Women in Technology: Geek is the New Chic

Blog reprinted with permission from http://blogs.att.net/consumerblog/story/a7787356

Recently, I attended an '80s party and was reminded of the music and the fashion of that time.

It made me think of the brightly colored leg warmers I wore in those days - and still have in my closet - just in case they come back into fashion. I was also reminded of the revolution that was occurring in garages and universities across the country back then. The Internet was being born, right along with many of the technologies that we take for granted today.

And the creators were geeks - hobbyists, computer enthusiasts and visionaries. I joined them, realizing that they were creating a wave that I would be riding for a very long time. But no one could ever have imagined the ranks that geeks would reach. Once shunned for their eccentricity, their technology acumen suddenly propelled them into stardom, wealth and renown. How did this happen? It's simple, really. The geeks had - and still have - the ability to create innovations that can revolutionize the world.

This was part of a broader message that I delivered to a group of women at Columbia University's Women in Business Conference in New York City Feb. 1. Attendees were mostly women in the MBA program or those transitioning into business from other professions there to discover how they could capitalize on the tech revolution.

This newfound interest in tech careers can be attributed to the proliferation of technology in our daily lives. One thing that has changed from the '80s is the ubiquitous nature of technology. It's no longer just for hobbyists and it doesn't just reside in the bowels of laboratory buildings. It's everywhere around us and is being used by 7-year-olds and 77-year-olds, by men and women alike. I recently gave a smartphone to my mother and she loves it. She now sends me texts, reads the newspaper and snaps photos on a whim - she's 75.

This proliferation and experience with the technology opens the door for women to participate in the innovation process in ways they may not have considered in the past. Whether a hacker or a fashionista, women can offer insights into how the technology can be designed, priced, marketed and sold, especially when you consider that 50 percent of the population using it are women. I told these women that it's not too late to go into tech or too late to learn how to code. I reminded them that in a world run by computers and networks, the person who exhibits proficiency in such systems wields a significant amount of influence.

I often speak to young women and encourage them to study math and science. I give them examples of how important geeks are to us and how brave they are. Geeks - both women and men - are rebels with a cause. It's an admirable feat to go against social norms and establishments to stand up for your passion and values, and that's exactly what tech geeks do. We've all reaped the benefits of their hard work. I'm happy to see that geeks are coming out of the shadows and are recognized for being the people behind the innovations that we can't live without. And I hope that this newfound admiration for geeks will encourage more men and women to join the ranks of geekhood.

Regardless of how mainstream and popular technology has become, we need to continue to support the “classic geek” who continues to push boundaries behind the scenes. They're the ones laying the technological foundation for tomorrow in garages, universities and research institutions across the country. We need them to continue to think differently and invent the future so that society can continue to benefit from their creative spirit.

One day, just maybe, calling someone a geek will be the utmost compliment you can pay them. I, for one, already wear the geek label with pride. And I'm honored to work for a diverse technology leader like AT&T, where my “geekiness” is celebrated and appreciated.

Alicia Abella, Executive Director of the Innovative Services Research Department, is based in Florham Park, NJ.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.