Today is Ada Lovelace Day. This means that all over the world, for the next 50 hours or so, people will be posting stories online, celebrating women in science and technology.
Last year I wrote about Mena Trott, the co-founder of Six Apart, and this year, I feel a bit overwhelmed.
Over the last 365 days there have been many discussions about women in technology. From Geek ‘n Rolla to Della to Silicon Stilettos, women and technology have been a hot topic.
Just as with the abortion (and even lipgloss) debate, I don’t think we’ll ever come up with a concrete or definite answer about why we need more women in tech, if there's a need for more, or why more women aren't joining tech companies.
But rather than discuss why we don’t have enough and why there should be more (or if we even need more) women in science, technology and web start-ups – today, let’s celebrate the ones that we do have.
Despite racking my brain for a fair amount of time, I cannot come up with just one woman to celebrate today. This might be because my view of science and technology spans to other sectors like blogging, journalism, or even online marketing – but regardless, I am not going to limit myself to just naming one person.
Today, I’m going to celebrate the names that come to mind, because these women deserve recognition.
In no particular order:
Hermione Way
Hermione works her butt off. Between her work with Newspepper, Tech Fluff, and her new liveshow Embed with Hermione Way, she not only does hilarious mockumentry videos about her love for her laptop, Alex, but she also is incredibly passionate and active about supporting young female developers and entrepreneurs.
Follow her on Twitter: @hermioneway
Penelope Garcia
OK, Garcia is a fictional character on the show Criminal Minds, but I still thinks she’s important. Garcia is a technical analyst for the FBI. At her core, she’s a hacker (which is why the FBI brought her on board) but Garcia knows how to find out anything and everything, analyze videos frame by frame, and do any crazy computer ninja shit the Behavioral Analysis Unit needs her to.
Sure, she’s fictional, but I find it very significant that on a primetime US television show there is a curvy, blonde, geekazoid hacker as a main character.
Amanda Rose
Amanda is the brain behind Twestival. While there are many women and men who head-up the local Twestivals and do plenty of work themselves, Rose started it all. She works tirelessly and selflessly arranging Twestival on a global scale, and uses her technical prowress for good. (Very good. Like, wells in Africa good!) Amanda has a heart of gold and is incredibly humble. In my book, she doesn't get enough recognition, and I would love to see her talking at more events, such as Le Web.
Follow her on Twitter: @amanda
Elizabeth Varley
Elizabeth is a ray of (blonde, Australian) sunshine in the London tech scene. Varley is constantly on the go, and in addition to organizing the London Twestival (which takes place tomorrow, Thursday the 25th) she is also the woman behind Tech Hub. Tech Hub is a new projected dedicated to creating a physical space in London for tech start-ups and entrepreneurs and others in the tech industry “from across the UK, Europe, the US and beyond”.
Elizabeth Varley knows her shit, and manages to be friendly, professional, charming and incredibly business-savvy all at once. She is, basically, awesome.
Follow her on Twitter: @evarley
Sarah Lacy
No doubt Lacy will be featured many times today, but I simply cannot leave her out. Lacy works tirelessly, travelling around the world, meeting with and interviewing entrepreneurs in China, Brazil, India and beyond. Perhaps one of the most famous authors and reporters in the Silicon Valley and global tech scene, Lacy is one of the most powerful women in technology.
While she is, of course, an author, journalist and blogger – Lacy knows start-ups and entrepreneurs inside out. Funny, articulate and always controversial – Sarah Lacy, whether she wants to be or not, is a champion and inspirational example for other women in tech.
Follow her on Twitter: @sarahcuda
Image via TV Guide Magazine