Girlz Nail IT - Microsoft Czech Republic

Girlz Nail IT was created as a continuation of the global DigiGirlz initiative, originally launched in the United States and driven by Microsoft worldwide. As the global program evolved and was no longer needed in the same way across all markets, the Microsoft Development Center Prague team decided to build on the original concept and develop a locally tailored program fully aligned with local needs.

Changing perceptions

While progress in gender balance within technology has been achieved globally, local experience in the Czech Republic shows that ICT careers are still often perceived as less accessible or less suitable for girls, particularly at the secondary-school level. This stage is critical, as it is the time when students begin making key decisions about their future education paths, including subject choices and university directions, which can significantly shape their long-term career opportunities.

Girlz Nail IT was designed to respond to this critical moment by offering early, practical exposure to technology in a supportive and inclusive environment. The program aims to broaden students’ understanding of what working in IT can look like today and to demonstrate that technology careers encompass a wide range of roles beyond software development alone.

The program encourages participants to explore the full spectrum of IT, including software engineering, design, cybersecurity, data, artificial intelligence, product management, customer engagement, and modern Microsoft technologies. Rather than focusing on a single technical skill, Girlz Nail IT provides an exploratory experience that helps participants identify areas of interest in the community of likeminded individuals, build confidence, and make more informed decisions about their future studies and careers.

Working with industry 

Launched in 2023 at the Microsoft Prague office, Girlz Nail IT offers a full-day immersive in-person experience at Microsoft. Each edition combines inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, interactive activities, and opportunities to meet Microsoft professionals from various roles and teams. Participants also gain insight into a real-world technology workplace through guided tours and informal discussions with employees.

The program is an official initiative of the Microsoft Development Center Prague and is delivered primarily by Microsoft employees who volunteer as speakers, mentors, and workshop facilitators. This direct involvement of industry professionals ensures strong alignment with real-world practice and provides participants with authentic role models and practical career insights.

Girlz Nail IT events take place during the school year, typically in September and June, and is intended for high-school girls and individuals who identify as female aged 15–19. In addition to on-site events at Microsoft, the program is gradually expanding to include virtual sessions and on-site visits to secondary schools to increase accessibility and reach.

Tangible Impact

The program has already demonstrated a tangible impact. Participant feedback shows increased confidence in considering ICT-related study paths, greater awareness of the diversity of digital careers, and motivation to continue developing digital skills. Several participants from earlier editions have gone on to pursue further IT education, join technology clubs, or apply to advanced programs such as the Microsoft Student Trainee Center.

By combining early exposure, practical learning, role models, and clear pathways to further education, Girlz Nail IT represents a proven and sustainable approach to supporting digital skills development among young people. It directly contributes to the Digital Skills & Jobs Coalition’s education and inclusion objectives and illustrates how a locally driven initiative can effectively address persistent skills and diversity gaps.

How Girlz Nail IT Tackles Digital Skills Pillars

Education and inclusion

The program opens the world of technology to high-school girls and individuals who identify as female through interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and practical exploration of modern technologies, including coding, cybersecurity AI, and Microsoft tools. By presenting technology in an accessible and supportive environment, Girlz Nail IT helps broaden understanding of ICT careers, challenges existing perceptions, and builds confidence among students who may not have previously considered technology as a realistic or relevant study path.

Future Workforce Development: By sparking early interest in digital skills and showcasing real career paths through direct interaction with technology professionals, Girlz Nail IT contributes to building a more diverse and inclusive pipeline for future ICT professions. The program encourages participants to see themselves not only as users of technology, but also as potential creators and contributors to the digital economy, supporting informed career decisions and longer-term engagement with STEM and ICT education.

Sustainability and scalability

Replicable Model: Girlz Nail IT is built as a modular, one-day immersive program that can be adapted to different locations and contexts. The core structure remains consistent, while content and workshops can be adjusted based on local needs, available expertise, and current technology trends. The program has already been successfully implemented in Microsoft Romania, demonstrating its adaptability across different regional contexts and confirming its potential for further replication.

Partnership: The program is strengthened through collaboration with local schools, IT teachers, and partner organizations. Collaborations with other companies and educational programs, such as Kyndryl and the Microsoft Student Trainee Center (STC), further strengthen the initiative’s reach and impact by providing follow-up opportunities and clear pathways for continued skills development. These partnerships ensure continuous outreach, relevance to students’ educational pathways, and alignment with local digital skills ecosystems.

Organisational Sustainability: Girlz Nail IT is an official initiative of the Microsoft Development Center Prague, supported by colleagues across different roles who volunteer their time and skills. Thanks to this internal ownership and community spirit, the program can run consistently and continue to grow over time.

Future Plans: In addition to on-site events at Microsoft, the program plans to gradually expand through virtual sessions and selected on-site visits to secondary schools. These steps are intended to increase accessibility and reach while maintaining the program’s core structure and quality. By leveraging Microsoft’s global network and employee volunteer engagement, and building on experience gained in the Czech Republic and Romania, the program also has the potential to be adapted for other locations in the future.

Impact & Outcomes + Key Highlights

Participation: Each Girlz Nail IT event in both Prague and Romania consistently brings together 30–40 high‑school girls, showing strong interest and full‑capacity engagement. Participants come from a wide range of schools and typically learn about the program through teachers, school channels, and social media.

Skill Development: Participants gain practical experience with AI fundamentals, prompt engineering, cybersecurity, low‑code development, Power Platform, Copilot, and app creation. For many students, this is their first hands‑on experience with digital technologies beyond the standard school curriculum. They reported learning new digital skills for the first time and gaining a clearer understanding of the different roles that exist in IT.

Career Impact: Merged post-event feedback survey data shows that the program has a significant influence on students’ career decisions:

• Many participants become more confident about choosing IT, and some become fully decided on pursuing an ICT career.
• More than half of the participants say they discovered new IT fields or better understand the digital career landscape.
• Many participants plan concrete next steps such as Microsoft certifications, programming courses, technical school or university paths, and applications to the Student Trainee Center (STC).

Representative comments include:

• "The Girlz Nail IT event gave me insights into the world of IT and helped me to find my future focus."
• “The Gilz Nail IT event motivated me, and it was a great insight and reassurance that this career path of mine is worth it and has a reason to give more than 110%.”
• “Attending the Girlz Nail IT event was very motivating and my interest in IT deepened. I learned a few new things and had a great meal!”

Connection to the Student Trainee Center (STC)

Student Trainee Center (studuj.digital) is a  Czech program supported by Microsoft, that develops young digital talent through advanced training, mentorship, hands‑on projects, and community involvement. Girlz Nail IT effectively prepares and motivates students to take this next step.

The program has a proven link to further student engagement. Leaders of the Student Trainee Center confirm that Girlz Nail IT participants actively apply to STC, and many are successfully accepted.

Diversity & Inclusion: Girlz Nail IT contributes meaningfully to gender diversity in ICT. Students consistently highlight the value of meeting professionals working in IT, seeing real role models, and experiencing a supportive environment free from stereotypes.

Satisfaction & Engagement: Across all events, overall satisfaction is very high, with typical ratings of 8–10 out of 10. Participants appreciate the hands‑on workshops, inspiring speakers, and the opportunity to explore the Microsoft office. Suggestions most often include adding more time for workshops, longer sessions, or additional advanced technical topics.

Ongoing Learning: Many students continue developing their skills after the event using Microsoft Learn, MakeCode, Student Trainee Center resources, and additional learning opportunities. Numerous participants explicitly state they will keep exploring AI, programming, and Microsoft technologies.