Women in Technology International – WITI

Carolyn Leighton founded WITI to help women advance by providing access to – and support from – other professional women working in all sectors of technology. WITI started in 1989 as The International Network of Women in Technology and, in 2001, evolved into The WITI Professional Association, the world’s leading trade association for tech-savvy women.

Today, WITI is committed to empowering innovators, inspiring future generations and building inclusive cultures, worldwide. WITI is redefining the way women and men collaborate to drive innovation and business growth and is helping corporate partners create and foster gender inclusive cultures. A leading authority of women in technology and business, WITI has been advocating and recognizing women’s contributions in the industry for more than 30 years. The organization delivers leading edge programs and platforms for individuals and companies — designed to empower professionals, boost competitiveness and cultivate partnerships, globally.

WITI’s ecosystem includes more than three million professionals, 60 networks and 300 partners, worldwide.

                        Carolyn Leighton discusses WHY WITI.

CONNECTING AND PROMOTING THE WITI WAY

I worked with WITI promoting its annual Summits which were held for the past 25 years in Silicon Valley. From the first computers being honored at our Hall of Fame Awards night and Gloria Steinem inspiring WITI women to reach for the stars to Donna Shirley who designed the first rover that went to Mars, and Patricia Arquette for saying it like it is, every WITI Summit has been a historical event.  I was brought on to utilize my skills as a promoter, liason, conduit, and advocate.  Writing and pitching press releases was just a part of the job role.   I also helped land speakers, including Patricia Arquette, sponsors, and worked with the internal marketing and business development team on messaging and content.