For Women in Tech Soiree’s fifth year, a focus on job creation

Back in 2015, Mogulette founder Brigitte Daniel felt there was a need for more spaces, outside of the yearly Women in Tech Summit, that elevated the community of local women in tech, an industry with historic gender diversity challenges.

“We wanted something that looked at the disparities but also celebrated the wins,” said Daniel, who is also EVP at Wilco Electronic Systems. “[A place] for people to put their guard down and meet sponsors and people who wanted to become part of the community.”

Now on its fifth year, Daniel says the Women in Tech Soiree – a part of Philly Tech Week 2019 presented by Comcast – continues to fill the opening she saw in the ecosystem. It’s happening May 7 at the Comcast Technology Center.

What has changed? For one, there are now more spaces for discussion around inclusion and diversity. Philly Startup Leaders, for one, organizes a yearly Diversity Dinner alongside Mogulette.

“There are more organizations and anchors and willingness,” Daniel says, listing the changes she’s seen over the past half decade. “People know that there is a space for them.”

Another shift is in the event’s focus itself. From boosting access to jobs, Daniel said the Soiree is more focused today on access to entrepreneurship resources, a way to empower women to create the jobs they want for themselves.

In addition to a panel of female entrepreneurs and execs from the Philly area, the Soiree will feature a fireside chat with Candice Matthews Brackeen, CEO of Cincinatti, Ohio-based Hillman Accelerator, moderated by Daniel. Matthews Brackeen is the founder of the first accelerator for underrepresented founders in the Midwest.

“I love that the Soiree is broadening our own goals,” Daniel said. “We pride ourselves in not helping people just to find jobs but also embolden now women trying to start their businesses.”