We all know we need more women in tech. More women investors. More girls studying technical topics in college. More girls learning to code in high school, middle school, and earlier. Yadda yadda yadda.
(Heads nodding. Violent agreement.)
Now let's take this baby to another level.
For a few years now, I've been meeting, befriending, falling in love with women tech entrepreneurs and advocates -- day-in, day-out.
Know what they have in common?
They're funny. Yep. Damn funny.
Rachel Sklar, Jennie Baird, Cindy Gallop, Lauren Leto, Kass Lazerow, Ciaran Blumenfeld, Tracey Solomon. Oh, yeah, there's Stacey London. Oh, and Arianna. I could go on and on.
Talk to any of them, and you are wiping tears of laughter. Something bad/stupid/annoying happens, and they put an hysterically funny spin on it, laugh out loud, strap on a pair, and trudge forward.
Step outside of the situation, observe, and make it funny. It's a comedy skill, and wait -- hold the phone -- a core ENTREPRENEUR'S SKILL.
An lo and behold, many female entrepreneurs I meet, turns out have done some comedy. In some form or another, she's made Funny important.
Yet the professional comedy world -- funny enough -- has the same ratio challenges and attitudes as tech. "Women aren't funny!" "Girls can't code!" Really?
Well, they are, and they can.
Imagine how we'd amp up our global entrepreneurship pipeline if we paired them. Coding in the morning (like this!) and comedy in the afternoon (like this!). A veritable Reese's peanut butter cup of technical problem-solving, resilience and leadership.
Coding and Comedy.
Where do I sign up?
Follow Tereza Nemessanyi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/terezan
My father and I attended car maintenance classes together. He always said I was able to do any task I set myself to and I have since learned to do the plumbing - not just fix a or replace a piece of pipe but plan, plumb and fit a whole bathroom from scratch. I have also planned and built a kitchen with all services required. I should add that final connections to gas and electricity meters is strictly for certificated people to carry out.
This all requires confidence. Not being scared to approach a job is the first step to achieving your goal. I think this is what my father instilled in me, a confidence that I could do it (whatever 'it' happens to be).
About being funny - takes intelligence and having academic qualifications does not make you intelligent, it just shows your intelligence - as does good comedy.
Thanks for this witty and revealing article.