Last week’s news of a 10-page memo against Google’s diversity efforts from a Google engineer sparked a lot of debate and backlash online in blog posts and social media.
And it got negative. Fast.
But one of the good things that came out of the discussion that I loved was the idea for women to promote their technology accomplishments using the hashtag #WITBragDay (Women in Technology Brag Day).
Hey, women in tech, we’ve had a rough week. I therefore pronounce this #WITBragDay
— Alice Goldfuss (@alicegoldfuss) August 11, 2017
An avalanche of tweets followed, with women sharing their amazing technology successes.
I read tweets about women contributing to the NASA space program, Gmail, stay-at-home moms who are celebrating their one-year anniversary as a developer, and more.
Talk about turning a lemon into lemonade!
Twitter was filled with uplifting and inspiring stories, as we celebrated and recognized the contributions and successes of women in technology.
Here are some of my favorites from women leaders in technology, my colleagues, and friends (unashamedly including my own):
This commercial Internet thing you’re using? I helped build it. Not enough characters to share everything I’ve built since 1986. #WITBragDay
— susan wu (@sw) August 12, 2017
I taught myself to code after 10yrs at home with the kids. Almost 18yrs later, I couldn’t be happier with my choice. #WITBragDay
— Stephanie Rewis (@stefsull) August 12, 2017
Every time you write email in Gmail, you are using my code. I wrote it 10+ years ago as my first”real” job, not replaced yet. #WITBragDay
— Julie Parent (@jewree) August 12, 2017
Happy Birthday, @USDS! I’m proud to have been there at the beginning. #WiTBragDay pic.twitter.com/1XhcTlliDG
— Dana Chisnell (@danachis) August 11, 2017
When I worked in QA, I set up system to release our software product simultaneously in UK and US; it had never been done before. #WITBragDay
— DeborahEdwards-Onoro (@redcrew) August 12, 2017
When u watch #Netflix: picture doesn’t suck, & is actually awesome, because of the team I lead (& my code) #WITBragDay
— Anne Aaron (@AnneMargotAaron) August 12, 2017
Learned to code at age 13, started using php at 14. Got a job in tech at 20 and a government internship at 21 #WiTBragDay
— Cassidy Sowards (@cassidcatas) August 14, 2017
I contributed to the algorithm that keeps the International Space Station up in space. #gravityisabitch #NASA #WITBragDay
— Sarah Harper (@sarita1119) August 13, 2017
#WITBragDay together with a small team I try to make and keep WordPress accessible, software that runs 28% of the web
— Rian Rietveld (@RianRietveld) August 12, 2017
Started learning CSS at 47. Discovered WordPress @ 50. Spoke at first WordCamp @ 51. Now, seven talks on https://t.co/AUuM49C1oJ #WITBragDay
— Mary Baum (@marybaum) August 11, 2017
#WITBragDay First webmaster for Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and author of our accessibility guides before WCAG existed.
— Sarah Bourne (@sarahebourne) August 11, 2017
I became a JavaScript dev after being a stay-at-home mom for 20 years. Just celebrated my 1 year anniversary as a working dev. #WITBragDay
— Mikleane Chouinard (@mikleane) August 12, 2017
Piling onto #WITBragDay
I’m doing 20+ #ux talks this year & headed to Kenya & Uganda to do #design research for @acsglobal @IBMHealthCorps— Carol Smith (@carologic) August 11, 2017
1) Nov 2016: Prototyped and launched a small notebook for #UX designers. Now companies pay to sponsor it at #UX conferences! #WITBRAGDAY
— Sarah Doody (@sarahdoody) August 12, 2017
I hate the idea of bragging about it b/c it shouldn’t have to exist, but software I wrote helps get ppl’s water turned back on. #WITBragDay
— Tiffani Ashley Bell (@tiffani) August 11, 2017
Did you participate in #WITBragDay or have a favorite #WITBragDay tweet to share? I’d love to see it, feel free to add it in the comments.
