A huge thank you to our panel on work-life balance:  Denise Korman, Kelly Madison, Amanda Moore and Dr. Elisa H. Barney Smith!  It was great to learn more about how these fabulously talented women make it look so easy (relatively speaking).

For those that were not able to join us, a few highlights:

On the opportunity to network
*Create value for others - take the opportunity to be of service to someone first (a referral for an open position, a user group, etc)
*Be intentional - there are a lot of groups and activities demanding a limited amount of time.  Attend/join only those that bring value to you personally or professionally
*Be confident
*Wear a nametag
*Make it a point to talk with everyone

Tips/tricks for 2012:
*Be realistic in what you want to accomplish - too often, we have incredibly busy days but accomplish nothing
*Manage your time and work so when you go home, you can be home
*Prioritize your to dos
*Use tools that fit your needs (receiving shoutouts were Evernote, Dropbox, Toodledo.com, Linkedin, Twitter)
*Disconnect from the matrix - we need to remember that we don't always have to know what is going on
*Set boundaries - share them with friends & co-workers
*Be present

Good stuff!  Even better?  There was homework!  We aren't kidding.  Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg speaks to this topic a lot and focuses attention on women becoming leaders in the workplace.  There are many video clips available.  If you find yourself with some spare time, check them out.  The 4 Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss was recommended for great tips (not to mention the idea of an actual 4 hour work).  

Finally, a few people and groups were mentioned as great sources of information and a way to stay on top of technology news, activities, events, etc.  We'd say in no particular order, but we can't.  Kudos to our friend Jess and Girl in Tech'er for being the only female mentioned and the local source!  She does keep good company as you can see below:

(at)jessflynn
(at)mashable
(at)techcrunch
(at)readwriteweb

A few more late additions:

(at)tacanderson
(at)newcommbiz
(at)CraigMJamieson
(at)techmeme

Before the groundhog checks for its shadow, we hope you are able to join us Wednesday February 1st from 11:30 to 12:30 pm at the BSU Center on Main (1020 W. Main; 1st floor of the Alaska Building). 

We're thrilled to have a panel discussion focused on something that we all struggle with from time to time - finding the balance between work and life.  Our panelists include:

Kelly Madison, Girls in Tech Boise Board Member and Independent Benefits Broker and Advisor
Dr. Elisa H. Barney Smith, Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
Amanda Moore, IT Recruiter for Scentsy, former IT Recruiter for TEKSystems, Head Coach at Boise Stealth Volleyball
Denise Korman, Girls in Tech Boise Board Member, Senior IT Systems Integration Analyst for the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, President of Ladybug Studios

Spend some time with us Wednesday and re-set the work-life scale in your life.  Please feel free to bring your lunch.

RSVP today!  

 

 

Expanding Your Horizons is holding an event March 31st from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm to encourage young women in the pursuit of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.  The event targets middle school aged girls (grades 6 - 9) and will be held at the College of Western Idaho.

The organizers of the event are looking for those interested in being involved, either through leading a workshop or being on a career panel.  Intrigued?  Read on!

Workshop presenter: Participants will attend four workshops throughout the day so you may lead your workshop 1-4 times. Workshops will be 50 minutes long and should be hands on.  There are many resources available to you to help you plan your workshop.  Workshop leader interest form

 

Career panel:  Share your unique STEM related profession with middle-school aged girls! The panel will consist of approximately 5-7 women from different careers.  The format for the panel will be that each woman will have 5 minutes to tell the girls a little bit about their career.  Career panel members should think about and prepare for this presentation prior to the conference. Be sure to include what you most want the girls to know about your journey, your career, or pursuing STEM fields in general. The remaining time will allow the girls to ask questions of the panel.  The panel will last approximately 45 minutes.  Career Panel Interest Form

 

For more information and to get involved, contact your Sharon Larson (larsonsound(at)hotmail.com) or Allison Molitor at (allisonmolitor(at)cwidaho.cc.

 

Go Lead Idaho asks you to save Saturday, March 3rd for the 2nd annual leadership development conference, Ready to Lead.  Keynote speakers include Debbie Walsh, the Executive Director of Rutgers Center for American Women & Politics and Chris Jahnke, author of The Well Spoken Woman.

There will be two tracks - Ready to Run, geared for those interested in running for political office and Ready to Serve, for those interested in private and non-profit sector leadership.

If you or your organization is interested in sponsoring, there's still time!  Visit Go Lead Idaho for information or email the Executive Committee [goleadidaho(at)gmail.com].

More information on registration will be coming soon.  For now, save March 3rd from 8:00 to 4:30 pm at the Concordia University School of Law in downtown Boise.

Hope to see you there!

Join fellow web dev enthusiasts Thursday the 26th for the January Meetup from 6:00 to 7:45 pm at the US Bank Building (101 S. Capitol Blvd, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Room 202, in downtown Boise).

First up is Jonathan Tallman leading a discussion on grabbing a customer's attention online.  He'll be followed by Patrick Lee and deploying web applications. 

There's still time to sign up.

Its Monday. 

Anything can happen. 

We released all the information on our upcoming February meeting on work-life balance and we see an article in FastCompany calling work-life balance a myth (Chappelow, 2012). 

Really. 

We can see his point.  Balance is arbitrary and sounds good in theory.  Its setting your own schedule, taking down time when you want to, picking and choosing what you want to work on.  We agree - where do we sign up?

Chappelow states that we tend to think of this as balance act.  We constantly move items from one side of the scale (WORK) to the other (LIFE) so we can maintain that level of balance. 

What we really mean is control - as in the good and positive connotation for control.  We are the deciders and decision makers in our lives.  We set limits and boundaries.  We let go of things.  We say no.  We recognize and accept that we cannot be everything to everyone all the time. 

Control gets a bad rap; balance sounds nicer, softer and is more palatable.  Its really a sliding scale (and yes, we are back to the scale imagery again).  There's balance to control and there's control required to balance (if that makes any sense).  Its an ability to manage ourselves, not to deny the fun of multitasking and juggling, because really, who doesn't wonder sometimes what would happen if one of those items you are juggling drops?

He offers some suggestions for getting started at taking control (or finding balance):

Shore up the home front - reduce stress
Quit complaining - reframe instead
Say no strategically - take control (find balance) prior to taking on a new project or job

We say let the ball drop.  Its ok.  Reduce stress.  Say no.  Let 2012 be the year that you want it to be by managing your life the way you want.  If that means finding balance, going to your happy place, or taking control - do it.  The choice is yours.

Reference

Chappelow, C. (2012, January 22).  Work/life balance is a myth; here's what you can do about it.  FastCompany.  Retrieved from http://www.fastcompany.com

Join us February 1st from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the BSU Center on Main (1020 W. Main St, 1st Floor of the Alaska Building) for an important discussion on work-life balance.  This interactive panel discussion features:

Kelly Madison, Girls in Tech Boise Board Member and Independent Benefits Broker and Advisor
Dr. Elisa H. Barney Smith, Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
Amanda Moore, IT Recruiter for Scentsy, former IT Recruiter for TEKSystems, Head Coach at Boise Stealth Volleyball
Denise Korman, Girls in Tech Boise Board Member, Senior IT Systems Integration Analyst for the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, President of Ladybug Studios

Hear how these talented women find the balance between active careers and personal lives, stay up to date on the latest tech gadgets, make time to network, set boundaries, stay organized and be productive.  These women are sure to motivate and inspire with their tips and tricks for finding (and maintaining) the balance.

RSVP now!  We promise it will be worth your time.

This is just one nugget of wisdom from a new book, The Information Diet, featured on NPR last week.  The book, written by Clay Johnson, is a call for the conscious consumption of information.  Did you skim that last sentence?  Johnson wants everyone to slow down and think, to be aware of the information that they are reading, relaying, sharing, retelling, etc. 

Its a classic case of overload, information overload.  Johnson argues that our solution to this overload (and our ability to manage it) should not be thought of in terms like efficiency and productivity, but in terms of health, the way we think about our food.   Simplicity is key; more information is not necessarily good or effective.  Johnson encourages readers to read as close to the actual source as possible to stay true to the intent.   

This seems like a relevant resolution for us in 2012.   Who knows?  Being conscious of the information we consume just might make us more productive and efficient this year.  It certainly will free up some time and relieve some stress.  While we don't really like the idea of 'diets' we think this is one lifestyle choice that we can start AND maintain.

You can read an excerpt of his book here.  

 

Do you embrace instability?  Are you someone that finds joy in resetting your career?  Do you challenge business assumptions?  Are you able to acquire new skills?  If the answer is yes, you just may be a part of Generation Flux. 

Generation Flux is a mind-set; it defines an attitude and behavior.  Think of it as a way to psychographically categorize individuals.  Traditional demographic categories would have us group people by race, ethnicity, age, income level, gender - the list of characteristics is seemingly endless. 

Nearly midway through the first month of 2012, Fast Company offers some terrific food for thought that aligns with the resolution mind set that we often have at the start of a new year - to embrace the chaos and uncertainty around us and join Generation Flux.  Granted, not everyone is wired to do this.  That's ok.  For those that are, what's stopping you?

Fast Company's Robert Safian identifies some that embody Generation Flux including Mashable's CEO Pete Cashmore; Raina Kumra, Co- director of Innovation, Broadcasting Board of Governors; Bob Greenberg, CEO & Founder of R/GA; DJ Patil, Data Scientist, Greylock Partners; Beth Comstock, Chief Marketing Officer, GE; danah boyd, Sr Researcher at Microsoft Research; and Baratunde Thurston, Director of Digital at The Onion.  Trust us, their full page profiles are well worth the read and would seem to fly in the face of Safian's comments that there are 'no perfect role models'.  Want to see the embodiment of Generation Flux?  Read the profiles.  Membership in Generation Flux is not linked to age, gender or industry. 

In describing the future of business, Safian outlines some interesting mantras that are pretty powerful on their own.  When you consider them in the context of Generation Flux, imagine the possibilities:

The New Economy is For Real
You Don't Know What You Don't Know
Be Not Afraid
Nuke Nostalgia
There Are No Perfect Role Models

Safian's article gives us much to ponder and strive for in 2012.  Be open.  Embrace the chaos.  Adapt to change (yes, he even gives a shoutout to Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection).

Good food for thought.

Reference

Safian, R. (2011, January 9).  This is generation flux:  Meet the pioneers of the new (and chaotic) future of business.  Fast Company. Retrieved from http://www.fastcompany.com

We knew it!  A study released by HSN shows that the stereotype of women not being the decision maker when it comes to tech gadget purchases is not true.  The study found that women are more likely to buy tablets,  laptops and smartphones than men.  In fact, more women than men planned to purchase these items before the start of 2012.  Did you?

Samantha Murphy over at Mashable has a great writeup on the numbers and what it means.

It's what we've said all along here at Girls in Tech Boise - we all use technology in our daily lives - be it at work or at home.  You don't have to be a programmer or engineer to be a part of Girls in Tech.  If you've been thinking about joining us, there's never been a better time.  Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 1st from 11:20 to 12:30 at the BSU Center on Main (1020 W. Main, 1st floor of the Alaska Building).  If you can't make it in February, don't worry, there's always next month.  We meet the FIRST Wednesday of the month.  Did we mention membership is free?

 

Won't you join us?

If your New Year's resolutions included networking, learning something new or pursuing your dreams, get your calendars ready!  January and February are packed with activities and events that will help you keep (and stick to) your resolution.

Thursday, January 12th - Kickstand brings 3 LaunchPad alumni companies from the 2010 and 2011 sessions to share the progress they've made.  The event is 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the WaterCoole (1401 W. Idaho).  The event is free to members; non-members $15.  Food & drink provided.  RSVP here.

Tuesday, January 17th - Creative Juices meets at the WaterCooler (1401 W. Idaho).  If you are an inventor or are thinking about inventing something check out this group.  They meet from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Wednesday, January 25th - Green Drinks at Bittercreek from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

Friday, January 27th - TechBoise Open Coffee Club at the Cole Marr Coffeehouse in BoDo from 8:30 to 10:00 am.

