Jill Layfield – Women Tech Council

Women’s Tech Council Discusses Wage Gap, Workplace Diversity

Lehi—It’s no secret that Utah, despite the overall health of the state’s economy, still has a long way to go in recruiting, retaining, promoting and fairly compensating women in many of its industries. Recent figures by Voice for Utah Children show that Utah only pays women 70 cents on the dollar (as opposed to the national average of 79.2 cents), which leaves $1.6 billion in personal income that would be added to Utah’s economy each year if Utah’s wage gap were no larger than the nation’s. The technology industry, despite—or perhaps, because of—its recent boom in the state, is hungrier than ever to attract female talent.

Now, initiatives like the ElevateHER challenge and groups like the […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-12T05:28:52-07:00

MX Attends Women Tech Council Talent Innovation Summit

Hiring and diversity was the focus of the Women in Technology Council’s first Talent Innovation Summit. We had the opportunity to be in attendance with so many successful women in tech and it was truly an impactful morning. The last panel of the event featured four women from top companies in the area. Jill Layfield, former CEO of Backcountry, led the panel with Dianne Rivera (Goldman Sachs), Denise Leleux (eBay), and Alison Lutjemeier (Adobe). The panel shared great ideas for innovative recruiting and maintaining diversity. Some of their tips include:

1. Have women on your recruiting board.
2. Remove all unconscious bias by educating your employees
3. Set up a diverse slate of candidates, […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-12T05:31:59-07:00

New summit striving to address problems for women in Utah tech companies

“Starting the conversation” was the point of the Women Tech Council’s first Talent Innovation Summit Wednesday.

“If we don’t have the conversation, nothing changes,” said WTC president and co-founder Cydni Tetro.

Senior executives, human resources personnel, and business leaders filled Adobe’s Alpha Bravo gym to capacity Wednesday to discuss how to recruit and retain women in local technology companies. Because it was the WTC’s first try at a summit of this size and breadth, the goal was to bring in some top leaders to start the conversation, and present their ideas on what has worked and what hasn’t.

Kristin Wright2017-04-12T05:38:17-07:00

Eight women awarded for achievement in technology

Eight prominent women were selected Tuesday from a pool of 16 finalists to receive the Women in Tech Award.

This year marks the eighth time the Women Tech Council (WTC) hosted its award program, which seeks to recognize innovative women who are positively impacting the technology industry.

The 2015 recipients are: Denise Leleux (eBay), Mary Anne White (Orbital ATK), Jill Layfield (Backcountry.com), Stormy Simon (Overstock.com), Catherine Wong (Domo), Vicky Thomas (Lucid Software), Jessica Harris (Utah Valley University) and Amanda Hudson (Western Governors University).

Wong, as well as runners-up Mary Sinnott, Tricia Schumann and JoCee Porter, all have affiliations with the U. Wong served on the advisory board for the College of Engineering, Sinnott is an alumna with her […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-14T03:13:11-07:00

Women Tech Council Announces 2015 Award Finalists

SALT LAKE CITY, July 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Women Tech Council (WTC) will host its Eighth Annual Women Tech Awards Luncheon on September 22, 2015, honoring 16 women in the technology industry. The Women Tech Awards recognize technology-focused women who are driving innovation, leading technology companies, and are key contributors to the technology community. The Awards are sponsored by EY, USTAR, Vivint, Method Communications, and MountainWest Capital Network, and the event will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Grand America Hotel (555 S. Main in Salt Lake City).

Over the past eight years, WTC has recognized 120 women, 20 university students, and […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-12T06:23:16-07:00