More than words, LIGHTS, CAMERA, and ACTIONS
"Listen to the one voice that matters the most, and that´s yours!" - Salma Vogel
The last couple of weeks came along with some worthwhile experiences. Amid a global pandemic, it didn´t just present us with the opportunity to celebrate women internationally, but also shine more light and look into the necessary actions required to end the exclusion and marginalization of women and girls across the globe.
From historical data, we know that women have always been twice as likely than men to lose their jobs during a crisis situation. In its most recent Global Gender Gap Report 2021, the World Economic Forum estimates that across the world, women still remain concentrated in the lowest-paid jobs, and many women hold extremely vulnerable forms of employment. And as the report also highlighted, this seems to have gotten worse during the COVID-19 crisis.
So, when I began to think about this article, I couldn't envisage a more important subject than one which highlights some of the deep-seated historical, cultural, and socio-economic barriers that prevent women from taking their seat at the decision-making table, and how to make sure that resources and power are more equitably distributed.
"The good news is that the tech career is so diverse that you can be so many different things. You can go into robotics; you can go into technology strategy, or you can be a coder. It doesn't always have to be behind the computer. And your difference is not your weakness, your difference is your power " - Mariam Kremer
While also reflecting on my journey as an immigrant who is passionate about digital technology, I realized that some of the most powerful stories I have tapped into are from women who are making giant strides in the digital landscape. Today, I am happy to share two short videos that I believe could be beneficial to young people from underprivileged backgrounds who are interested in defining a path for themselves in the digital space.
The videos spotlight Salma Vogel, an engineer and AI-start-up founder with over eight years of experience in corporate strategy, leadership, data analytics, capital allocation, and sales operations, and her twin sister, Mariam Kremer, a VC Investor and founder, who has invested in multiple tech startups in Europe and Silicon Valley. Both women are passionate about empowering women-in-tech and scaling mission-driven startups and recently featured in the Digital Female Fellowship, a project of the Munich Global Shapers community. More than words, lights, camera and action, I urge you to "listen and be blessed!".