Saturday, January 28th - Discover Engineering Day at BSU College of Engineering (1375 University Drive) from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  This free event has a lot of fun activities for the whole family.  Free parking available at the Lincoln Garage.  Check out the details here.

Wednesday, February 1st - Girls in Tech Boise meets to talk about work/life balance at the BSU Center on Main (1020 W. Main, 1st floor of the Alaska Building).  The team is lining up some terrific speakers.  RSVP here (remember to select the date from the drop down menu).

Wednesday, February 1st and Thursday, February 2nd join the Idaho Technology Council and the Center for Advanced Energy Studies as they present Idaho Research Symposium:  Energy Connect at the BSU Stueckle Sky Center.  Wednesday's event is from 4:00 to 7:00 pm and Thursday's is 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  If you are interested in energy, this event is for you.

Saturday, February 4th is another opportunity to talk about inventions with the Boise Inventors Group.  They meet from 9:00 to 10:30 am at the WaterCooler (1401 W. Idaho).

Thursday, February 9th - Kickstand (the 2nd Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 7:00 pm) at the WaterCooler (1401 W. Idaho).

This is just the tip of the iceberg as there are some terrific events in later this Spring.  Details coming soon but be sure to reserve the dates for the following:

March 2nd and 3rd - Go Lead Idaho conference featuring Christine Jahnke, author of The Well Spoken Woman and national speech coach.  The event will be held at the Concordia Law School and is designed to equip women interesting in running for public office as well as those interested in pursuing and assuming new leadership roles in the community.  If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please let us know.

Tuesday, March 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm join BSU Public Radio and the BSU Women's Center for a live storytelling event Women in the House: Political Stories in the Simplot Ballroom, 2nd Floor of the SUB.  Free parking is available in the Lincoln Garage.

Stay up to date on the latest in entrepreneurial and start-up related events by checking out the calendar graciously hosted by the Boise Valley Economic Partnership. 

See you around!

 

 

    

 

We are 4 days into the new year.  How are those resolutions holding up?  Are they already forgotten?  Never fear!  At Girls in Tech Boise, we know 2012 is YOUR year to be whatever you want, do what you want, learn what you want. 

We have decided we want to be coding ninjas.  Want to join us?  Check out Codeacademy as a start.  We don't want to brag, but we did already earn a badge and have 40 points.  We are very proud!  If you are already a coding ninja and want to help them create lessons, there's a form for that - you can sign up to be part of the teacher-beta group.  Learn the story behind Codeacademy here.  Its worth the read. 

Another option out there is CS Extras, brain child of JD Mullins and the Idaho Technology Council's Software Alliance.  CS Extras is led by the software industry and connects future software engineers to the industry in the state, the companies and the professionals.  If you are interested in getting involved, contact JD at jeremym1234(at)cableone.net.  Read more about CS Extras here.

A third option is not quite available in our area but sounds really cool - its a meetup designed around learning to code, Girl Develop It.  From what we can tell, its on the East Coast right now.  We are keeping an eye out for any westward motion and will let you know as its available. 

This is just 3 options that our friends have shared with us with all of you in mind.  There are likely countless others. 

2012 is the year to be a coder.  Are you ready to be a coding ninja?

If you are like us, getting back to work today was a little tougher than it should be.  Maybe you had a slow start, maybe you spent time trying to remember where you were on the project you were working on or maybe which project you were working on?  For these reasons (and likely countless more) we have canceled the January meeting for Girls in Tech Boise.  That's right, you have the lunch hour on the first Wednesday of January (a new month and a new year) all to yourselves.  Enjoy!

Use a smidgeon of that time to mark your calendar for February's meeting - February 1st at the BSU Center on Main (1020 W. Main St., 1st Floor of the Alaska Building).  Details coming soon.

Whitney Johnson asks an intriguing question on the Harvard Business Review blog this week - are you stuck in a girls' club?

