The WITI Strategist
www.witi.com
Nov. 19, 2003
WITI's mission is to empower women to achieve unimagined possibilities and transformation through technology, leadership and economic prosperity.

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Announcing the Official Launch of the WITI Marketplace! - For years, WITI women have told us they like doing business with other women. Our corporate partners have told us they are committed to hiring more women-owned businesses as vendors. In response, we have opened the WITI Marketplace to enable everyone to support women-owned businesses! If you are a WITI member, take advantage of this free member benefit and register your company or consulting practice. Don't miss this great opportunity for exposure! Not a WITI Member? Join now!.

Grown-up Bullies: An Oxymoron?
By Carolyn Leighton, CEO/Chairwoman/Founder, WITI

I recently had a distasteful conversation with a woman whose screaming, talking over my conversation, and just being downright obnoxious reminded me that bullies come in all ages and all genders. Many of us have had to deal with at least one bully in our lifetime, and most of us believe even one bully experience is one too many.

In my opinion, the phrase "grown-up bully" IS an oxymoron, since if we're really grown up, do we have to bully anyone? For More...

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Town Hall Meeting merged with National Conference

By overwhelming demand, December's Town Hall meeting has been rescheduled and will be included at WITI's National Conference in San Jose next spring, making this conference bigger and better than ever! As you know, we've been hard at work reinventing WITI; now, it is time to "Move Powerfully into the Future!" Plan now to attend this very special event. Click here for more information and to register.

What You Told Us About Working for Technology Companies
Results from the WITI Online Survey, July 2003, 929 respondents

There's a disconnect between women's perceptions about their opportunities to advance in the executive levels and the reality of what is actually happening.

• 63% of survey respondents believe that the CEO is committed to advancing women ...
• 59% of survey respondents believe that executive management is committed to advancing women....
• Yet, 74% of the companies that respondents work for have LESS than 24% of their executive positions occupied by women.

• 59% of the women surveyed said that their company has NO programs that support women or, if they do have programs, the programs are NOT effective.

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WITI Watch
Celebrating Companies that Get It -- and shaming those that don't

Oracle Magazine has announced this year's Editor's Choice Award winners - and they're all male. WITI member, Liza Lowry, CIO for City of Los Angeles ITA, believes this "Lack of recognition is one of the many barriers to women's progress and success in the IT industry". Her suggestion that the City of Los Angeles reconsider buying products from a company which so blatantly excludes women is the only theme, we believe, that will get the attention of the high tech industry which continues to give lip service, and not much more, to women who have contributed so much to its growth and success.

Dear Mr. Spicer - I just received a copy of the November/December 2003 edition of Oracle Magazine featuring the 2003 Awards. I was immediately struck by the cover photos. Maybe you did not notice but the 21 winners are all male - and mostly white male.

Although the number of females in IT is still woefully low, I find it hard to believe that not one women in the whole world is an "innovative, thoughtful, smart and dedicated" Oracle user. While I never advocate giving awards and accolades based solely on gender or ethnicity, I must believe that Oracle's method of selecting winners is fundamentally flawed to achieve these results.

If Oracle is truly trying to "reflect the scope and application of Oracle's technologies and the people who use them," then perhaps I should rethink the City of Los Angeles' use of Oracle products as I am obviously not reflective of your user base. The burning questions really is whether Oracle is in tune with the times and a responsible company with which we should do business.

Shame on you! This magazine is going directly into the recycling bin.

Liza M. Lowery, CIO
City of Los Angeles ITA

The new WITI Watch wants to celebrate those companies who are respectful of and empowering to women and keep you informed about those companies who need to change their ways. How are the companies you interact with doing? Should women start using their consumer and business dollars to back companies that support women? Sould women should stop purchasing products and services from companies whose policies do not support women? Send us your thoughts and any cheers and jeers or post to the discussion board.

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Mentor 5th through 8th Grade Children through Fun and Exciting Toy Design Challenge

There is little doubt that the future well-being of society depends not just on how well we educate our children, but also on how well we educate them in engineering, science, mathematics and technology. Research points to the middle school years as a time when maintaining the interest of young students, especially girls, in engineering, science and technology is crucial.

Toys are a great way to learn about science, engineering and the design process, and working on a team builds skills in collaboration, leadership and communication. The Sally Ride TOYchallenge connects students in 5th through 8th grade with all of these principles in an exciting and fun environment. That is why WITI is pleased to announce our sponsorship of the Sally Ride TOYchallenge and the wide range of opportunities this sponsorship provides for our members and chapters.

During elementary school, there are lots of girls (as many girls as boys) who are interested in math, science and computers. We are dedicated to sustaining their natural interests during the critical years, when so many of them drift away.    -- Sally Ride

• Coach one or more teams in your area.
• Offer to coach a team in another area that may need a coach.
• Sponsor a team financially.
• Volunteer to help at a TOYchallenge Showcase or a Sally Ride Science Festival.

Fast Company Magazine Launches This Year's Search For The Fast 50

Tell us your story and end up in the pages of Fast Company magazine. For the third straight year, Fast Company is launching the Fast 50, a worldwide search for ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Who should enter? It's not just about the big wigs or bottom line. Entries are encouraged from individuals and teams across all industries and levels worldwide. We're looking for uncompromising leaders, tireless innovators, turnaround artists, truth-tellers, trendsetters -- readers who are fueled by passion, guided by integrity, and commitment to results.

This year's Fast 50 categories include:

• LEADERS. Uncompromising executives who have created value through the power of their ideas and the depth of their commitment.
• INNOVATORS. Risktakers, at any level, whose insight and courage have piloted an unlikely success.
• DISRUPTERS. Scientists and engineers whose breakthrough advances have created new ways to live and work.
• TRENDSETTERS. Marketers, designers and artists whose tireless creativity has changed the way we look at the world.
• RISING STARS. People who will be setting the agenda in the future. Up-and-comers whose work promises to have a profound impact on the world.
• WILD CARDS. An open category for unsung heroes, truth-tellers, trailblazers and turnaround artists. Anyone fueled by passion, guided by integrity, and committed to results.

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