Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1338592
More than Words from Women in BICSI "Virtual Comradery" By Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD, DCDC, ESS "Attending a BICSI conference from my living room in my flannels rocks!" This sentiment echoed throughout the 2020 BICSI Virtual Fall Conference, especially in the Women in BICSI (WiB) community chatroom. But many missed the human interaction; "Chat is okay, but I'm old school and there's nothing that can replace a handshake or a hug," stated another. With COVID preventing face-to-face events, we still found creative ways to network. The WiB community took advantage of chatrooms during the virtual Fall Conference to connect with about 200 global members, women and men alike, covering various topics including career paths, mentoring, and of course, expanding opportunities for women in ICT. Here is a snippet of our discussions. What's your biggest challenge in working from home during COVID? "Working from home for me has always been more efficient… and I feel less intimidated and more included on the Zoom calls… but I miss the interaction." Working from home requires boundaries, especially for parents with children at home. It is hard balancing time between children and work. "Having children underfoot is a challenge, especially during conference calls." Managing remote staff and connecting with customers and co-workers is also challenging. "When you are face to face, it is easier to share information." There were some advantages as "…the time at home has provided opportunities to attend webinars and e-learning." What advice would you give women trying to break into ICT or trying to advance their career in ICT? Women in ICT come from varied backgrounds including non-technical and even "stay at home moms." One enthusiastic 19-year-old participant admittedly new to the industry said she is "learning a lot every day and trying to soak it all in." Another participant advised, "Find a niche that you love and focus on it…and if you really become an expert in a certain area, I find it helps to gain respect." ORGANIZATION Page 12