Orange Belgium champions gender diversity every day

3 May 2024

Every year on the fourth Thursday of April, we celebrate International Girls in ICT Day. The goal? To encourage girls and young women to pursue studies or careers in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. At Orange Belgium, we strongly believe in the power of diversity as a driving force for economic and social progress. For years, we have been launching initiatives, both internally and externally, to attract more women into technical professions. For example, we collaborate with WomInTech, a student initiative at the École Polytechnique de Bruxelles. Homa Wasiq, vice president of WomInTech, explains the activities and ambitions of the organisation. 

"WomInTech is a student initiative at the École Polytechnique de Bruxelles that promotes gender diversity, especially in the fields of technology and engineering. We run awareness campaigns and conferences open to everyone, including men. My role is to manage teams to ensure the efficient organization and planning of tech events. I make sure every team executes its events well and that everything runs smoothly. I also represent the association externally, in collaboration with the president." 

" One of our biggest successes is the Speed Networking events, which attracted 100 participants in the latest edition. These events are very popular, and the presence of professionals from Orange, among others, inspires and encourages more women to consider a career in engineering. 

Over the years, we have seen a positive trend with a steady increase in the number of Female students enrolled in the first bachelor year at EPB. Our goal is to demystify engineering studies for women and to promote gender equality in ICT and STEM fields in general." 

"Throughout the year, we work closely with Orange, which supports many activities we organise. These activities include events to encourage primary and secondary school students to pursue engineering studies. We also run a contest for secondary school students to popularise science, where the first prize, partly funded by Orange, covers the tuition fees for the first year at the École Polytechnique de Bruxelles.  

For bachelor and master students, we organise other events, such as the Speed Networking session on April 25, where several female professionals from Orange were present, allowing the students – both men and women - to discuss and exchange with them. Or one day internships, like the one last year at Orange. This internship gave fifteen female engineering students the chance to interact with Orange employees and discover the cybersecurity hub in Antwerp, giving them a glimpse of what it means to be an engineer at Orange. 

Our collaboration is based on shared values and mutual trust. It's amazing to see that a significant company such as Orange recognizes the value of our work and wants to engage with us." 

"The collaboration began in an unusual way: Orange took the initiative. They sent us an email expressing a strong interest in our initiative and asked to collaborate with us. After that email, we organized a call to discuss the details, and we found that we had similar expectations and goals, especially regarding the role of women in tech. So we went for it! It turned out great, so we renewed the collaboration for next year." 

"I would advise to not hesitate and to get started. It's true that the sector is predominantly male, and that can seem intimidating. At first, I even wondered if I had a place there. However, the more I advanced in my studies, the more I realized that I really enjoyed this field and the opportunities it offers. You shouldn't see gender as a barrier. It's important to break down the preconceived notion of what an engineer is. If you want to constantly tackle challenges and solve societal problems, you should definitely pursue this path. Don't be discouraged by the fact that it's a predominantly male environment." 

Are you ready to take on exciting challenges in the technology field? Join our team! Discover the job opportunities at proudtobeorange.be and commit to a company that makes a difference. #proudtobeorange 

Want to learn more about how we inspire the tech experts of tomorrow through various initiatives and partnerships? Step into the Tech Academy by Orange.