The statistics around women in tech are sobering. Not only do women hold fewer than 27% of tech jobs, but a 2023 McKinsey study found that 50% of women in tech roles leave them by the time they reach 35 years old.
Three organizations — Women in Miami Tech, Refresh Miami and Venture Miami — are kicking off a series of events called YOU BELONG to empower women in Miami’s growing tech scene.
Made possible by a grant from Venture Miami, the event series will provide educational content, networking, and career growth opportunities through events designed to help women thrive in tech.
“Supporting Women in Miami Tech and Refresh Miami felt like a natural step because it aligns with our mission to uplift and connect the incredible talent right here in our community,” said Kelly Montoya, Head of Partnerships for Venture Miami, an office within the City of Miami focused on supporting innovation and creating jobs, particularly in technology.
”This isn’t just about tech — it’s about building spaces where people can come together, discover what they need, and actively contribute to Miami’s ongoing growth. We’re proud to support these efforts through partnerships like this,” added Montoya, who said earlier in her career she herself longed for spaces just like what is being planned.
And spaces like this are sorely needed. Because of the staggering statistics — coupled with so many organizations that historically serviced this demographic, such as Girls in Tech, Women Who Code, and GET Cities, shutting down this year, “doing this type of work has never been more important,” said Maria Derchi Russo, who leads Refresh Miami, the region’s oldest and largest tech and startup community with over 17,000 members, and Women in Miami Tech, a community of about 3,000 professionals focused on supporting and advancing women in the South Florida tech industry. WIMT also holds monthly networking events.
“The YOU BELONG initiative is about providing a local support network and career growth opportunities for women interested in tech or already pursuing careers in this industry. We want to make these women feel less alone and decrease instances of imposter syndrome, which many of them struggle with,” Derchi Russo said.
What can women expect from the YOU BELONG initiative? Over the next year, Women in Miami Tech and Refresh Miami will produce four educational workshops and interactive sessions. In addition, two Hiring Crawls are planned, in which a group of participating women will visit and network with local employers with current job openings at their workplaces in a relaxed but professional setting. In addition, YOU BELONG will participate in the Venture Miami Hiring Fair.
The event series kicks off Oct. 22 at citizenM Miami World Center exploring the topic “Breaking into and Excelling in the Tech Industry.” Whether you are just curious about careers in tech or looking to transition into a new role or excel in your current tech job, local leaders in product management, sales, customer success, and growth will offer practical advice on how to leverage your skills to thrive in tech.
The event will feature Lara Danguillecourt, Growth Strategy & Operations with Uber; Mariana Rego, Senior Product Manager of BrainPOP; Danielle Ungermann, Senior Customer Success Manager of Picsart; and Javier Ramirez Lugo, Founder of Cuota. The panel will be moderated by Derchi Russo. Register for the free event here.
More events will be announced in coming months.
“We want this initiative to help build a more inclusive and supportive ecosystem that allows everyone to play an active role in shaping Miami’s future as a hub for innovation,” Montoya said.