Johnson's question, at first glance seems obvious.  As women, we are very interested in seeing other women, be they friends, colleagues or acquaintances get ahead.  To that end, we do our part, introducing them to other like-minded women to help them on their path - those women that have been there and done that.  Johnson makes the point that while this is beneficial, it does not do enough to change the patterns and dynamics that are there.  There still may be only a few females in leadership positions, at various meetings, etc.  What happens when we have met and connected with them?  What then?

Johnson states that we (men and women) should look to make connections that make sense regardless of gender.  Who are the people that possess the connections, the insight into the market, or have expertise?  Those things are independent of an individual's gender (and we'd add race, ethnicity, income level and any other socio-demographic label that might be applied).  While helping women move ahead is important and something to strive for, it will not happen solely through other women.  Why?  It comes back to patterns and the need for systemic change, according to Johnson.  This is the reality.  To be successful, women should acknowledge this and in Johnson's words 'leverage' to their advantage.

She offers some terrific wisdom that applies to both men and women:

Seek out connections to both men & women
To effectively ask for what you need - prepare
Honor & reciprocate the introductions made by women in your network

As you think about the new year and what adjustments ('er resolutions) you might make, both personally and professionally, keep Johnson's suggestions in mind.  Think of the possibilities if everyone in the Boise Valley kept an eye and ear out for opportunities to connect the people they know to help them move ahead!

We at Girls in Tech Boise hope for a successful and joyous 2012 for you and yours! 

See you next year (we couldn't resist).  

Reference

Johnson, W.  (2011, December 27).  Are you stuck in a girl's club?  Harvard Business Review.  Retrieved from http://hbr.org.

 

We can't resist lists.  It puts everything in a nice package and makes it easy (or easier) to remember, absorb and think about.  There's also a lot of them.  We also enjoy the game of lists - who prioritized what over something else.  It lets us know what the leading minds in the industry are watching and maybe more importantly, hoping for.  Plus, its the list time of year - you know you can't resist the 'best of' and 'worst of' categorizing.

From Andrew McAffee, Principal Research Scientist at the Center for Digital Business at the MIT Sloan School of Management and author Enterprise 2.0, comes 6 predictions for 2012 in digital business.

Trends include:

adversaries for the iPad
a Fortune 500 company moving its productivity and collaboration to the cloud
a web native bank
a science fiction technology becoming a reality
no improvement in jobs and wages for US workers (really not a prediction, but a sad reality)
material conditions improving for people around the world (because of technology)

McAffee lists working brain control of real world objects as an example of a science fiction technology becoming reality.  We must admit, sometimes it'd be kinda nice to think something and have it happen to save us some work.  But then we read Mathew Swyer's piece in Inc about working harder and smarter.  Using Richard Branson, Gene Simmons (KISS), Dan Hanlon (Excelsior-Henderson) and himself (Trademark Company) as testimonials, Swyer reminds us that it takes work, no matter what - to build a business, create value, engage customers.  Its not either or when it comes to work and smarts, its an and; we must work smarter and harder.

He reminds us that setting goals and working hard to achieve them has a lot of value. 

Seems fitting this time of year....

 

 

According to pre-holiday shopping guides, the iPhone was one of the hottest holiday tech gifts of choice this year.Are you one of the lucky ones who unwrapped a brand spanking new shiny iPhone this year for Christmas?  Whether you are now the new proud owner of a shiny new iPhone or have been sporting this awesome, life changing gadget for a while, we found a great tip on how to improve your texting and email composing skills on that small keyboard!

Happy Festivus!

Happy Hanukkah!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Kwanza!

Girls in Tech Boise wishes you the best this holiday season.  We hope you enjoy time with family and friends, eat and drink (within reason of course) to your heart's content and enjoy some down time.  We are taking the next few days off from blogging here to do just that - yes, we really do try and practice what we preach.

Before we go, one last very apropos article from Scientific America on the tech gadgets we can't live without.  Any of these wrapped up and waiting for anyone you know?  The answers are sure to surprise you.

Happy Holidays from Girls in Tech Boise!

