EDITORIAL PICK FROM ILLUMINATION-CURATED FOR LEADERSHIP

Why and How to Support Women in Tech and in Other Male-Dominated Sectors

I feature a unique story on ILLUMINATION-Curated, aiming at empowering women and informing avid readers of the platform that deserves further distribution.

Non-members can read this story via our friend link.

As a volunteer editor and curator for ILLUMINATION publications on Medium.com, one of my roles is introducing and amplifying exceptional stories impacting society. I joined Medium in my retirement years as it is a place where words matter, but unfortunately, these beautifully crafted words cannot easily find readers as the platform algorithm cannot distinguish what really matters and what does not.

For example, while SEO-optimized and sensational stories find thousands of writers’ stories about health and disadvantages, stories about people like women in tech get only a handful of views via direct links on our Slack workspace or posts on LinkedIn as Niko did it.

Some readers may wonder why a person of my demographic chooses to feature stories about women. The truth is, I am surrounded by remarkable women in my life — from my wife and daughters to granddaughters, female friends, and colleagues. Witnessing any form of disadvantage or inequality, they face deeply touches me and inspires me to advocate for their rights and opportunities.

To this end, recently, I featured a story written by Shayla Renee 💖 close to my heart as I believed many readers wanted to read about it. Our editors were disappointed that such a beautifully crafted story that was important for millions of women globally hardly gets any views.

Therefore, I featured Shayla’s story, hoping more readers find it and Medium curators see what community editors and Friends of Medium really care about and organically distribute such valuable stories to the community. If you missed the previous version, here is the link: Breast Cancer: Why Every Woman (& Man) Should Read This Empowering Story.

We are realistic and understand everything is not boostable due to the program’s limitations, but the algorithm’s failure to distribute valuable stories and show them to publication followers is disheartening for writers who pour their hearts and souls into their stories. This lack of visibility can be particularly challenging for new writers who invest their emotions and creativity into their stories and want to be valuable contributors.

I am grateful for the support and inspiring feedback of my readers, particularly Friends of Medium, who pay an extra subscription fee to the platform to support these types of writers who inspire readers. Thank you for inspiring me to write another featured story to amplify the voice of a new writer on this platform.

Meet Niko Kivelä

In this episode, I want to introduce another inspiring story by Niko Kivelä who is a new writer but not new to writing. His story is about his inspiring journey in the tech industry. The title of his story is I’m Mentoring Women In Tech Startups: Dedication For Inclusive Growth.

Niko recently took on a new role as a Startup Mentor at Tech Nordic Advocates, dedicating his time to empowering women and non-binary entrepreneurs through the “Finland as Female Tech Founder Frontrunner” program.

Niko’s decision to become a mentor stems from his belief in the importance of inclusivity and support for women in the tech industry. He understands the challenges that most women face in male-dominated fields and wants to offer a helping hand to ensure everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

But Niko’s commitment to mentoring goes beyond his new role. Throughout his career, he has always been passionate about helping others grow and succeed. From mentoring new students in secondary school to coaching younger developers and organizing tech events, Niko has always been dedicated to supporting those around him.

What is remarkable about Niko is his belief in the power of giving back. He understands that mentoring is about imparting knowledge and creating opportunities and empowering others to reach their full potential.

Niko believes that mentoring is not just about the money. He finds joy and fulfillment in helping others succeed, knowing that he is making a meaningful impact on their lives.

Niko’s story highlights the importance of mentoring in closing the gender gap in the tech industry. By supporting women and non-binary individuals, we can create more inclusive and innovative workplaces, drive economic empowerment, and expand the talent pool globally.

So, let’s read Niko’s story and consider how we can all do our part to support and mentor women in tech. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the technology industry. Like Niko, let’s ask ourselves: Are we doing enough?

I asked our chief editor, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, why this story should be chosen for further distribution and why editors should amplify it, and he said:

This insightful and captivating story highlights the importance of mentoring women in the tech industry, exemplifying Finland’s technological advancements, the underrepresentation of women in technology, and the need for mentorship programs. By emphasizing his personal journey and commitment to empowering women, the story evokes empathy and motivates action. Using vivid descriptions of Finland’s tech landscape, stats on gender diversity, and reflections on his mentoring experiences, the story engages readers intellectually and emotionally. Niko’s writing style is authentic, passionate, and thought-provoking, promoting a sense of urgency and inspiring readers to reflect on their contributions to gender equality in the tech sector. As I worked with women in tech for many years as a mentor, this story deeply resonated with me as a valuable asset for business leadership. This story is extra special because it was written by a man who is an expert in the tech industry walking his talk. Thank you for amplifying it.

Here is the link to Niko’s inspiring story. Please share the friend link so that many people can learn from his insights and get inspired to empower women in tech and other male-dominated industries.

Please also consider engaging in his story and share your perspectives to open a healthy dialogue. As I said before, words really matter on Medium.

If you missed the previous episode, here is the link.

I also curate stories that I publish and enjoy reading daily. Here is the latest one that you may find valuable stories.

Thank you for reading my stories and the stories in my curated collections. I wish you a healthy and joyful life.

To read stories like this, you may subscribe to my content.

Thanks to Dr Mehmet Yildiz for reviewing and editing my story and allowing me to publish it on ILLUMINATION-Curated. Thanks to Aiden (Illumination Gaming) and several other editors for inspiring me to pen this story and inform my readers. More information about our pubs in our onboarding pack. To join our pubs, please send your Medium via our writer registration portal.