Technology plays a critical role in helping women collaborate, gain knowledge, and establish their rightful presence across the globe. Mobile technology and the Internet are especially important and equalizing tools for women.
In terms of Internet-based tools, social networking, blogging, and websites are vital. Women and their nonprofits and small businesses must have an online presence, and women must be able to update and manage their presence themselves, lowering the cost and increasing the flexibility of the tools. My favorite platform for creating affordable, highly versatile and easy-to-use websites is WordPress. I mention this as a way of leading in to the admission that I haven’t posted much at Pointing to the Moon in the past week or so because I’ve been tapped into my geeky side (and site), creating free how-to videos for WordPress users and working with clients to whom the idea of managing their own internet presence is new, and both exciting and scary. Getting people over their fear of technology and helping non-technical folks effectively use and manage their tools (including an online presence) is, for me, an inherent part of invoking the power of technology.
And, on the overall topic of empowering women in technology, Robin Abram’s profile in the recently-released Women’s eNews 21 Leaders for the 21st Century is understated but important. Abrams opened doors for women as executive for Apple and a number of mobile technology firms, and works with nonprofits, including the Anita Borg Institute, to further women in technology and women’s use of technology across the globe. During a keynote speech given at a December Silicon Valley event for the Global Women’s Leadership Network, Abrams talked of the power mobile technology has to connect women, due to the growing availability of mobile phones and applications across the developed and not-so-developed world. I, for one, look forward to hearing more about Abrams and her work — and reminding others we’re all part of the wave of women (and men!) using mobile technology to change the world for the better!
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