The call of technology is powerful, and women feel it as men do. The difference is one of environment. Women shy away from tech fields because encouragement and support are in short supply, even at the most professional of companies, according to Lily Chang, vice president of engineering at VMware Inc. and board member of Women Who Code.

Women Who Code is a project aimed at changing that unwelcoming environment by helping women take their place in technical fields.

“We find a lot of other companies share the same vision we do,” Chang said. She spoke about that vision to Rebecca Knight (@knightrm), co-host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE’s mobile live-streaming studio, at the Women Transforming Technology conference in Palo Alto, CA (*Disclosure below.)  

Skills, leadership and growth

Chang opened the conversation with a look at Women Who Code. The organization has a mission to aid women interested in technical and R&D fields across the globe. It spans about 50 countries and many cities. She stated that Women Who Code has grown its membership because its message resonates with technical women around the world.

The project focuses on helping women in mid-range and early stage careers by offering technical skills and a non-intimidating environment. It also brings women together to learn from each other. “It’s a very good thing for women to learn about leadership and be able to not just share their technology, but also a way to do networking and build a team,” Chang said.

The discussion then turned toward the issues facing women. Those issues are very similar globally, Chang stated. Women need encouragement and a specific setting to learn from each other. Women Who Code and conferences aren’t just a way to learn about new technology, but also an opportunity for women to learn and grow together, she added.

In Chang’s view, the workplace experience for women comes down to perspective and how a company sets up their working environment.

“If you set up an environment where women can collaborate, I believe that’s one of the gender’s strengths,” she said.

At VMware, they believe that sponsoring Women Who Code will help break down barriers and create that environment for women in tech, Chang concluded.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of the Women Transforming Technology 2017 event. (*Disclosure: TheCUBE is a media partner at the conference. Neither VMware Inc. nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE