programmer, just starting out or have an avid interest in all things code-related, please join us Wednesday, November 16th to hear Serena share:

• How technical skills can be valuable for your career
• Why this “women in technology” thing really matters
• What is Girl Develop It? And learn about upcoming workshops

Event Details:

When: Wednesday, November 16th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Black Tomato in the Market (get directions)

To Register: Please visit our event registration page.

Don’t forget to follow the #GGDOttawa hashtag on Twitter!

About Serena

Serena Ngai is a front-end developer and designer with a background in software development, currently working at Shopify. She is passionate about mentoring and inspiring young females to explore fields of technology and its many different applications.

The idea of starting a Girl Develop It chapter in Ottawa was born out of frustration from hearing a lot of talk about the lack of women in technology, but not seeing a lot of action being done to get more involved! Follow Serena (@serenangai) and Girl Develop It Ottawa (@gdiottawa) on Twitter.

Our Event Sponsors

Logistics and door prizes for our GGD Ottawa season opener  is made possible by the generous contribution of our sponsors – a big thank you to the following organizations.

www2.nac-cna.ca | @CanadasNAC | @CNAduCanada

www.mediamiser.com |  @MediaMiser

www.usedottawa.com | @usedeverywhere

I first heard about the Lead to Win program while I was a graduate student at Carleton University.  Professor Tony Bailetti used the program as an example of what being a serial entrepreneur meant.  He talked about a group of people who had been part of lay offs during the burst of the tech bubble and who got tired of waiting around for their next job.  They took action and decided to create their own jobs.  The results were outstanding!  The first class of the Lead to Win program (2002) created over 50 business in the national capital region, raised over 90M in VC money and created over 300 full time technology jobs.
 
You can imagine my excitement when our friend Natasha D’Souza approached us with the news of Lead to Win for Women (LTW-W).
 

LTW-W provides women entrepreneurs with resources and expertise essential to business prosperity and success. LTW-W supports women founders at any stage of entrepreneurship who share a common goal to build a business with significant growth potential. There is an opportunity for women to learn, access critical resources, and network with like-minded entrepreneurs and successful business owners. LTW-W aim is to be a catalyst for growth for Canadian women entrepreneurs. LTW-W is unique and will have a positive impact on the success of women owned business in the National Capital Region and Canada.
 
Is Lead To Win for Women Right for You?

Do you have a great idea, but don’t know how to turn it into a business?

Do you already have a business, but growth is stagnating?

Are you interested in attending an intensive free bootcamp that will help you set business goals and achieve them? 

Want to help LTW-W reach their goal of making Canada the best place for women to launch and grow their businesses?  If this sounds like something you need to be a part of, you can start by attending the info session at the Code Factory on September 30, 2011 from 12:00pm-1:00pm.  Then you can apply at http://ltw-women.ca/info
 
Good Luck!  And make sure to let us know how it goes.

Hope everyone is enjoying the awesome summer weather this year!

Just a quick update to let you know about a new initiative by local entrepreneur Scott Annan, Mercury Launch is a new accelerator here in Ottawa. From the About page:

The Mercury Accelerator supports Ottawa’s best entrepreneurs and accelerates future world-class web and mobile businesses through seed funding, mentorship, a powerful global network, & office space.

We’re bringing together Ottawa’s brightest and most successful web and mobile executives to create a powerful network supporting new talent and world-changing ideas.

Specifically, Mercury Launch provides entrepreneurs access to:

• Up to $25,000 in seed funding
• 3-4 months of intense programming
• Office space
• Access to a global network

We’ll help you get your product to market and introductions to funding opportunities to launch your business.

If you are thinking or in the process of starting your own business, please JUMP at this opportunity! If you’re experienced with startups and think you can offer value, please apply to be a mentor.

Also don’t forget to forward this opportunity to other smart women in Ottawa! While we have a great budding startup scene, it could certainly use more women leaders and entrepreneurs.

Go now!

Girl Geek Dinner Ottawa is excited to partner with Paola St-Georges, Marketing Manager and Guide for C’est Bon Cooking, for a one-of-a-kind food tour in the Nation’s Capital. Attendees will be treated to a special mini-tour that will concentrate on the heart of the Market area and cover several producers and fine food shops.

Topics during the tour will include Savour Ottawa, 101 Must-try-before-you-die tastes and a little dose of history just for good measure. And we have to go out in Girl Geek Dinner Style, so prepare yourself for Girl Geek Dinner trivia for a chance to win prizes!

About C’est Bon Cooking:

C’est Bon Cooking’s EDIBLE OTTAWA tours are a foodie’s romp through the Capital’s most vibrant epicurean neighbourhoods. Participants are treated to mouth-watering conversations, enticing aromas, scrumptious flavours and a riot of colours in meticulously arranged food displays.

