SheTech

SheTech
Name	SheTech
Formation	2014
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Phoenix, Arizona
Region served	United States
Focus	Women in technology, STEM pipeline

SheTech SheTech is a nonprofit organization founded to advance career pathways for women and girls in technology and science. The organization connects participants with mentors, corporations, universities, and civic institutions to build skills and networks. Through events, workshops, and collaborative partnerships, the organization aims to bridge gaps in representation across industry and academia.

History

The organization emerged amid nationwide discussions following initiatives such as the Ada Lovelace Day celebrations, the expansion of programs like Girls Who Code, and attention to workforce diversification highlighted by reports from National Science Foundation, Pew Research Center, and McKinsey & Company. Early activity coincided with regional civic efforts in Arizona and programmatic models from Techstars accelerators and incubators such as Arizona State University innovation programs and University of Arizona entrepreneurship centers. Founders engaged leaders from Intel Corporation, Microsoft, Google, Amazon (company), and municipal partners including the City of Phoenix to design pipelines inspired by projects in Silicon Valley, Boston, Seattle, and Austin, Texas.

Initial cohorts drew mentors and volunteers with affiliations to Oracle Corporation, Facebook, PayPal, and research groups linked to NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Public conversations around diversity by figures associated with United States Department of Labor, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and policy research from Brookings Institution and Center for American Progress provided context for program scaling. Over time, the organization aligned with local chapters of national movements such as Women Who Code, Girls Inc., and industry-focused groups like National Center for Women & Information Technology.

Mission and Programs

The mission focuses on empowering participants through mentorship, technical training, and exposure to corporate pipelines similar to initiatives at IBM, Cisco Systems, and Accenture. Core programs include mentorship cohorts modeled on frameworks used by Y Combinator alumni networks, skill-building labs resembling General Assembly workshops, and innovation challenges inspired by XPRIZE and FIRST Robotics Competition formats. Training modules often mirror curriculum components developed by Coursera, edX, and Udacity nanodegree providers, while entrepreneurship pathways coordinate with accelerators like Arizona Commerce Authority-backed programs and incubators linked to Techstars.

Program delivery incorporates practices from university research partnerships with institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Harvard University innovation labs, leveraging career-readiness tools similar to those provided by LinkedIn and Glassdoor. Outreach emphasizes connections to hiring pipelines at Intel Corporation, Honeywell, Honeywell Aerospace, and regional employers including Banner Health and Freeport-McMoRan. Scholarship and fellowship collaborations draw on models from Fulbright Program and private foundations like Gates Foundation.

Events and Outreach

Signature events emulate showcase formats found at SXSW, TechCrunch Disrupt, and Grace Hopper Celebration with project demos, panel discussions, and pitch competitions. Workshops follow pedagogical approaches used by Khan Academy and project-based learning examples from High Tech High. Regional outreach includes school partnerships with districts in Phoenix, suburban initiatives tied to Scottsdale Unified School District, and community programs with Girl Scouts of the USA councils and Boys & Girls Clubs of America affiliates. Volunteer engagement recruits professionals from Salesforce, Adobe Inc., Tesla, Inc., and local startups spun out of Arizona State University's] research parks.

Public-facing events have been hosted at venues associated with Arizona Science Center, Herberger Theater Center, and conference centers used for CES-adjacent meetups. Media coverage and speaking engagements have connected the organization with journalists and outlets linked to The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, and Wired editorial networks.

Partnerships and Sponsorships

Strategic partners include multinational technology firms such as Intel Corporation, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon (company) along with regional employers like Banner Health and Freeport-McMoRan. Academic collaborators include Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and community colleges aligned with workforce development initiatives like Maricopa Community Colleges. Nonprofit partners and membership organizations include National Center for Women & Information Technology, Women Who Code, Girls Who Code, Girls Inc., and Code.org.

Corporate sponsorships and in-kind partnerships have come from Cisco Systems, Oracle Corporation, HP Inc., Adobe Inc., Salesforce, and financial institutions such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Grants and philanthropic relationships have paralleled funding models used by Gates Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and local philanthropic entities like Helios Education Foundation.

Impact and Recognition

Impact assessments reference metrics similar to studies by National Science Foundation, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and research from Pew Research Center on women's participation in STEM fields. Alumni have progressed into roles at Intel Corporation, Microsoft, Google, Amazon (company), IBM, Cisco Systems, Salesforce, Adobe Inc., and health technology roles at Banner Health and biotech startups linked to Biodesign Institute. Recognition has included invitations to panels alongside representatives from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, presentations at Grace Hopper Celebration, and features in coverage by Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN.

Awards and acknowledgments have come from local chambers such as the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and civic honors associated with the City of Phoenix mayoral office, echoing commendations similar to those given to civic tech partnerships and workforce initiatives championed by organizations like TechStars and Ashoka. Alumni outcomes are tracked using approaches similar to program evaluation frameworks from RAND Corporation and Urban Institute.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Arizona