The WIT Job Fair is only days away and you are ready to find your dream job!  If you haven’t signed up yet, feel free to do so here.  When you do, you are strongly encouraged to submit your resume.  Since WIT is in the business of setting you up for success, the organization sends your resume to Job Fair prospective employers and exhibitors.  This is great because interested employer could contact you prior to the event about current and upcoming positions.  See – you are already a leg up and you haven’t even stepped foot into the job fair!

To make this great a reality, you need a killer resume.

As WIT President-Elect Daphne Wotherspoon’s previous blog post mentioned, “...don’t just dust off your old resume, slap your latest role at the top and hit print! Take the time to ensure your resume is aligned with your brand and that it tells a great story about what you’ve done.”

Most recruiters will only review your resume for up to 6 seconds.  Therefore, you need to design a resume that will effectively communicate your experience and value proposition in less than 6 seconds.

Here is a checklist for you to follow as you revamp and review your resume for the career fair.  Give yourself enough time to review your resume.  It may be thorough and excruciating, but this investment in your resume will pay off mad dividends.

 

On September 19^th, Women In Technology will welcome Erica Glotfelty, Director of Teacher Marketing and Socialization for Teach for America and Janet Waring, Vice President of Model B, for a discussion on Data Science and Social Media. In advance of the September 19^th event, we asked Erica and Janet to share some of their thoughts on the topic with the following Q&A:

How has the integration of data science and social media changed the way we’ve approached marketing in the past 5 years?

Janet: Integrating data science into your marketing is a game changer. Data science is responsible for those ads that pop up on Facebook showing you what you were just browsing for on Amazon and then recommends related products. And those articles that appear on your news source that seem to know what you were interested in – that is data science at work. Data science is the reason you get that creepy feeling that Google knows too much about you.

The data has allowed marketer to tailor the ads and information to a very targeted audience. Remember, marketing can often appear as educational pieces, but they are trying to sway your opinion on something. By targeting the audiences, you get leads that convert to customers.

For example, if I am selling swimming pool covers, I want to send my ads to not only consumers that own a swimming pool – but to those I know have been researching swimming pool covers online. And I want to have educational pieces online that consumers find when researching – so I have done my keyword research and know what terms they are using. That shopping audience is my main target for conversion and will give me the best ROI on my ad dollars. All possible with data.

What do you predict will happen in the next 5 to 10 years?

Erica: In the next 5-10 years, I predict organizations will understand more about the value of allocating time and budget to social media marketing. Online communities are becoming oversaturated with products and services being promoted. A digital ad budget will soon not an option, but a must to stay in the game and be seen. I also believe more web-based content management systems will integrate in new ways to streamline data with social channels, in addition to producing new data sets marketers can use to reach their audience. Each generation proves to display different habits and behaviors online, so it will be interesting to see how data can be used to reach segmented audiences based on historical data and how social media changes in relation. Be ready for new interfaces, new channels, and the end of the era for some channels we value today.

What is the biggest challenge in the digital marketing field now?

Janet: Privacy. 2018 was a big year for social media as people began to question the value of social networks vs their privacy. Great questions were asked, legislation is changing but at the end of the day, people are still using social media. But marketers need to adapt to the new consumer attitude. Consumers are demanding more value in exchange for giving up their email address or other personal information. The challenge for marketers is how to bring that value and build trust.

Erica: Everyone wants to be digital, but very few understand what digital marketing means, entails, and achieves. The biggest challenge in digital marketing is remaining user-first when planning. For example, if any business is asking themselves if they should have a digital marketing strategy, the answer will always be yes. Should everyone be using social media? No. A lot of digital marketers are dealing with colleagues and clients who are making decisions based on general trends that are not specific to their goals. To have an effective digital strategy, decisions should be made based on the audience and execution should be segmented to reach goals. A user-first mindset requires research, strategy, data analysis, and an ever-changing approach to what success looks like uniquely for a brand.

What are common misconceptions people have regarding data science, social media, and digital marketing at large?

Erica: Two statements I hear often, and I am quick to react to are: “I don’t need digital marketing, we’re doing just fine” and “I don’t have the budget to compete in the digital space.”

Even if an organization doesn’t feel they need to use digital marketing for new business, there’s many other reasons to make sure their online presence is thoughtful and maintained. Credibility alone is enough to push a brand to consider what and where their brand should be online. Whether that be a website, a profile on social, or even a Google Business listing, consumers will use Google and they will question the trust of any organization with little to no “paper trail” online.

Regarding budgeting, that’s not an excuse to overlook a digital strategy. There are hundreds of FREE, effective, and user-friendly tools online that can support a brand’s design and content needs. In today’s world, smartphones serve as a one-stop-shop for capturing content, posting online, and managing channels to communicate to consumers – even providing a quick way to respond. In saying that, I will also stress the importance of quality and strategy needed for any digital execution.

