Tech SHEssions

Tech SHEssions objectives

Tech SHEssions is a free program that seeks to empower women so they can become confident enough to participate as speakers in tech events. This program includes training in oral communication, body language, anxiety control and also difficult situations management.

To achieve that we chose the mentoring model to guide the students in their training. Mentors are IT professionals women with experience in the organization of tech events or speakers. Their goal is to teach and support the mentees with their own experience and knowledge.

In the long term, we would like these women also to be referents of their communities. We believe that having female referents in tech communities will enforce other women to participate, and will contribute to close the gender gap in the IT sector and also make more women consider working in this sector.

Do you want to be a mentee?

Any woman with a technical background, interested in participating actively in communities, can be part of the program. It doesn't matter if you are a professional or a student.

What do you have to do?

Attend talks and training activities given by women who are referents in this sector. What better way to learn about oral communication skills, body language, relax techniques than listening to experts that were once beginners as well? Also, you will have to prepare and present your own talks with your mentor's support, always in a safe space that makes you feel confortable.

Do you want to be a mentor?

You don't need any specific tech skills to be a mentor, you only need experience participating in communities or tech events. Your goal is not to give tech support but teach how to do talks, speak in public and help with their first steps full of anxiety and scenic panic.

What do mentors do?

You need to be in contact (remotely and/or in person) with your mentee approximately once a week or every two weeks. You will review her slides, suggest improvements, help her rehearse the presentation. And, of course, give her support. Reviews help a lot but when you are nervous, you have doubts or don't know how to move forward, something as simple as having someone supporting you is a huge help.

How do I join the program?

Every year in February, we launched a new call for Tech SHEssions. We will announce it on Twitter and our Meetup page, so you can follow us to stay up to date with the latest news.

If you have any questions, you can also write to techshessions@commit-conf.com.

Our graduates

Ana Sanmartín Domenech
@ASDomenech7
2017
Carmen Pérez Elvira
@holayosoycarmen
2017
Luna Garrido
@LunaGarridoLpez
2017
Rosa María González
@gprosemary
2017
Cristina Fernández
@cristinafsanz
2017
Adriana Gómez
@AdrianaGomezIT
2018
Debora Gomez
@dgomezdebora
2018
Julieta M Cuadrado
@julietaCuadrado
2018
Marisa Quiroga
@marisaqfm
2018
Natalia Recarte
@laririt1
2018
Plata - Eun Young Cho
@eunEsPlata
2018

Our mentors

Laura Morillo-Velarde Rodríguez
@Laura_Morillo
2017/2018
Isabel Cabezas
@isabelcabezasm
2017/2018
Nerea Luis Mingueza
@sailormerqury
2017/2018
Laura Lacarra Arcos
@lauralacarra
2017/2018
Escandia Camargo
@escandiacamargo
2017
Eva Mosquera
@EvaMosqueraR
2017
Meriem El Yamri
@melyamri
2017/2018
Alicia Pérez
@alipeji
2018
Alba Roza Suárez
@alba_roza
2018
Patricia López Gómez
@NeurocoachPatri
2018
Lourdes Martínez
@Lour_Martinez
2018
Rosario Ortiz
@Rosario_Ort
2018
Fina Pérez
@finuka
2018
Luna Garrido
@LunaGarridoLpez
2018
Paola García
@gGarciaPaola
2018
Juliet Moreiro
@julietsvq
2018

Collaborators

Our most special thanks for providing the space to host our sessions: