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Novell Speakers, Sponsorship Set Positive Tone for Women in Technology Conference Sponsorship of Conference Exemplifies Novell's Commitment to Workplace Diversity SAN JOSE, California -- June 5, 1996 -- Top Novell executives will lead the worldwide celebration of Women in Science and Technology Month at the annual Women in Technology (WITI) Conference, June 5-7 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif. Novell Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mary Burnside, Novell Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing Christine Hughes, and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Novell Education Carolyn Rose, will speak on Wednesday, June 5, the first day of the conference. That evening (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.) Burnside and Hughes will host a reception and silent auction to raise funds to further WITI's efforts to educate and encourage women to excel in technology fields. Novell is one of the seven Exclusive Sponsors of the WITI event. Novell will be actively recruiting at the conference and will sponsor a product and career booth at location No. 510. "We strongly support WITI's mission to increase the number of women in executive positions, help women become more financially independent and technology literate, and encourage young women to choose careers in science and technology," said Burnside. "This conference is one of many ways Novell is reaching out in our communities to find and encourage achievement among women in the high-tech industry." Last month, at the national Take Our Daughters to Work Day, Novell invited young women from a local homeless shelter and from the Boys and Girls Club of America to join the workplace activities traditionally planned only for the relatives of employees. Also in April, two Novell employees were among women honored at the YWCA Twin Awards for outstanding contributions to their company. "As a world-class software company, Novell offers high-profile employment opportunities as well as an aggressive career development program," said Hughes. "We value the leadership of smart, talented, high-energy women. We would like the diversity of our own workforce, as well as the diversity within the entire high-tech industry, to more closely reflect the diversity in society as a whole." Today, only 16 percent of all scientists and engineers are women according to WITI research. The disparity has roots in America's colleges and universities, where relatively few women choose to graduate with a degree in science or technology. Part of the challenge lies in the lack of camaraderie women may feel in male-dominated courses of study. WITI offers women the opportunity to connect with a global network of women scientists and engineers, many of whom are actively involved in mentoring others in their careers. "We are interested both in growing the pool of qualified women and in retaining women engineers once we hire them," said Hughes. "We recognize that women who choose to stay in these fields often feel isolated while in college, and the feelings of isolation may follow them into the workplace. WITI gives us a forum to talk openly with each other about our careers and our priorities." WITI offers women a forum for productive networking and expertise sharing. They can make contacts with successful women to exchange information and ideas about career planning, mid-career changes and career advancement. WITI also offers opportunities to listen to successful women scientists talk about their choices, sacrifices and achievements that are paving the way for future generations of women. On Wednesday, June 5, Burnside will speak on "Industry's Role in Promoting Gender Equity in Academia" at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. sessions in Great America Room 2; Hughes will speak on "How to Create Champions for Your Ideas" at the 11 a.m. session in Room 203/204; and Rose will speak about "Project Partners -- Technology and Science" at the 11 a.m. session in Room 201. Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ: Novell), is the world's leading networking software provider. Novell software provides the infrastructure for a networked world, enabling our customers to connect with other people and the information they need, any time and any place. Novell partners with other technology and market leaders to help customers make networks a part of their everyday lives. Novell is a trademark of Novell, Inc.
Press Contacts:
Linda Linfield
Jody Flynn |
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