It’s no secret that the tech sector is largely dominated by men, but a new initiative between New York City, Cornell Tech and the City University of New York is hoping its new “Winternship” program helps change that existing code for future generations.
“Women are vastly underrepresented in the technology workforce, and this new Winternship program is part of CUNY’s comprehensive effort to address this problem,” Associate Vice Chancellor Andrea Shapiro Davis, who also heads CUNY’s Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship in NY (wiTNY), said in a statement.
The two-week initiative is part of WiTNY and kicks off during winter break in January and will feature up to 200 paid internships for female freshmen or sophomores studying computer science or similar technology fields.
The shorter internships will give female CUNY students an edge when it comes time to apply for summer internships as well as getting “that first ‘foot in the door’ and an early look into what their future in tech could be like,” said Judith Spitz, WiTNY program director at Cornell Tech. “We will replace the obstacle course that these young women face with a glide path to success, giving them the opportunity to share in the benefits the tech industry affords.”
Companies participating in Winternship include Verizon, OATH, Accenture, Citi, Turner, Grand Central Tech, Bitly, Blackstone and more.
“New York City is building the strongest tech sector for women anywhere in the country,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “These are real investments that put more women on career paths in technology.”
To learn more about how you can get involved in or support Winternships, click here.
