LinkedIn WIT Newsletter: December 2022

Hey there 👋 We are LinkedIn WIT (Women In Tech), an employee-led effort to promote gender balance in technical roles and inspire other companies to do the same.

Welcome to our newsletter! Join us to learn about our feature of the month, discover some posts you may have missed, and catch a sneak peek of our upcoming content for the next quarter! 

Featured 🎉 🎉

Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and then you protect.

This month we celebrate Wangari Maathai (1940 - 2011), an environmentalist and political activist who became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Born in a small village to a family of farmers, Maathai joined her brothers in primary school at the age of 8 - an uncommon practice for women at the time in Kenya. She excelled in academics and was eventually chosen as one of 300 Kenyans selected to study in the United States as part of the Kennedy Airlift Program in 1960. Upon returning to Kenya, she studied veterinary anatomy at the University of Nairobi and made history (for the first time) in 1971 as the first woman in East Africa to earn a doctorate degree. She later became the first woman to earn the title of Senior Lecturer (1975), Department Chair (1976), and Associate Professor (1977) at the University.

In 1977 Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organization aimed towards preserving the environment and mitigating the negative impact caused by deforestation. Maathai believed that in African societies, women were “often the first to become aware of environmental damage as resources become scarce.” With the depletion of natural resources and decreasing prices in crop exports during the 1970s, many rural Kenyan women found their livelihoods destabilized. Maathai sought to resolve both issues together.

The movement proved to be extremely successful and resulted in over 51 million trees planted and provided over 30 thousand women with new skills and opportunities that helped them to earn an income while preserving their land. In 1980, the movement gained international attention for its' campaign to save a park in Nairobi from a high rise development. The protest location became known as "Freedom Corner" with additional protests held in the same spot in following years.

Despite being beaten and badly injured during protests, Maathai continued her environmental and political activism into the 21st century when she finally earned a seat in Kenya's parliament in 2002 as Assistant Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, and Wildlife. In 2004, Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts cementing her place in history as the first African woman to receive such an honor. In her acceptance speech, she stressed the importance of protecting the environment and urged every person to do their part.

Maathai passed at the age of 71 in September 2011 after a battle with ovarian cancer, but her legacy lives on as an unwavering example of how one person can impact monumental change.

Here’s What You Missed 🔥🔥

Spotlight - Samira Tasharofi

"[D]on't choose a path solely because others chose it or recommended it to you. Continue to explore your passions by putting yourself in situations where you can examine your interests and follow what makes you feel excited and proud of yourself at work"

In our latest Spotlight, Samira Tasharofi shares her journey to LinkedIn and offers advice on forging your own path, including deciding between the age old question: Management or IC?

Humans of Engineering - Wanli W.

"Share stories that have been silenced before, express your identity, and represent and amplify your communities. Your art could do the generational lifting that history failed to carry. Your voice deserves to be heard, your art deserves to be seen."

In our latest Humans of Engineering, learn how Wanli W. discovered the ability to enact social change through her passion for art.

Career Chats - Stuti Sanketh

"I actually have 2 pieces of advice that I often remember. One was given by my older sister...and has become an inherent part of my value system - 'Give your 120% in whatever you do, so you never regret not trying hard enough'. The other piece of advice I received was early on in my career - 'Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions'."

In our latest Career Chats, discover what Stuti Sanketh  enjoys most about her current position as Chief of Staff, and all of the different roles she's held in between that helped shape her career and mindset today.

Upcoming 📣 📣

WIT Influencers

Join us for our second LinkedIn Live Influencers Event for Black History Month on February 24th. We'll be hosting a fireside-chat style panel with Briana Crockett , Flornaldine Pierre , and Sarah Adebabay as they share advice and their career journeys.

Can't wait until February? Watch our Pilot Influencers Event here:

Inventors Tech Talk

Curious to learn more about LinkedIn tech? Deep dive into the patents filed by our female engineers and the features they power at LinkedIn with our upcoming Inventors Tech Talk Series.

Have any questions or feedback for our team? Reach out to Ask-WIT@LinkedIn.com