In Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s 2011 Sundance documentary Miss Representation, Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund shared, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
This is something that Lumify Group, Microsoft and Women Rising aim to address by providing two full scholarships for the Women Rising September Program for women in the Lumify internal team.
Unlocking the potential of women in business
We invite you to join us in our goal to increase the number of women in tech and bring more gender balance to the industry. We are proud to be working with Microsoft and women’s leadership company Women Rising to empower women, and enable businesses to attract, retain, promote and unlock the potential of female talent.
The Women Rising Program supported by Microsoft, is a holistic 6-month personal and professional development journey that women around the world consistently call life changing. With an evidence-based curriculum, expert coaching and a supportive community, this virtual program is for women who are ready to live, work and lead with clarity, purpose, confidence and authenticity. Thousands of women have been on the program, with incredible results. There’s also an aligned program for managers and allies of all genders.
We are excited to support the Women Rising and Microsoft mission to give women the confidence, tools, and practical steps to take their leadership to the next level, and to help organisations in our industry reach their goals. In the past 12 months the Women Rising supported by Microsoft program has transformed the careers of thousands of women from 310 organisations in 28 countries.
The results have been remarkable. In fact:
98% of women who have been through the program recommend it to others in their business and peer group.
To learn more and register yourself or your teams visit the Women Rising supported by Microsoft program: https://www.womenrisingco.com/
To celebrate our partnership, Women Rising are also delighted to be able to provide two full scholarships for the September Program open to the Lumify community.
Internal staff are encouraged to apply for the scholarship by sending an enquiry directly to Jordan McNamara, head of People & Performance.
For more information on the September program visit the following pages:
Get a guide on the Women Rising Program here:
https://www.womenrisingco.com/wrprogramLearn about the Managers and Allies Program here:
https://www.womenrisingco.com/maprogram
Take note of these key dates:
Registration open until September 2
Program launch calls: September 15
Program starts September 19
Program closes March 24
What do graduates of the Women Rising Program say?
Women who have joined the Women Rising Professional Development Program share that they were able to transform their lives and careers. Hear what they say. Visit: https://www.womenrisingco.com/reviews
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the varied topics discussed in this program. It has definitely made me think and made me aware of a lot of aspects of myself and my goals, my mindset, my approach to things and opened up a world of opportunities to consider that would result in a ‘better’, more equipped, more aware version of ME. Also enjoyed hearing about people's experiences on the community forums and the coaching calls. Absolutely recommend this course...don't think about it JUST DO IT.”
-- Sherry Dumasia , Business Analyst, Fonterra Ltd
“I feel like I was driving in the dark and suddenly, the headlights have been turned on. I can now see the direction I'm going and I have a plan to get there. There were traits I possessed but I didn't know I had them or how to use them. This program has helped me to identify who will help me along the way and has also given me the confidence to lift other women up so they can feel as I do about career development. I'd highly recommend this course and will definitely be promoting it among my circle of women.”
-- Michelle Ferandez , Ethical Sourcing Manager, Blackmores Limited
The need to support more women in Leadership and Technology
In an article on The Muse, Anneke Jong writes about media depictions of computer scientists that provide a limited representation of women - both introverted and extroverted - from varying backgrounds and with passions ranging from healthcare to education to business.
In the small business space, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman report that the proportion of female-owned or managed businesses in Australia grew - although slowly - from 31 per cent in 2015 to 35 per cent in 2019. This represents 12 per cent of Australia’s 5.9 women currently employed.
There is also the impact of COVID-19 on women in business. A recent paper called 'COVID‐19 and the gender gap in work hours' found that women with care responsibilities significantly reduced their hours in paid employment during COVID‐19, while men’s hours in paid employment were unaffected.
On the potential of women in business and ICT
At Lumify, we believe that one of the hotkeys to making spaces more accessible and safer is to offer openness, communication and representation. But beyond shortcuts, it requires continuously incorporating these values into practice -- how we run training sessions, engage with our internal team, build relationships with our students, and enable people to thrive in the digital landscape of tomorrow.
People are the heart of our business and therefore, we believe in creating experiences that actively encourage growth and foster a culture of support. If you are interested in the possibility of working with us, click here to learn what it is like to be a part of the #ONELUMIFY team.