For decades, and across the globe, women have faced unique and detrimental challenges in the workplace. Whether it is equal representation, gender pay equity, or carrying the bulk of the family and household responsibilities, the struggles are real. In male dominated industries like technology, these inequities can be even more profound, creating an uphill battle for those trying to leave their mark. 

“As a woman in tech for the past twenty years, I have witnessed first-hand the battles that so many in our industry face,” said Laura Evertsen, Senior Director, Application Resiliency, Global Cyber Security. “Although we have made progress, there remains opportunities to increase gender diversity in leadership roles, as well as BIPOC representation.  I am still in so many meetings within the industry where there are no other women at the table, or no people of colour represented.”  
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Research shows that diversity in tech is imperative – it allows for greater innovation and enables better, safer and more representative products. A 2020 report from McKinsey found that diverse companies perform better, hire better talent, have more engaged employees and retain workers better than companies that do not focus on D&I. And still, while the world has made some headway, women remain widely underrepresented in tech. 

Future-focused teams are diverse, inclusive and gender-balanced, and many companies have built programs and support systems to ensure women can succeed. At RBC, we have embedded the gender parity focus in our strategy and goals, and are putting active support behind it. In fact, RBC was one of only two organizations awarded the 2021 Catalyst Award for increasing the representation of women and elevating inclusion. But we know that there is still so much more to do to remove biases and barriers and create a more equitable future. 

On June 2, Collision’s Women in Tech X event will feature roundtables and networking activities designed to encourage discussion on how we can overcome workplace bias and achieve gender equality, asking tough questions about how women work and how they’re treated in the tech industry today. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to join: 

• A discussion with RBC’s chief data officer, and leaders from Nasdaq and Slack on how the pandemic has been a tipping point for change, and how smart organizations are female leaders are uniquely positioned to benefit from the digital acceleration we’ve seen across industries. 
• A roundtable with AI scientists and business leaders from Borealis AI, Accenture and Integrate.ai on the mindset shifts and process changes organizations need to make to succeed with AI, and how technical teams and business teams can better work together. 
• An conversation with experts from RBC, Standup Ventures, and Version One on investing in and scaling Canadian startups, focused on the dynamics at play for entrepreneurs and how to scale from seed to Series A. 
• A chat with an all-RBC team about the next generation of technologists, and how organizations can build out the skills and capabilities that don’t exist yet. 
• A deep dive on cybersecurity with RBC, Cyber Operations at the Toronto Police Service and Ryerson University looking at how the private sector, law enforcement and academia are tackling cybersecurity challenges in a digital world. 

Tickets are complimentary for all, and can be accessed here, and the formal agenda will be available soon. If you attended the Collision event in April, you will automatically receive your Women in Tech X Event ticket to the email address you signed up with. RBCers are also encouraged to attend the speed-dating style Mingle from 2:00 – 2:15 p.m. for an opportunity to meet and network with other Women in Tech.