Brenda Romero

KEYNOTE: Hidden Histories

The code that took us to the moon was written by a woman. Uncover the forgotten stories of the female pioneers who built the tech industry.

KEYNOTE: Hidden Histories
#1about 3 minutes

Beyond the usual suspects in women's tech history

The common narrative of women in tech is limited to a few famous names, which shapes stereotypes and career choices for the next generation.

#2about 5 minutes

A personal journey into the game industry

The speaker shares her entry into the game industry at age 15, highlighting an early work environment that had gender parity.

#3about 5 minutes

How women were pushed out of programming

Programming was originally considered "menial" work for women until rising pay and prestige attracted men, leading to a cultural shift that pushed women out.

#4about 6 minutes

The modern experience of being a "woman in tech"

Being treated as an anomaly leads to a focus on gender rather than professional work, illustrated by personal stories of harassment and inappropriate questions.

#5about 4 minutes

Highlighting forgotten women pioneers in computing

Many foundational contributions to computing, from the Apollo program's code to assembly language and compilers, were made by women who have been largely forgotten.

#6about 3 minutes

The real-world impact of lacking diversity

A lack of diversity in tech teams leads to biased products and systems, from poorly designed hardware to discriminatory AI recruitment tools.

#7about 4 minutes

A call to action for industry-wide parity

Reaching gender parity requires actively clearing away myths, changing exclusionary marketing, and making the business case for diverse teams.

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