Here’s what to expect from the virtual Women in Tech Summit this July

Instead of hosting its usual regional conferences this year, organizers of the Women in Tech Summit (WITS) announced that events will happen over the course of three weeks in a virtual setting in July.

Gloria Bell, the org’s marketing and events manager, told Technical.ly that organizers “still strongly believe in the unique power of in-person events and cannot wait until we can go back to doing them.”

But for the time being, as the coronavirus pandemic continues, they’ll have to stick to virtual programing to continue connecting and educating the tech community. Between July 14 and July 30, the WITS will hold Tuesday and Thursday virtual events focused on tech and career skills.

A $99 ticket will grant access to programming on all six days, recordings of sessions, networking and a WITS swag package, the org said in a statement. Bell said that speakers for the event will come from all five regions where the summit is usually held. A $169 ticket will include access to this year’s event and an IRL regional event in 2021.

“Each day of the summit has programming with a technical or career skills focus,” Bell said. “The sessions will be a combination of panels and solo talks. While there are not specific ‘keynote’ sessions at the virtual summit, nine of the speakers were the scheduled keynotes at our regional summits.”

Planned events include talks on “innovating your career,” “trends in technology” and “tech now and in the future.”

And as some folks in the tech community are facing financial strain because of lost work, layoffs or furloughs, organizers are introducing a donated ticket option. Those who want to support a someone in tech can purchase an extra ticket, and those looking for financial aid to attend the conference can apply for one of the donated tickets through June 15.

“Since the number of scholarship tickets we are able to award will be limited by the number of tickets donated, anyone who does not receive a donated ticket will be sent a code for a 50% discount on tickets to both the 2020 virtual summit and a 2021 summit of their choice,” the org said of those who do not receive a donated ticket.

It’s encouraged that only those who do not have another option for payment apply for a donated ticket. Folks who are essential workers can also apply for a donated ticket, the organization said. Proceeds from the WITS Virtual Summit benefit the nonprofit TechGirlz and its mission to inspire middle school girls to explore technology.

Find more information about the event series on WITS’ website.