What is the most interesting trend for 2019 and 2020?

Janet: Messaging Apps. Top messaging apps—WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, QQ, and Skype—now collectively count nearly five billion monthly active users, according to We Are Social and Hootsuite’s 018 Q3 Global Digital Statshot. This should be on every marketer’s radar. You must develop a playbook for using messaging apps.

Erica: I love seeing the new and innovative challenges that are popping up all over the internet via social media. Users want engagement, entertainment, and feeling a sense of community. Knowing this, brands are creating challenges tied to unique hashtags that prompt users with questions and contests to win prizes and gain visibility.

What made you decide to tackle this subject? How did you get into this field, and why do you stay?

Janet: I’m a Gen X’er who grew up with a father who was a computer engineer with the DoD. So even though I am not a computer native like the millennial generation, I have always been comfortable with technology. I kind of stumbled into this field when trying to help other Gen X’ers and Baby Boomer friends understand social media – knowing they needed to embrace it for their businesses. I held a workshop at a local realtor’s office on how to use social media in business – at that time we focused on LinkedIn and Facebook. The workshop took off and so did my marketing business. I stay in the field of digital marketing because I’m a total geek who loves the latest tech – and this field changes so often you must stay up on the latest technology or you will become inefficient.

Erica: I love problem solving! If you are in the digital marketing field, you will never run out of problems to solve. People and technology will always change and provide sudden challenges we need to account for – that’s where the data and creativity come into play. This field provides a play place for my mind where data and creativity collide. I find both elements of this work intriguing and fun.

What are some of the ways people from your field are making a difference in the world?

Janet: Marketing is influencing. It is so amazing to launch campaigns and see the influence they can have on the public’s opinions and buying choices. It is important to me to work for brands that I respect and causes that operate with integrity. Model B does a lot of advocacy work. I have seen the public act and influence lawmakers by the ads we run. It makes a difference in the world.

Erica: Digital spaces provide quick reaction times, instant visibility, and virtual communities. There are countless organizations using these resources to spread awareness about their initiatives whose work is changing the world (Pencils of Promise, Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Campaign). There’s also a need for people to connect and have access to resources and communities where they feel a sense of belonging support. Virtual spaces are sometimes the only means individuals must find community. Past social media, I will also note while working in out of home advertising I saw the meaningful impact of the use of digital billboards sharing amber alerts and other important information within minutes of receiving notifications. These digital messages have changed and saved lives around the world.

What has helped you get to where you are? What advice would you have for others who want to set off in a similar direction?

Janet: I have clients who have been with me for over 15 years. They trust me, they refer me, and I do not take that lightly. I value people and relationships. A success for my clients is a success for me. Advice? Be genuine and authentic. Do not pretend to know something you don’t. Be willing to say, I do not know that tech, but I know someone who does and will get back to you. There is too much tech to be a subject matter expert in all of it.


To learn more about Data Science and Social Media please join us on Thursday September 19, 2019 from 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM EDT at Valo Park (formerly the Gannett Building), 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean VA 22102. Register here.

Women in Technology will hold a private Round Table and networking event with the winners and finalists from our upcoming Leadership Awards event May 19th. "These are the best women we know to help WIT find new and inspiring ways to support women leaders. We are sure they will have a lot to share with us and with each other so we wanted to provide an intimate forum where that can take place" said Trish Barber, President of Women in Technology.

For inspiration WIT has invited Carrie Arnold to share her research on The Silenced Female Leader. Carrie will reveal findings from her 2016 PhD study designed to support practitioners of leadership development. The study explores the impact of women being silenced in the workplace, and also looks at their recovery process. This research will become the foundation for WIT's discussion on mitigating the issues facing women leaders in technology. The greatest amount of time during this event will be devoted to listening to Leadership Award winners and finalists.

WIT plans to take what it learns from this event and integrate it into 2019 programming and content.

The event will be sponsored by The Darden School of Business.

Worldwide revenues for the augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) market are forecast to increase by 100% or more over each of the next four years, according to the latest update from the International Data Corporation (IDC). On April 19, WIT will be joined by Emma Mankey Hidem, Founder, Sunnyside VR, and Bianca J. Jackson, Career Coach, Speaker, Consultant and LinkedIn strategist, JAX Digital LLC, for a discussion on the Marketing Implications of AR & VR.

Emma Mankey Hidem Founder, SunnysideVR

Bianca Jackson Career Coach, Speaker, Consultant and LinkedIn Strategist, JAX Digital LLC

As a sneak preview, WIT asked Emma and Bianca the following questions:

WIT Q: What are the current trends in VR/AR that women need to know about?

Bianca: The current trends in VR/AR are the rise of using VR for training and AR for retail applications.  The distinct difference between the two types of technology is either bringing someone to a different world (VR) or bringing something different to someone’s world (AR). In the example of training, you want to simulate a live experience, as much as you can, for your trainee. The training simulation needs to be created. One example is Walmart’s re-creation of Black Friday for sales associates. Whereas, purchasing items like furniture can be done with AR-enabled apps. IKEA and Houzz have apps where users can browse their catalogs and position furniture in their physical spaces.

Emma: VR/AR is an industry of basically endless possibilities. Education, medicine, travel, entertainment, are some of the key industries running with the tech in this early stage, but there will be more and more uses to come. I would go so far as to say there really isn’t a ‘trend’ in VR/AR yet, because everything is so new. We are only beginning to learn what works and what doesn’t within the current technological limitations, and, as we overcome those limitations, what works and what doesn’t may change drastically. Basically, I would say that the only trend is that it is currently the ‘Wild West,’ but that makes it a great time to get in at the ground floor. It also makes the industry a more collaborative space at this juncture than it will be in the future, because we know that we need to work together to help VR/AR succeed as an industry, or else all of us will fail together.


WIT Q: Why is VR/AR relevant to women in leadership positions?

Bianca: VR/AR is projected to bring in $215B by 2021. Therefore, all industries will try to find a piece of the pie.According to a CB Insights Beyond Gaming: 13 Industries AR/VR is Poised to Transform article, the following industries will be affected: journalism, retail, real estate, logistics, advertising, manufacturing, military, film, media, medicine, conferences, marketing, HR, events, talent management, recruiting, defense, automotive, law enforcement, and healthcare. If you are a woman in any of these industries, it would be a good idea to start learning as much as you can.

Emma: At Oculus Connect 2 about a year and a half ago, I saw Oculus’ CTO speak, and he said something to the effect of ‘It’s only once or twice in someone’s lifetime that a new medium, technology for the masses that will change the way we live our lives comes about. How exciting to not only be witness to the beginning of a new era of technology but to be participating in it and contributing to it.’ As women, we were marginalized when past major technology that changed the very way we live came about, such as the telephone, television, and even the internet. This is our chance to dive in head first, be leaders in an emerging field, and have a voice in how this develops and shapes society.  Everyone thinks of this (VR in particular) as something for gamers – read: straight white men. There is already legitimate talk about ethical issues in VR, such as desensitization to violence, virtual groping, PTSD from virtual experiences, and more. We need a diversity of voices leading these conversations and setting the standards, because then VR/AR will be a better technology for everyone.


WIT Q: What are the key resources you would like to make women learning about VR/AR aware of?

Bianca: The key resources, I would like to point out, are free or low-cost. There are programs, conferences, and groups like CodeSpa Virtual Reality and 360 Video Maker Retreat, Digital Raign’s Esalen Summit, Oculus Connect, Women in VR FB group, 360 Video Professionals FB Group, SXSW, and Game Developers’ Conference. Also, for information to learn how to code for VR/AR applications, check out Udemy and YouTube for courses and videos on Unity, ReactVR, and A-Frame.

Emma: Oculus, HTC, Samsung, and others have funds for people creating VR content. I’m sure Microsoft and other AR headset makers have funds for developing content for AR, as well. In the DC area, there is the DCVR meetup, which I am involved in, and it covers a lot of AR too. There are conferences in Silicon Valley, LA, NY, and elsewhere that make it feasible to get a good lay of the land in one location. The University of Maryland received a large sum from the former CEO of Oculus and for a FR facility/program and many of the earliest companies working in VR are based in the area, because they were previously working with the government/military, so DC is actually a great place to be for VR.



Will you be ready for AR and VR versions of practically everything – along with its ample marketing opportunities? Join us for WIT.Connect: Marketing Implications of AR/VR on Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 6:00 PM-8:30 PM EDT at Valo Park (formerly the Gannett Building), McLean, VA 22102.

Last week I attended my first major WIT event – WIT Connect. I was excited because the topic was close to my heart. I work with emerging technologies and too often I hear the apprehension about adopting some of them – machine learning, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics etc. I was curious to know more about how organization heads like KPMG’s Kirke Everson, who leads the intelligent automation practice for government, are handling it.

The panelists brought in different perspectives – from use cases implemented in US Department of Health and Human services to how intelligent automation impacts employee engagement and change management inside large enterprises.

At the end of the session, the audience posed a variety of questions ranging from the ethics of implementing some of the solutions to cyber-security and safeguarding this information.  

Here are five major takeaways I got from this session:

1. Triggers that set off adoption of Intelligent systems:
   

   
   Henry Ford famously said, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
   
   Hence, adoption of intelligence systems like AI, machine learning etc. is also triggered by the fact that almost all organizations – enterprises big and small, government agencies, non-profits etc. are dealing with increased demand on efficiency and productivity with minimal budgets. This has led to the adoption of intelligent systems and solutions that meets these demands.