Last weekend, I did two things I've never done before: (1) I spoke at a tech conference, where (2) the attendees were 90 percent women.
This was the line to the woman's bathroom at #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/XIXipSuamD
— We RISE Tech Conf (@WeRiseConf) June 23, 2017
I know, I was shocked too. But, y'all, the inaugural WeRISE Women in Tech Conference from Women Who Code Atlanta was amazing. Being surrounded by so many women doing great things was inspiring, motivating and just plain fun.
I was going to write a recap, but I don't think I can say it better than Melanie Crissey, Violet Peña, Sandra Persing, Audora Chalker, Tiffany Thompson, Dorris Scott and Rachel Parsons. (You should read/listen to all of these. They're not long, and they are incredibly insightful about the conference and women in tech in general.)
Instead, I'm just going to hit some highlights, using only the outpouring of support for #WeRiseTech on Twitter. Because that's how WeRISE rolls, y'all.
It's a lot, but I broke it out into sections:
Kick-ass keynotes & the best lunch panel I've ever seen:
"When women are in engineering roles or leaderships roles, we rise," #WWCode CEO @alaina #WeRiseTech @WWCodeATL pic.twitter.com/QfvF6WdoaZ
— Women Who Code (@WomenWhoCode) June 23, 2017
"You are your inspiration.
— Laura Kajpust (@delusioninabox) June 23, 2017
You are your solution.
You are your motivation." - @WendyLWise #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/kZkftT5erA
"Be visible and be vocal, I don't think it's enough to sit at the table." - @jen_bonnett #WWCode #WeRiseTech @WWCAtl pic.twitter.com/I1Ur9fptyn
— Women Who Code (@WomenWhoCode) June 23, 2017
"More than a Number: Intersectionality & Diversity"
— Mary Kergosien (@MEKergosien) June 23, 2017
Stefanie Jewett, Jamie Harrell, Nichelle Bailey, Kate Harlan, Kim Crayton. #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/PQqwMDjA4R
I have privilege and I use it to help others succeed. @estellevw #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/D5wg8zfdDX
— Melinda Golden (@melindamgolden) June 24, 2017
Loving this keynote! @WendyLWise #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/R3Y0QpfKu7
— Emily Stamey (@elstamey) June 23, 2017
Not every woman has a vagina - Thank you @KimCrayton1 #Diversity and #Inclusion Panel #WeRiseTech #TransIsBeautiful #trans @HRC @GAEquality https://t.co/62ZGay0tsE
— Jamie Harrell, MBA (@jamieharrellmba) June 23, 2017
Scott Hanselmann knows how to talk! Loved you. Incredible and insightful! 😍#WeRiseTech @WWCAtl @shanselman pic.twitter.com/Fj1M6j4hrB
— Taracha McCain (@taracham116) June 23, 2017
I'm learning a lot from @jen_bonnett at @WeRiseConf . #WomenWhoCode #werisetech pic.twitter.com/0beXtNRlSc
— Jonathan R Wallace (@jonathanwallace) June 23, 2017
"Separate the position of #leadership from the individual leader." @captainsafia #WeRiseTech @WeRiseConf pic.twitter.com/DbFVwBp6NR
— Aly Merritt (@AlyintheATL) June 24, 2017
🙌 "Not enough to be the first if there's no second." Stacked panel of brilliant women speaking inclusion at #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/728y7h5HaA
— Melanie Crissey (@MelanieCrissey) June 23, 2017
Getting Technical:
Packed room of ladies for Node & Express workshop with @ratracegrad (who is an amazing teacher!) #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/4EdzYdpAcB
— Audora LeeAnn 🌙 (@klioonthemoon) June 24, 2017
I just want to hand this diagram out to everyone I talked to today that is learning to code. Learn bottom ^ up #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/3cyOBSl3Xl
— Jennifer 🌸 (@jennifershehane) June 24, 2017
Awesome talk on #React, @annasedlar! @WeRiseConf #WeRiseTech #WWCodeATL #FrontEnd #Web pic.twitter.com/s5gvFl9SCE
— Kamilah Kiser (@KamilahZKiser) June 23, 2017
.@artninja79 & @LCPlanner start off their workshop on Circuits & Cycles: Intro to electric components at #WeRiseTech #WWCodeATL #ATL pic.twitter.com/pPCUM3DQx6
— We RISE Tech Conf (@WeRiseConf) June 23, 2017
.@almacanela12 on building an #Agile #Product Road Map for your App at #WeRiseTech #WWCodeATL #ATL #Tech pic.twitter.com/C7XWwcsuco
— We RISE Tech Conf (@WeRiseConf) June 23, 2017
great step-by-step walkthrough of building an Alexa skill with @KeshaUCI #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/Q1ZfU6mo7v
— pamela marie (@pwnela) June 23, 2017
.@MeeraSRao @SW_Integrity at #WeRiseTech presenting on Demystifying Threat Modeling! #WWCodeATL #WWCode #ATL #Tech #Conference pic.twitter.com/AWEYsF83EG
— We RISE Tech Conf (@WeRiseConf) June 23, 2017
what's your skateboard? session by @elstamey
— kj roberson (@kj_roberson) June 23, 2017
aim for less than minimum, get feedback, and iterate often. #WeRiseTech
Lighting shit up with Lauren and Leslie #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/Buo3k7hKwI
— Sherri Mitchell (@mitchCraftz) June 23, 2017
