Tech It Out: WICT Launches Female-Aimed Tech Initiative

Where are the women in cable’s tech sector? It’s a problem that drew heated debate at WICT NY’s annual lunch in Sept, and it’s something the parent organization has decided to remedy. WICT will unveil multi-part initiative "WICT Tech It Out" at its annual DC gala Wed night, sister pub CableWorld reports in its Nov 13 issue. Tech It Out likely will have an executive development seminar similar to the illustrious Betsy Magness Institute, where "women can have an experience, mentor each other and learn from professionals," WICT pres Benita Fitzgerald Mosley told the magazine. Other components include urging companies to set up programs to encourage non-tech female managers to take tech-management jobs and outreach to female college students. The 1st year budget is $75K, with additional in-kind support from key sponsors, such as BET. The programmer developed a series of PSAs dubbed "Techs in the City" (get it?), which will be shown at Wed’s Gala. WICT vps Tom Quash and Parthavi Das will be heading Tech It Out, with SCTE and CTHRA working cooperatively with the program. The industry will get a better idea of how it fares with recruiting and retaining women in the tech field when WICT’s annual PAR survey is released Mon. For more on Tech It Out, see this week’s issue of CableWorld.