Invisible String with Brittany Van Dyk
In our new Invisible String series, we aim to highlight the work done by our volunteers, also known as hackers, and the different ways they are interested in tech. Volunteers are the (often) invisible strings that bind together the not-for-profit sector and, without them, WITGBG wouldn’t function.
We’re launching the series with longstanding WITGBG hacker Brittany van Dyk — our Partnerships Manager and a key part of the Rewrite the Code project.
What’s your role at WITGBG?
I joined WITGBG in December 2020 when the organisation expanded its volunteer base beyond the founding members. As the Partnerships Manager, I connect with existing and potential partners, delving into industry needs and aligning with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) missions. My role involves collaborating internally to ensure our activities align with the broader context, and I also contribute to specific projects and events that align with my interests.
I get to ‘dive deep’ into specific projects and events that pique my personal interests, which I really enjoy!
What motivated you to volunteer with us?
After relocating from Canada to Sweden in 2019, I attended a WITGBG event where Malin Frithiofsson's talk on gender (in)equality in tech became my call to action.
With the evolution of how tech is integrated into human lives, I realised how important it is that women not be sidelined. Women have a role and a right to lead, and we must be given equal opportunity to do so.
I felt a duty to myself and to future generations to do something about it, and WITGBG gave me the channel and the community to act.
Tell us about your journey with tech.
When I was young, I had an interest in technology. I spent several hours in front of my home computer ‘playing around’ and finding new ways to download music, aggregate data, or just play games and interact with friends.
Unfortunately, I never even knew this interest could be a career. In school, I was deterred from taking courses relating to computer science because ‘only the boys took those classes’, and I didn’t have much more exposure until my 20s.
How did you get back into it?
I took a job as a Project Manager in a hospital when I was 25 and by happenstance ended up leading several digital transformation projects. I learned to love the logic of software and translating ‘real-world’ services and processes into a digital structure and resources.
That led to a coding summer camp and then a university course in Python during the pandemic. Though I don't work in a technical role now, these skills enhance my work with tech products.
What do you work with now?
By day, I serve as a Customer Success Manager at Definitive Healthcare, specialising in the Monocl Expert Suite — an exciting role that allows me to support biopharmaceutical companies in finding collaborations with clinicians and scientists.
With a background in life sciences and a strong interest in technology, this role allows me to merge skills acquired throughout my career with my work at WITGBG.
Looking forward 5 years, what change do you want to see in the tech industry?
So many!
I want to see tech companies hold each other accountable for developing inclusive products in an inclusive manner. I want it to be embarrassing for organisations that fail to be inclusive in their structures and commercial interests, whether relating to gender, race, religion, language, etc.
Technology facilitates convenience and creativity in our everyday lives. I want to see equal access to that convenience and creativity for all, not just those ‘in the know’.
Interested in learning more about volunteering for WITGBG or Brittany’s role in Customer Success in MedTech? Follow us on LinkedIn.