"Not everyone needs to be a developer, but everybody needs to be code literate."@KimCrayton1 #werisetech #standingroomonly pic.twitter.com/7av2Fu5ctM
— Melanie Crissey (@MelanieCrissey) June 24, 2017
We are now successful circuit makers. #WeRiseTech @AtlantaBEAM pic.twitter.com/0Pbr09W0m3
— Kristin Marsicano (@kristinmars) June 23, 2017
Leadership, culture & career:
Super inspiring talk by @KHHarlan on creating allyship programs in your organization! #LGBTQIA #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/0QesF4HNGN
— Jenn Green (@Jen77green) June 24, 2017
Heading to downtown #Atlanta17 this morning. I'll be speaking on Combating Gender Bias & Inequality at #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/N8M9eX0AWw
— Rie Irish (@IrishSQL) June 24, 2017
Full house to hear @Apple talk about inclusivity in hiring. @WeRiseConf #WeRiseTech @WWCAtl pic.twitter.com/Qavsjxzmkl
— Dara Merlin (@iTYLLIC) June 23, 2017
"Leadership lesson: Selflessly lay a foundation for others." @YOOOODAAAA showcasing @SalesLoft #Corevalues at @WeRiseConf! #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/79359uPL6W
— Aly Merritt (@AlyintheATL) June 23, 2017
Really powerful pts from April Wensel of @compassioncode on Fierce Compassion, for your coworkers, your customers, yourself. ❤️ #werisetech pic.twitter.com/okAMZiwlfV
— marilyn c. cole (@mmmarilyn) June 23, 2017
Identify your "secret" team who give you good feedback & let you be vulnerable but still challenge you. @peachesjuleps #WeRiseTech
— pamela marie (@pwnela) June 23, 2017
Packed room listening to @AlyintheATL talk about Imposter Syndrome in tech. If anyone needs an ally/dance partner, let me know. #WeRiseTech
— shelton (@shelton) June 23, 2017
Awesome presentation! Black women and capital. #werisetech #digitalundivided #WomenWhoCode #projectdiane pic.twitter.com/0MCKR6i9u0
— Christina Williams (@christinaispr) June 23, 2017
Random acts of awesome:
Did y'all notice how the bathrooms at #werisetech got progressively more chill over the course of the conf? pic.twitter.com/rFL5LWs9o3
— Melanie Crissey (@MelanieCrissey) June 24, 2017
And just generally how amazing it all was:
At #WeRiseTech this event is amazing pic.twitter.com/6fhrdEcFpk
— Yeni (@Rolita1007) June 24, 2017
Had an amazing and truly inspiring first day @WWCodeATL So pumped for round two tomorrow! #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/l096izaTMp
— Mizzani Walker (@mizzaniwalker) June 24, 2017
.@WeRiseConf has set a new bar of greatness in conferences. So many amazing women & allies, so inclusive, such inspiring talks. 🙌#werisetech
— April Wensel (@aprilwensel) June 24, 2017
Amazing day 1 @ #WeRiseTech - WWCAtl not only make you feel accepted but also totally supported & appreciated
— Audora LeeAnn 🌙 (@klioonthemoon) June 24, 2017
Today I was surrounded by a diverse crowd of people (majority women) in technology. I'm inspired & I'm looking forward to day 2!#WeRISETech
— Anthonia Carter (@AnthoniaCarter) June 23, 2017
Awesome first day of #WeRiseTech ! @ericastanley & the other ladies of #wwcatl are literally amazing pic.twitter.com/XGqSos4tN5
— Whitley Bacon (@whitbake_) June 23, 2017
@WWCAtl is killing their inaugural conference 🔥🔥🔥🔥 #WeRiseTech
— Taylor Wayne Hampton (@taylor__wayne) June 23, 2017
@WeRiseConf has the most stylish, flyest folks of any conference I've ever been to #ijs #werisetech #styleissubstance
— Chelsea Bullock (@chelsea_bullock) June 23, 2017
Taking in all of the great info at my very first tech conference. #WWCodeatl #WeRiseTech pic.twitter.com/KiPNRQsZ7v
— Ingrid (@uniquely_ingrid) June 23, 2017
Proud to support #WeRiseTech to grow and showcase #WomenInTech and their allies who are doing amazing work around the world! #WomenWhoCode https://t.co/9P0xRRZWUw
— SalesLoft (@SalesLoft) June 23, 2017
It’s great to see a huge turnout at #WeRiseTech. More diversity in tech is always welcome and we support it totally. #uxcoach 🙏🏻
— UX Coach (@uxcoachme) June 23, 2017
Still on a high after #WeRiseTech. What a fabulous conference. What fabulous attendees. What a rush. Please, y'all, keep in touch.
— Estelle Weyl (@estellevw) June 28, 2017
All pumped up about the Atlanta tech scene right now #wwcatl #WeRiseTech @WWCAtl 🤘
— Whitley Bacon (@whitbake_) June 23, 2017
Loving the crowd at #WeRiseTech! So far talks have been wonderful. @HammerAndTusk @AxiomZenTeam pic.twitter.com/qEfGDCp4Km
— (((Wren Handman))) (@WrenHandman) June 23, 2017
Closing out #WeRiseTech with @WWCAtl Directors. Thx to our speakers, sponsors, volunteers & host @Loudermilk_Ctr. We'll see you next year! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/z6na1JzXaG
— We RISE Tech Conf (@WeRiseConf) June 24, 2017
And I'm just gonna leave you with this gem:
We sing Happy Birthday to a Leader @WWCATL, Wife, Daughter & #iOS Developer, @Fineblkwoman, at #WeRiseTech #WWCodeATL @WeRiseConf #ATL pic.twitter.com/4jzCIkE5AN
— Women Who Code ATL (@WWCAtl) June 23, 2017
