As a company whose focus is solving problems, Google has vast capabilities of resolving issues. However, the company is now looking into tapping analog approaches - that is, hiring more female computer engineers.
While delivering his keynote speech during the Google I/O developer's conference this May, Larry Page mentioned in an interview with CNN that the company is focusing on hiring more women "forever" in an preventive measure to make sure that Google doesn't end up being an all-male company. The answer lies in starting early and to get more women interested in technology development, by doing so, the co-founder is confident that they can increase their rate of growth by two folds.
Google also has several all-year campaigns focused on educating and encouraging more women programmers, which includes granting scholarships. The yearly developer's conference also gives a rare public display of the industry's gender gap and the company's efforts in bridging that gap.
Previously, women who attend the conference and speakers alike have been highly under rated, both on stage and in the conference halls. When the conference initiated in 2008, Google has been making efforts to increase their numbers. Google Vice President Megan Smith reports that there has been a one percent increase in this year's women attendees, raising the numbers this year in the teens.
Google has taken the approach of spotlighting accomplished women who are working for the technology industry, and those who have had crucial contribution in the field all through history. Google's distinguished women were also featured in The Women Techmakers Fireside Chat, with the event rapidly packed to its capacity of both men and women audiences.
The occasion featured a social event for women who attended, and had an on-site day care for parents who are part of the convention. Children were also allowed on the conference floor. One dad said it was a good chance for father and daughters to bond.
