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GoDaddy Investing in Next Gen Tech Women
[September 17, 2014]

GoDaddy Investing in Next Gen Tech Women


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. --(Business Wire)--

GoDaddy, the world's largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses, is fueling the largest-ever Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. The event is the world's largest gathering of women technologists, and it's on track to nearly double in size with nearly 8,000 attendees this year.

What makes this much more than a platinum sponsorship, is GoDaddy's investment in the next generation of women in technology, specifically college students. GoDaddy is paying for 112 aspiring technologists to participate in the event, including 72 women from Cal Polytechnic State University and 40 women from Harvey Mudd College. GoDaddy recruiters will also be on-site hosting a booth at the conference career fair, interacting with potential candidates for open positions in areas such as product management, software engineering, as well as information systems and technology.

"Helping students attend the Grace Hopper conference is just one of many investments we're making toward improving the gender balance throughout computer science and technology today," said GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving. "Across the industry, we all need to invest at every level of education to encourage young women who are passionate about computer science and technology to make it their career choice. This isn't just about writing a check, it's about creating a great environment that encourages and inspires women and ultimately brings them to this incredibly creative field."

Irving views this as a personal mission and has advocated for women in technology throughout his professional career. One of his first moves after taking over as CEO last year was to hire CTO Elissa Murphy, who has since created the GoDaddy Women in Technology network, a professional development and networking program. He is also a longtime supporter of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, as well as the Society of Women Engineers.

According to a Catalyst survey, only about 17 percent of Fortune 500 company board seats in the U.S. are filled by women, and in Silicon Valley that number is lower than 10 percent. GoDaddy's Board of Directors includes former Apple (News - Alert) executive Betsy Rafael and overall, about one-third of GoDaddy's senior leadership team is comprised of women.

"There are misconceptions about what GoDaddy stands for, and a major driver to join the company was the opportunity to play akey role in changing those perceptions. GoDaddy is a strong team of women and men who are 100 percent committed to helping small businesses quickly, reliably and economically build their digital identity," said GoDaddy Chief Technology Officer Elissa Murphy.



Murphy has been the driving force behind GoDaddy's partnership with the Anita Borg Institute and Grace Hopper. "We are committed to helping women in technology as well as the great many women who are running their own businesses. Our investment in a mentee program and the GoDaddy Women in Technology network helps create positive and lasting change. This year's Grace Hopper event is a great opportunity for us to meet young technologists, be a resource for them and give them a look into who GoDaddy really is," Murphy explained.

Anita Borg Institute President Telle Whitney welcomes the support. "The Grace Hopper Celebration is an opportunity for forward-thinking tech companies to show their support for women in computing in ways that will make a significant difference," Whitney said. "What makes this event special is how it connects women technologists of all ages, providing inspiration and guidance as they pursue their passion for technology. GoDaddy's sponsorship and financial support for 112 students is a concrete demonstration of their commitment to advancing women in technical roles."


The event is set for October 8-10 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

GoDaddy is also partnering with the Black Women in Computing, an Anita Borg Systers Community, on Saturday, October 11, for an all-day tech workshop for young students in Arizona. Nearly 40 middle and high school aged students are set to visit the GoDaddy Global Technology (News - Alert) Center in nearby Tempe for a day of technology and computing events. It's another way GoDaddy is working to support youth in pursuit of technology careers.

To find out more about the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing visit: www.GraceHopper.org.

If you're passionate about technology visit: www.GoDaddy.com/Careers.

For more about GoDaddy's corporate and social responsibility history, visit: www.GoDaddyCares.com.

Connect with GoDaddy on Facebook , Twitter & LinkedIn

Read why our customers recommend GoDaddy.

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy's mission is to radically shift the global economy toward small businesses by empowering people to easily start, confidently grow and successfully run their own ventures. With more than 12 million customers worldwide and approximately 58 million domain names under management, GoDaddy gives small business owners the tools to name their idea, build a beautiful online presence, attract customers and manage their business. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

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