The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing 2015 kicked off in grand fashion, and John Furrier and Jeff Frick, cohosts of theCUBE, from the SiliconANGLE Media team, had a front row seat.

Produced by the Anita Borg Institute and presented in partnership with Association of Computing Machinery, the three-day event celebrates the growing number of women in the technology space.

Frick noted the event’s growth in terms of attendees and the excitement felt throughout the day. “The variety of talent is massive,” he said. “You can feel the energy.”

Furrier made a point that technology companies would be wise to hire female engineers and other tech professionals, and not because it’s simply “the right thing to do.” “You can get a lot more talent to build your business,” he said. “It’s right on so many levels.

“Women in tech are severely underpaid. Period. Full stop,” Furrier continued. “If you’re an engineer or in an entry-level or mid-career position, most likely you’re being paid less than a man. That’s statistically proven. The right thing to do: Equalize the pay. Number One. Two, create opportunities. Opportunity is critical. This event is showcasing a community that embraces that opportunity.”

Watch the full interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of Grace Hopper Celebration of Woman In Computing. And join in on the conversation by CrowdChatting with theCUBE hosts.

Photo by SiliconANGLE