She.Digital Vienna - Female Role Models in the IT Industry

“IT is female!” 

- Motto of the She.Digital Vienna initiative 

More than 60 women’s IT networks have joined forces in this initiative to inspire more girls to pursue IT, bring more women into the field, and support them in their professional careers. 

To this end, the initiative organizes events such as the Digital Girls Hackathon Vienna, in which 40 to 50 girls participate annually, and high-profile awards such as the City of Vienna’s Hedy Lamarr Prize. First awarded in 2018, the prize honors female researchers who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in the field of information technology in Austria.

The She.Digital initiative’s comprehensive program also includes regular roundtable discussions in which representatives from the City of Vienna and women’s IT networks participate to exchange experiences and build synergies. 

Another networking format is the Digital Salon. It follows in the tradition of the women-led Viennese salons, which were central to cultural and social life around the turn of the 20th century. The Digital Salon draws on this historic format but, within the framework of She.Digital, takes a contemporary approach to current issues surrounding digitalization.

Through its combined activities, She.Digital Vienna aims to give girls and women the encouragement they need to break free from outdated role models and take the leap into the field of information technology. A key tool for achieving this is highlighting female role models. The initiative is aimed at girls and women interested in working in IT—as well as women who are already doing so.

What makes She.Digital Vienna a model of best practice?

As recent studies show—such as the most recent MINTality & University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria study from 2023—girls in Austria still receive too little encouragement to venture into technology and explore new professional roles in that field. In many cases, they lack female role models, and that is precisely where She.Digital Vienna comes in.

The initiative raises the visibility of women in IT, strengthens networks and synergies among women’s IT initiatives, and engages with schools, universities, and other educational and continuing education institutions. Innovative networking formats such as the Digital Salon, empowering events like the Digital Girls Hackathon Vienna, and, last but not least, the City of Vienna’s prestigious Hedy Lamarr Award provide the necessary appeal to engage girls and women interested in IT with the field.