As you are probably aware, currently women comprise about only 30% of the tech workforce and make roughly 77 cents on the dollar of what a man makes in tech.

We have a lot of work to do to close the gender gap, but based on the energy coming out of room # 407 at SXSW, I am very hopeful we can get there! I am committed to helping and one of the ways I will contribute is to take each of the items put forth by the group and write a blog offering up counsel on how to successfully navigate the issue. I will be bringing in subject matter experts and life experts to help. Below is the list. If you feel I missed anything please get in touch via Twitter @judyatAVG.

My question to the group was: What is the single most important thing we can do to help women succeed in tech?

Here are their answers in their own words below:

• Make your career goals known.

• Speak up and stand up for what you think is right.

• Don’t let men talk for you; make sure your voice is heard.

• Work hard.

• Gain people’s respect.

• Build and use your network

• Find a strong female leader in the workplace as a mentor. Break the “Bro” club.

• Fight against confidence loss when you’re in a room of male leaders.

• Female diplomacy – speak up

• Mentorship: Be a mentor to other women and girls. Find a female mentor higher up.

• Find a sponsor.

• Create formal sponsor programs, so that men can mentor women without social stigma.

• Build resources for keeping and supporting a woman’s ability to stay working after she has a baby.

• Stand up for what we need, realizing the value you bring.

• Own your own career path to success.

• Don’t operate from a place of fear.

• Make people understand that flexibility does not equate to laziness, so don’t be afraid to ask for it.

• Create awareness on the issue.

• Make it an issue all care about, not just women.

• Show the value to the bottom line or success to the business, so everyone is onboard with empowering women.

• Strip names off of resumes.

• Reach and speak out to younger girls in elementary school and middle school.

• De-genderize toys.

• Speak up in meetings and having a point of view.

• Build more STEM work in elementary school for young girls.

• Don’t be the first to tear another woman down.

• Connect with other women below and beside you and find what you can do to help them achieve their goals.

• Women should support women.

• Have a support system in place for mothers.

• Mentor other women.

• Find male allies.

• Get in the mix (female diplomacy).

• Talk about issues.

• Remove negative stigma on the term “emotional”.

• Have more forward conviction in the forward progress we want to see.

• Educate girls at a young age – letting them know the opportunities are there (Girls who Code).

• Start off strong. Ask for what you deserve.

• If you think you can do it go for it!

• Inner belief: skills, ability, desire.

• Attitude: stop apologizing, be assertive, and take charge.

• Maternity leave.

• Making a “girl playground”.

• Start girls young in tech.

• Encourage women not to be afraid to go into a male driven field. Make it welcoming in both culture and environment.

• Create policies that give flexibility to maternity leave.

I was struck by how many individual issues were highlighted. If you would like to hear about any of these in particular on Twitter, please let me know and I will try to prioritize it.

I plan to address these issues on Twitter as well as a dedicated Facebook page as well as here on the blog.

Remember, change happens when like-minded people band together for a common cause. This is our cause:  removing gender bias from the workplace and not allowing women to be penalized for having a baby.

To all the women in tech attending my session at SXSW- and beyond, I thank you and encourage you to stay strong and continue to speak out!

Judith