TGIF! They say "the future is female," and while the tech industry (among others) has been slow to grow with this saying, our reading this week shines a light on the bright future ahead. Are we on the cusp of (gender) equality in tech? Hear from mentors, role-models, and a real life superhero for women in STEM.

Check back at the end of each week for our Friday finds. Here's what we're reading – September 7.

Where do women stand in the tech industry?

Drawing attention to women in the industry

The future of being a woman in technology by Laura Malcolm for Information Age and Women of Marvel Spotlights the Women of STEM by Jamie Frevele for Marvel.

While we take opinion pieces with a healthy grain of salt, it's always encouraging to read more and more articles about how people are seeing a real change in their experiences. As a woman in tech, and a leader in the C-Suite, Laura Malcolm is no stranger to conferences or one-sided board rooms. So it's exciting to hear that at her most recent conference – though geared towards women in the industry – she felt that the diversity of attendees and the balance of genders was significantly better than in years past.

What have your recent tech conference speaker lineups, attendee profiles, and exhibitors looked like? Have you seen more female leaders represented?

We also loved listening to Lori Lombert, Director of Engineering at Marvel, discuss her background and path to becoming a leader in tech. The more stories we hear and share, we hope the more inspiration can be passed along to other women considering careers in STEM.

Supporting women in STEM

Girls Who Code brings in $1M from Lyft rider donations by Kate Clark for Tech Crunch and Will you be my mentor? Groups zero in on women’s needs by Maghan McDowell for San Francisco Chronicle.

Sharing our experiences in the industry is a great way to support and inspire other women in tech. But on top of sharing stories, there are a number of ways to step up and lend your support. Lyft (and Uber) have helped make an impact through monetary donations to Girls Who Code – raising funds, and awareness for the organization. And as we strongly believe at Hackbright, mentorship is key to helping women break into, and succeed, in the industry. Advice, wisdom, and actionable insights can be more valuable than a financial contribution, and Project Mentor is working to help women match with mentors in their fields.

Have you had a mentor who has helped change your career trajectory? Are you a mentor to someone new to STEM? Tell us about your experience!

What are you reading, watching, and listening to? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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