EDIBLE OTTAWA tours are based on the belief that the best way to get to know a people and its culture is to explore local markets, experience local specialties and meet local Chefs and food artisans. They are an opportunity to experience Ottawa “as locals do,” a chance to connect with colourful neighbourhoods such as the ByWard Market, Wellington West and Beechwood Avenue.

Culinary tourism is a thriving industry all over the world and C’est Bon Cooking is proud to have brought it to Canada’s Capital. Our clients relish their opportunity to become food industry insiders for a while and to familiarize themselves with Ottawa’s latest “must try tastes.”

Event details:

Date: July 7, 2011

Time: 6pm to 8pm *please arrive 10 minutes early*

Meeting spot: Murray’s Market, 261 Dalhousie Street

Contact: Paola St-Georges, Marketing Manager and Guide, 613-722-8687 (ext. 204)

Cost: $25/person (special rate on behalf of C’est Bon Cooking and Girl Geek Dinner Ottawa)

To register, please click here

*Tour will go ahead rain or shine so please dress appropriately and wear comfortable shoes*

Just Do It

This was the recurring theme with our presenters last night.  Come to think about it, this seems to be a recurring theme with several of our Girl Geek Dinner speakers.  From entrepreneurship and women in leadership, to looking for a new job.  We all have to deal with uncertainty and doubts, and sooner or later, we just need to decide to Just Do It and see how it goes.

Some other take-aways from last night:

• Understand your customers
• Understand your competitors
• Surveys are often not enough, find nuances through conversations
• Keep it simple to start
• Welcome feedback, but know when to ignore it.  Keep the focus on what you’re good at
• If your business is product centric, focus on innovation
• If you are offering service, focus on service excellence
• Blogs are the new magazines
• As social media changes, so should the way you use it
• Use giveaways to build your audience

Thank you Vivian, Hana and Amy for sharing their stories with us and thank you to all who attended our Girl Geek Dinner last night.  We hope you enjoyed it and found some inspiration for your next challenge.

Thanks again to our sponsors for their continued support.  We hope all the door prize winners enjoy their prizes!

CIRA .CA

Thornley Fallis

Shopify

Media Miser

Laura Jane Photography

the SPA

Little Cakes

Have you ever thought, “Why work for somebody else when I can work for myself?”

Easier said than done, but anything’s possible! From flowers to clothing, to writing and painting, entrepreneurship opens the doors to anyone with a dream and a passion.

On Wednesday May 11th, please join us for an interactive discussion about the entrepreneurial journey of three Ottawa women who have turned their business dreams into realities.

Our Speakers

Vivian Cheng

Vivian Cheng is an industrial designer and one-half of the creative force behind Blend Creations. She and her husband, Eric Jean-Louis (a graphic designer) combine their divergent design approaches to create a contemporary jewelry line that is clean and modern in aesthetic, yet also blends their respective cultures in East meeting West.

Hana Abaza

Hana Abaza is the co-founder and CEO of Wedding Republic, an Ottawa based start up allowing couples to set up an online, cash, wedding registry in a way that works for them and their guests. With an incredibly diverse background, Hana has pulled together her broad skill set in order to navigate the start up world. When she’s not in front of her laptop with armed with a large cup of coffee, she can usually be found teaching a kickboxing class. Self described as slightly ‘type a’ with a dose of ADD, although some say it’s just an unrelenting curiosity.

Amy Yee

Amy Yee is an entrepreneur and strategy consultant specializing in technology, engagement and collaboration at start-up and high growth companies. Among a wide variety of projects, Amy is currently the CEO at the second company she has co-founded: EventBots – an award-winning technology solution for public engagement. Amy has a Bachelor’s of Electrical Engineering from Carleton University.

Event Details:

When: Wednesday, May 11th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Vittoria Trattoria in the Market (get directions)

To Register: Please visit our event registration page.

Event Sponsors

Logistics and door prizes for our May #GGDOttawa event  is made possible by the generous contribution of our sponsors – a big thank you to the following organizations.

@ciranews

@thornleyfallis

@MediaMiser

@laurajanephotos

@SPADayRetreat

@_LittleCakes

From mobile apps to social media technology and from open data to public policy, women are continually influencing the way information is being shared across the world.

On March 30, three women taught us that technology isn’t just an objective, it changes society and infrastructure as a whole.

Mary Beth Baker, Emily Daniels and Tracey Lauriault, were part of a technological revolution known as Open Data Ottawa. A few months back, they organized Hackfest, an opportunity for technology lovers to come together to create unique and innovative mobile apps with the purpose of helping Ottawa citizens to enjoy and easily access recreation and services the city has to offer.

Thanks to our wonderful speakers and guests, the event generated huge awareness on Twitter.  We highly encourage participation from everyone, male or female, and if you know someone that’s passionate about technology or has an idea for an event, please don’t hesitate to talk to us, we love questions and feedback!

