About
8th Nation helped ThoughtWorks celebrate Ada Lovelace Day on the 200th birthday of the world’s first computer programmer. Ada Lovelace had been an important celebration for ThoughtWorks for many years, and this year was of particular importance because it was her 200th birthday. To commemorate this milestone, ThoughtWorks enlisted 8th Nation to pull out all the stops to ensure Ada Lovelace was celebrated in the way she deserved.
ThoughtWorks believes that having a diverse workforce creates better products. With that in mind, they constantly create events that are welcoming to people of all backgrounds. While ThoughtWorks has the most women technologists of any company and the most women in positions of power, it was simply not enough for them. This event sought not only to include women already working in tech but also girls from diverse communities involved with tech programs. With the dual purpose of doing what was right for the world and tech community while attracting the type of technologists that fit within Thoughtworks ethos, 8th Nation was asked to create an event that was special and commemorative.
8th Nation created a digital time capsule for the event with submissions from women in technologies favorite piece of code. Some of the women and groups that submitted to the digital time capsule include The CTO of NYC Minerva Tantoco, NYC Ruby Women, Black Girls Code, Technovation Challenge, New York Tech Women and Webgrrls. Women gave 3-4 minute toasts about the Past, Present, and Future of tech. We asked our women technologists submit short 30 second videos on this theme. Hashtag #ald15 Ingrid Alvarez did a live painting during the event while ThoughtWorker, intersectional feminist Roseanne Malfucci spun records.
8th Nation was able to tap into some amazing groups of women and girls in technology in the NYC market, many of whom are still a part of the 8th Nation community. 8th Nation also helped ThoughtWorks recruit 3 new women technologist for this event, and hopefully, a few more when they are old enough to work with the company!