DRONELIFE Exclusive, First in a Series. For its latest campaign, the nonprofit advocacy group Girls Who Code takes a humorous approach to dealing with bias against women in technology fields, launching a series of satirical videos explaining why Girls Can’t Code.
We’re laughing at the notion that Girls Can’t Drone. Despite some of the barriers that limit women’s participation in some technical fields, the drone industry has plenty of good female role models to choose from. At the recent AUVSI Xponential show, the “Women in Robotics” discussion forum – led by Sara Blackmer of Rave Computer – was packed with women in the industry coming together to discuss a variety of issues, from gender-specific topics like “STEM Opportunities for Girls and Young Women” and “Promoting Diversity: Expanding the Role of Women and Minorities in the Unmanned Arena” to drone specific sessions like “A Day in the Life of a UAS Pilot.” Women are leaders in all aspects of the drone industry: entrepreneurs, developers, investors, advocates, drone pilots, and service providers.
Last year, Fortune Magazine posted their list of the top four women shaping the drone industry. Their list included Helen Greiner, CEO of CyPhy Works, developing new drone technologies; Dyan Gibbens, CEO of Trumbull Unmanned, providing drone services to the energy sector; Lisa Ellman of law firm Hogan Lovells, working to help the commercial drone industry start flying; and Sally French, the drone journalist known as “The Drone Girl.” In the 9 months since the article came out we could add many more people to the list – and hope to introduce some of them to you.
We know there are a lot more talented drone women out there, and if you know of one we have not yet met, tell us! DRONELIFE looks forward to highlighting the achievements of women across the industry – follow our new series of Wednesday profiles on the DRONELIFE business page, as we scoff at the notion that Girls Can’t Drone.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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