Okay, so I wanted to talk a bit about my time trying to connect with the Seattle women in tech scene. When I first landed here, honestly, the tech world felt huge and kinda isolating. You know how it is, big companies, lots of folks, but finding your actual people can be tough.
Getting Started
So, I decided I needed to actually do something about it. Wasn’t enough to just complain, right? I started by just searching around online, seeing what groups popped up. Found a few names that kept appearing, groups focused specifically on women in the local tech industry. Seemed like a good starting point.
My first step was pretty simple: I signed up for a couple of email lists. Just wanted to see what kind of events were happening, get a feel for the vibe without committing too much. Lots of virtual stuff back then, which made it easier to dip a toe in.
Attending Some Events
After lurking for a bit, I picked an online mixer event. It was… okay. You know, breakout rooms, quick introductions. A bit awkward, like most online mixers. But I did chat with a couple of women who were working on interesting problems at different companies, big and small. That was the main thing – hearing different perspectives outside my usual work bubble.
Then I decided to try an in-person thing. It was a panel discussion held downtown. Finding parking was a hassle, gotta be honest. But being in a room with other women, all working in tech, felt different. More energy.
- I listened to the panel – standard stuff, career advice, challenges.
- Afterwards, I made myself talk to at least three new people. Just walked up, said hi, asked what they worked on.
- Found one person working at a startup, another deep in data science at a larger place.
It wasn’t always easy. Sometimes events felt a bit cliquey, or the topics weren’t super relevant to my specific role. And honestly, sometimes I just didn’t have the energy after a long work week to go network.
What I Noticed
Over time, going to a few different events and following some online discussions, I started to see the patterns. There’s definitely a strong desire for connection. Lots of women are looking for mentors, or just peers who get the specific challenges they might face.
I saw a lot of initiatives focused on:
- Mentorship programs pairing junior and senior women.
- Coding bootcamps or workshops specifically for women.
- Discussions about navigating career progression or negotiating salaries.
It felt like people were genuinely trying to help each other out. I even volunteered briefly to review resumes for one group putting on a job fair prep event. Just spent a Saturday morning giving feedback. Felt good to contribute in a small way.
Final Thoughts
So, yeah. My journey into the Seattle women in tech community wasn’t some grand strategy. It was more about showing up, trying things out, seeing what clicked. I went to events, I talked to people, I listened. Sometimes it was great, sometimes it was just okay.
But overall? I’d say it was worthwhile. It definitely made Seattle feel a bit smaller, a bit more connected. Found some friendly faces, learned a few things. It’s not perfect, no community is, but the effort folks are putting in to support each other here is definitely noticeable. If you’re in the scene, I’d say it’s worth putting yourself out there a bit and seeing who you meet.
