Women from across Allstate come together as part of the company’s Women In Technology at Allstate (WITA) employee resource group to realise, and live into, the shared purpose of engaging with, and advocating for, women in tech.
The aim of this group is for the women to empower and develop each other by sharing their unique experiences, offering peer to peer support and mentorship, and by helping advance women in the Technology industry.
The women within the group say it allows them to address the hurdles they face and encourages them to get out of their comfort zone.
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Commenting on how the group had helped her, Jade, who is a Cyber Risk Security Assessor at Allstate, said: “I had a horrible fear of speaking publicly. Since joining WITA I have spoken at multiple events and even facilitated a workshop, something I never thought I'd do!"
The women say that the group is all about community, a sense of belonging an a source of empowerment. Lucy, a marketing and communications coordinator at Allstate, commented on her time in the group stating: " Women from across the organization come together to realize, and live into, the shared purpose of engaging with, and advocating for, women in tech.”
The group focuses on equipping women of all ages with the skills to succeed in IT. This includes, internal 'Lean In' groups, confidence building workshops and the 'Protégé mentoring.
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Allstate also sponsored 'CyberFirst Girls' — a panel ran event held in NI, and 'Little Girls with Big Goals' — an initiative rolled out in primary schools to highlight successful women and show girls and young women that it is ok to dream big.
WITA members also participated in 'Ignite' in Derry-Londonderry — a scheme developed in partnership with local schools and companies to encourage female secondary school students to consider a career in IT.
As a result of development and engagement activities like this, Allstate has seen an increase in female leadership — with many members of the mentoring program receiving promotions.
There has also been an uptake of female graduates joining the company as a result of recruitment and retention efforts by WITA members attending University careers fairs and 'Bring IT On' events.
Source: Allstate Northern Ireland