As we wind down 2011, we pass along wisdom that our good friends at Consilio (atConsilio) shared via Twitter this morning:

I'm tired of dreaming. I'm into doing at the moment. It's, like, let's only have goals that we can go after. - Bono

Who's with us for doing? Note we are not saying do more.  It reminds us of another great quote by First Lady Abigail Adams:

We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.

As you reflect back on 2011 and look forward to 2012, focus your dreaming on doing, on taking action. Let's compare notes in a year and see what happened - better yet, what we DID and what we made happen.

We love this time of year.  Yes, its colder, darker and at times a bit stressful to cram everything in - daily responsibilities, holiday shopping, work, holiday parties, more holiday shopping.  You know, you've been there. 

And yet, there's excitement and anticipation (the good kind) in the air. Its the time of year as the song says 'when the world falls in love' with those around them.  Our thoughts turn to reaching out, sharing and lifting the spirits of those we know.  We do this in many forms - a smile, small acts of kindness like the holding the door, sending holiday cards, giving gifts.  We'd add the putting up of lights to this list.  The sheer dedication that many in this Valley have for adorning their homes, trees, bushes - really anything in the yard - is unsurpassed and we are all the merrier for seeing and sharing in your creativity and holiday spirit.  Thank you!

The bottom line is that at this time of year, we get outside of ourselves and think of others.  Often the result of our thinking of others is in the form of action - we buy gifts.  Sometimes we nail it - we find the perfect gift that we know the intended receiver will love.  Other times we miss 'by that much' as Inspector Gadget would say.   The giving of gifts is an art form which not everyone has mastered.  Its ok.  We all know the mantra that 'its the thought that counts'. 

As you consider those to who you give gifts, we thought you'd enjoy gaining a better understanding as to why we do give gifts, courtesy of a nerdy explanation a la behavioral economist, Dan Ariely.  He revels in the joy of gift giving and doesn't as many rational economists would, debate the sense of wearing something that someone gave you when they come to visit even if you wouldn't be caught dead in it.  Sound familiar? 

Ariely classifies gifts into categories:

economic exchange - buying something someone needs
social connection creation - bringing a gift to the host of the holiday party
paternalistic - items you believe someone else should have
guilty pleasure - the items that people don't buy themselves but don't as they'd feel guilty (think luxury items)

Its an interesting read and one that sheds light on why we buy as we do. 

Fear not, gift receivers, we have you covered too.  If you get something that is not to your taste, re-gift.  Chances are, someone else will love it, needs it, wants it or could really use it.  Don't feel guilty about re-gifting - its cool.  We are conscious consumers.  We know the thought counts.  If you can't use it, don't like it or have some other reason re-gift.  Gift givers take note:  there's now a way for you too to endorse re-gifting.  That's right, there's a downloadable API available courtesy of Brain Pickings.  Their aim is to reduce the social stigma associated with re-gifting.  As a gift giver, you can use the stencils and logos to let the intended receiver that you endorse re-gifting.  Here's a sample:


 

 

Of course, we at Girls in Tech Boise also respect the decision to not buy gifts.  But we are givers.  Maybe there's an app for that?

That's right!  Pete Cashmore, CEO of Mashable has a guest post on CNN regarding the top tech trends for 2012.  At Girls in Tech Boise, we want you to be in the know.  We realize that you are busy and that you might not have time to scour the web for all the news that is (or isn't) the news.  In this case, this is news.  The trends can guide business ideas, startups, expansions, acquisitions, investments or just cool toys.  We already are experiencing the spatial gesturing beauty of Microsoft's xBox Kinect. To talk to Siri on the iPhone 4S is to love her.  A flexible screen?  We have to admit, that's kinda cool!

The 2012 trends:

touch computing
social gestures
NFC & mobile payments
beyond the iPad
tv everywhere
voice control
spatial gestures
second screen experiences
flexible screens
html5

Read more on what these trends mean and get to work figuring out how they might make your life better, easier and more fun. 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Cashmore, P. (2011, December 19).  The top ten tech trends for 2012.  CNN.  Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com.