What can we take away from this event? From creative ideas for new apps to learning resources you can take home with you,  Mary Beth, Tracey and Emily enlightened us with their passion for the pursuit of open data :

• If you’re not reading this, make sure to pick up The Real World of Technology by Ursula Franklin and also check out Datalibre.ca.
• Remember Erin Brockovich? Well, she’s back in the spotlight and working on passing an open data bill about disease clusters being mapped and made public. Does this mean a sequel?!
• Another great quote is from the lovely Jane Jacobs, “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
• If you loved the past Hackfest and want to take part again, Mary Beth is hoping to start a Mother’s Day Hackfest in May. Feel free to contact her for more information, maribethbaker <at> gmail.com. You can also check out photos from the last Hackfest on behalf of Edward  Ocampo-Gooding.
• And last, but not least, open data is not about sharing personal information with the public.  In order to share public information we have the right to know and to answer public policy issues that affect us and our communities.

Thanks again to our sponsors for their continued support.  We hope all the door prize winners enjoy their prizes!

CIRA .CA

Thornley Fallis

Open Data Ottawa

The Lemon Kitchen

Media Miser

The National Arts Centre

Swing Dynamite

Talking data over dinner?
Last month the City gave out $50,000 in prizes for apps (web sites and smartphone applications) built using Information it provided to it’s residents. This information is known as Open Data – what you might recognize as a spreadsheet of numbers and labels. This information has been available for almost a year in our city. If you’ve just hearing about this now – don’t worry, we have a few awesome girl geeks to share all the details and get you in on the fun.

Also WTF is Open Data?

Data that is…
1. licensed so that citizens can do what they want with it
2. machine readable (no-fancy formatting)
3. publicly available (so not private information like the location of my house and my cellphone number)

Are there Girl Geeks behind Open Data in Ottawa? You bet there are!

Ottawa’s Open Data Champion: Councillor Marianne Wilkinson
Our own app creator: Emily Daniels
The talented Open Data Scholar and Advocate: Tracey Lauriault

We’d also like to give a huge thanks to Mary Beth Baker for introducing us to this amazing panel. Mary Beth makes up 1/3 of the driving force behind Open Data Ottawa and without her, this event would not be made possible.

If you’re curious about Open Data in your city, you can visit:
The city posts all Open Data here
Ottawa’s Open Data community
The City’s $50,000 contest, get a load of the 91 apps!

Come out and meet the Girl Geeks behind Open Data!

When: Wednesday, March 30 at 6 p.m.
Where: Fox & Feather Pub and Grill, upstairs (get directions)

Register now! Please visit our event registration page.

Our Event Sponsors

Logistics and door prizes for our March GGD Ottawa event  is made possible by the generous contribution of our sponsors – a big thank you to the following organizations.

You’ll be delighted to know the next #GGDOttawa event is in the works and we’re hoping to announce details very soon…

In the meantime, there are two events that are somewhat related to our next theme (Open Data Ottawa) that we thought you might be interested in:

HackFest Ottawa

#HackOTT will bring together the very best of Ottawa’s developers to spend the day developing web and mobile applications on top of some of the coolest public APIs.

Working in teams, hackers have just nine hours to build a working application from scratch and present it to the group for the chance to win prizes and recognition from some of the top developers in the Ottawa community.

WHAT: HackOTT, a full day of hacking

WHEN: February 26th, 2011

Event: 9am to 6pm
App showcase and awards: 6pm – 7 pm

WHERE: Shopify Offices – Ottawa

Register and find out more

The Canadian Internet Forum

The second event is the Canadian Internet Forum hosted by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)–a Girl Geek Dinners Ottawa sponsor. Here’s all the details:

On February 25, 2011, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) will host a unique and important event about the future of the Internet in Canada. The Internet has become an integral part of the economic, political and social lives of Canadians, and the Canadian Internet Forum (CIF) will provide a space for Canadians to discuss its future.

At the CIF, attendees will be engaged to provide their feedback and opinions about the results of the consultations. There will be opportunity to ask questions, debate and have their opinion heard about the direction the Internet should take in Canada. A panel of Canadian experts will discuss and debate the future of the Internet, including:

• Jacob Glick, Canada Policy Counsel, Google
• Dr. Gerri Sinclair, Executive Director, Masters of Digital Media Program at Vancouver’s Centre for Digital Media
• Marc Blanchet, Network Engineer, Viagénie
• Jim Roche, President and CEO, CANARIE

Canadian technology visionary Leonard Brody will give the keynote address.

Following the CIF, there will be a networking reception. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be webcast in English and French.

Event details :

February 25, 2011
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Reception to follow.
Brookstreet Hotel, Ottawa, ON

Registration is free and lunch and coffee will be served.