Women in IT Day
This is an invitation for you – everyone who wants to feel the energy, emotions and power of Women in IT Day firsthand.
Theme: Promoting equity and access
Phase and Stage: Digital – Early career
Action: Training / mentoring
Beneficiaries: Public institutions; Universities; Women only; Private companies
Users: Policy makers; Education providers; Training providers
Women in IT Day was developed in response to a persistent and well-documented challenge: the underrepresentation of women in the technology sector and their limited access to practical career development, role models, and inclusive professional networks.
In Poland and across Europe, many women interested in technology face systemic barriers such as lack of visible female role models, limited access to hands-on learning, and insufficient support during career transitions or leadership advancement. This gap is particularly visible among women entering IT from non-technical backgrounds, as well as experienced professionals aiming for leadership roles.
Women in IT Day was designed as a free, fully online, international event to remove financial, geographical, and organizational barriers. The key objectives were:
- to support women at different stages of their careers in technology
- to provide practical, market-relevant skills rather than theoretical inspiration
- to create direct connections between participants, industry experts, mentors, and employers
- to build a long-term community that supports women’s career growth in digital and tech-related fields.
THE CHALLENGE
The main challenge was to design an initiative that would be scalable, inclusive, and impactful, while addressing very diverse needs within one community.
Women interested in IT are not a homogeneous group. Some are taking their first steps into technology, others are experienced specialists aiming for leadership or strategic roles. Traditional conferences often fail to meet these needs simultaneously, offering either high-level inspiration without practical value or narrowly focused technical content.
Additionally, another challenge was maintaining high engagement in an online format and ensuring that the event led to real, measurable outcomes, such as increased confidence, clearer career direction, practical skills acquisition, and stronger connections with employers – not just short-term motivation.
OUR SOLUTION
To address these challenges, Women in IT Day was designed as a multi-track, practice-oriented ecosystem, not a single-format event.
Key elements of the solution included:
- Two dedicated career tracks: Re:Start (for women entering or transitioning into IT) and UP:Great (for experienced professionals and aspiring leaders).
- A strong focus on practical workshops (20 sessions) led by industry practitioners actively working in technology.
- Speed mentoring sessions (11 one-on-one formats) providing personalized career guidance.
- Interactive Expo Zones connecting participants directly with employers, recruiters, and real job opportunities.
- Panels and power speeches addressing current topics such as AI ethics, cybersecurity, leadership diversity, and the future of work.
- A fully online, accessible format supported by a structured communication strategy, including video campaigns, email marketing, and live streaming partnerships.
This approach allowed participants to choose content aligned with their career stage and goals, while still benefiting from a shared community experience.
OUTCOME
The implementation of this solution led to strong, concrete results, both quantitative and qualitative.
Key outcomes in 7th edition of Women in IT Day include:
- 3,200 participants from 10 countries, making Women in IT Day an international initiative.
- 120 experts, mentors, and speakers actively involved throughout the event.
- An average participation time of 3 hours, indicating high engagement in an online format.
- 100% positive feedback and an average satisfaction score of 9/10.
- Strong representation of women outside IT (51%), confirming success in reaching career switchers.
Extensive reach through digital channels:
– 1.5M views on Facebook
– 140K on LinkedIn
– 100K on YouTube
– 25K on Instagram
Participants reported increased confidence, clearer career plans, and concrete next steps immediately after the event, including skills development, portfolio building, and recruitment follow-ups.
Importantly, the event also strengthened cooperation between education providers, employers, and experts, creating long-term value beyond a single day.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Several key lessons emerged from implementing Women in IT Day:
Practical value drives engagement – workshops, mentoring, and real-life case studies generate significantly higher impact than inspirational content alone. - Segmented career paths are essential – addressing different career stages separately increases relevance and participant satisfaction.
- Online does not mean passive – with the right structure and interaction formats, online events can deliver deep engagement and measurable outcomes.
- Visibility of role models matters – showcasing diverse, real career stories helps participants build confidence and envision their own paths in technology.
- Community is as important as content – networking, mentoring, and follow-up communication extend the impact well beyond the event itself.
These elements are replicable and can be successfully applied in other digital inclusion initiatives aiming to support women in technology and innovation ecosystems.
