The story behind Hello 50:50 World

Can we really achieve gender equality and diversity in tech if we stay in our feminist bubbles?

In 2022, after many years of community building with the aim to increase diversity and equality in tech, I realized that something was not working for me.

Community events that I organized myself or attended as a participant felt like echo chambers of the same messages repeated over and over again - but not necessarily for the people that needed to hear them. There was little sense of progress, and very few new ideas that entered our safe spaces inside our feminist bubbles.

I deeply felt the need for new insights and a new format of exchange as an alternative. I was seeking opportunities to have conversations with a balanced representation of different genders, ethnicity, perspectives, and a variety of opinions and experiences.

I truly believe that we can only achieve more equity if and when everybody sits at the table. I wrote about this in more detail here: For women only? Think again.

But now that we are here, how can we get especially male allies to feel like they can join the mission and conversation about diversity and gender equality?

This is when the idea for the Hello 50:50 World movement was born. My name is Lisa and I started this organization with the aim to create an inclusive space of learning and exchange on the topic of diversity in tech and beyond with a balanced representation of perspectives.

At our meetups, there is only one rule: every participant brings someone with a different perspective (e.g., different gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background) to ensure a balanced representation (kudos to Priska for this amazing idea). We host regular meetups to ensure a long-lasting impact and to anyone who is passionate about equality and diversity in tech.

We enable especially allies (=more privileged and therefore less impacted by current inequalities) to become advocates for diversity and equality in their own environments. We envision a tech industry where equality thrives and no one is left behind. By bursting the bubbles that divide us and creating bridges between existing communities, we foster mutual understanding and support.

A warm welcome from my side to the Hello 50:50 World - where we recognize the need for a balance of different perspectives in the pursuit for more equality, diversity and inclusion in tech and beyond.

And the story continues…

  • Priska Burkard

    September 2022

    Priska Burkard joins the Hello 50:50 World team.

  • October 2022

    The first Hello 50:50 World meetup in Zurich.

  • April 2023

    Stefan Koring joins the Hello 50:50 World team.

  • May 2023

    The first meetup in Bern.

  • December 2023

    Martina Niggli joins the Hello 50:50 World team.

  • March 2024

    Nina Wagner joins the Hello 50:50 World team.

  • June 2024

    The association “Hello 50:50 World” is founded.

  • July 2024

    Hello 50:50 World merges with Girls in Tech Switzerland.

  • August 2024

    Fabienne Lorenz joins Hello 50:50 World as Co-Lead.

  • September 2024

    Lisa Stähli wins the Diversity & Inclusion Award for Hello 50:50 World at the Female Innovation Forum.

  • October 2024

    The first meetup in Basel.

FAQs

What does the name Hello 50:50 World mean?

The name Hello 50:50 World is a combination of “Hello world” and “50:50”.

In programming, when you learn a new language or framework, the first examples are typically called Hello world examples. This reference acknowledges that as a participants we aren’t necessarily already equality or diversity experts, but that we are excited to learn about the topic and get proficient at it over time.

It also is a tribute to our capacity for growth and that we are only at the beginning of this journey.

The 50:50 is a symbol for balance and not a target number. Therefore, the goal is not to reach an exact 50:50 distribution, but to continuously work towards a state of balance. When we find balance together, we can grow collectively. Nobody is left behind.

The name additionally welcomes a future of more diversity and connection that includes the whole world. This forward-looking and welcoming atmosphere is what we aim to create out our meetups.

Can I join the meetups also without bringing a +1?

We highly encourage you to convince someone you can bring along from another perspective (e.g., gender, ethnicity, etc.) to increase diversity and ensure a balanced participation.

You can join our Slack channel or upcoming LinkedIn group to look for someone to join the meetup together as well.

If your +1 cannot make it or you weren't able to find someone for the meetup, you can of course still join the meetup.

Where can I reach out if I have an idea for a lightning talk?

Our lightning talks are community-driven. You can suggest topics and speakers - including yourself - anytime by writing us an email at hello5050world@gmail.com.

We are looking forward to hearing about your ideas!

Get involved

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