ATX Tech Women Happy Hour This Thursday

A few weeks ago, I participated in a panel at Semantic Web Austin that discussed open data initiatives and how the City of Austin might benefit from incorporating such a philosophy around its data. (If you want to know more about this idea, check out Juan Sequeda’s recent post on this blog.) It was an excellent discussion and I was fortunate to connect with some of the Austin tech scene’s most innovative minds.

One of the more interesting facets of the evening for me, however, was the make-up of the room. The new Texas Coworking space was packed – and not a fellow female in the bunch. The immediate effect was so striking that my first words upon arrival were a Tourettes-like exclamation of, “Holy crap, I’m the only woman here.”

I felt a bit conspicuous but it certainly wasn’t new. I suspect most women in tech have experienced this at one time or another. It’s a male-dominated field and you grow accustomed to having the restroom to yourself at conferences. It did, however, emphasize the need for an idea Stacey Higginbotham and I had thrown around – a gathering of tech women in Austin.

Though I’ve heard rumors of national organizations with chapters here, I haven’t seen any accompanying events. And with all the sharp women I keep running into locally, it seemed a no-brainer.

So Stacey and I are hosting a little get-together this Thursday at Union Park, to gather women in the Austin tech scene and brainstorm on what type of group we could all create. It’s very much a crowdsourced approach, so bring your brains and your motivation. Please RSVP at the Tweetvite. Look forward to meeting everyone!

Posted by Carla Thompson http://sharpskirts.com/ A veteran of the emerging tech industry, Carla Thompson has counseled startups around the globe on creating, launching, and sustaining smart businesses. With Sharp Skirts, Carla is working to create a self-sustaining network for women entrepreneurs at every level. She also consults independently with select women-owned startups on business strategy and continues to keep a finger on the pulse of emerging tech as a member of Guidewire Group’s Affiliate Analyst program. In her previous role as VP of Community Strategy & Engagement at Guidewire Group, Carla provided advisory services and strategic counsel to startups and helmed the company’s community initiatives, overseeing marketing and social media strategy. She also assisted Executive Producer Chris Shipley in screening and selecting demonstrators for the renowned DEMO conference. To read more posts click here.