We owe a huge thanks to our 2012 Dare 2B Digital Monday Honorary Chairwoman Alice Krause, Founder of www.newsonwomen.com, for her advocacy on behalf of Dare 2B Digital. She’s been so incredible, we’ve officially adopted her as a member of our communications team!
Share Alice’s article below with everyone you know by linking to it from your Facebook wall, your Twitter feed or by sharing it with your network on LinkedIn.
Alice Krause on Innovation
Tell Young Women – Innovation is Everything! Dare2BDigital Conference Starts Us Off
By Alice Krause, NewsonWomen.com
Here’s an excerpt: “What should we tell young women about innovation? Tell them innovation is everything! And for everybody! Not just scientists or engineers. Yes, we need science and engineering, but we need people to take their innovations and make them mainstream. What would Facebook be without the “friends” who use it? The Dare2BDigital Conference is taking on the challenge of getting more girls to understand the excitement and everyday use of math and science on Feb 11, 2012 in San Jose at the eBay Campus. This is so important because only a small % of high school girls (versus a high % of boys) expressed an interest in starting their own venture, a disturbing fact as our economy shifts in a small business revolution. Richelle Parham, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of eBay North America, is one of the keynote speakers.
But why stop with just one conference? Let’s get many more girls involved. And why should we? Because we are still being held back by statistics and stereotypes. If I read one more time how few women are CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, or what % of women are major executives of media or other companies, or that women can’t do math, I think I’ll scream. That is so last century!! In today’s world, media giants and old stereotypes are ready to fall just like the beanstalk in the fairytale. But not if we stay mired in statistics that don’t tell the whole story. I have met so many great women who are doing amazing and innovative things. Let’s follow their lead. We need to get students excited about innovation, open their minds to ways anyone can innovate, and show them how to analyze an industry in search of opportunities where they can create something new.
Everyone who reads this post should take it on themselves to go to their school, their friends, their families and get girls excited about innovation. Here’s a ready made speech that will help you. I call it my “better, cheaper, faster, easier” speech. Add your own flavor and examples. And report back on how many girls you speak to, even if it’s only a few at a time. We will keep count. Can we turn one conference into 1 million girls? Let’s try. So post this on your blog, rt on twitter, start it on facebook, speak at school assemblies, parent meetings, etc. Wherever girls will be, be there for them. Tell them how innovation will make a difference in their lives.”
Click here to read the rest of Alice’s article and her “better, cheaper, faster, easier” speech with some great talking points to share with everyone you know.