Community — PROJECT F - Gender Diversity

The F Factor women in tech community

The F Factor is a different kind of community group. Our purpose is to be a holistic support network for the entire duration of our members' careers in technology. We want to see more women progressing and leading in tech and less abandoning it.

We’re here to support each other, learn from each other and give back to our community. Whatever you’re into, data science, coding, AI, ML, cybersecurity, devops, leadership etc, if you value connection and support, The F Factor community has your back.

Being a member of The F Factor is more than just talk, it's being part of something bigger. Members learn and take inspiration from some of the best influencers in and around the tech' industry who share their stories with us, move their careers forward with exclusive opportunities to join the most women-in-tech-friendly organisations in the world, and create strong connections with a community of talented women working in technology. We come together to discover more than we know, create something we can be proud of and to grow.

F Factor events

Around 4 times a year, members meet up with delicious food, drinks and music as the backdrop to an uplifting evening of inspiration and connection (virtually for now!).

Guest speakers are accomplished female leaders who have carved out impactful careers and who come to fuel your journey and reinforce the important opportunity we have to shape and influence our world and to seed future generations of ambitious women leading the charge.

As well as hearing from our very special guests, we enjoy an uplifting evening of connecting with other women working in technology careers, from newbies to C-level, from software engineering to product management — find your tribe!

View events

Inclusion & belonging

The F Factor community welcomes and celebrates all women+ working in tech careers, across every race, ethnic group, country of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, visible and invisible ability.

Careers

We only work with companies who are committed to taking the ACTION required to close the gender gap. Joining a Program 50/50 accredited company means you can confidently focus on your career, knowing you’re valued, your voice will be heard and you will be able to achieve your growth potential.

Our members get priority access to career opportunities with Program 50/50 accredited companies, mostly within these core areas:

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING | DATA SCIENCE | PRODUCT MANAGEMENT | INFRASTRUCTURE | CYBER SECURITY | MANAGEMENT / LEADERSHIP / EXECUTIVE

“Help-A-Girl-Out” Mentor Program

Women working in technology roles face serious career de-railers during the first 5–10 years, so much so that 56% of them choose to leave tech altogether during that time. Project F's entire charter is to bring this number down so that more women will appear in leadership and more women and girls will see a career in technology as somewhere they belong.

The F Factor network supports women throughout their careers in tech. Mentoring is a key component, helping achieve personal and professional success. In fact, studies show that people who are mentored receive higher compensation, better promotions and increased job satisfaction. Join The F Factor and be mentored or mentor.

Community Testimonials

“The F-Factor is a warm, friendly and nourishing community of like-minded women all passionate about sharing their knowledge and tech-insights with one another. I loved my time as a presenter and came away feeling so invigorated by the energy in the group.”

- Ally Watson

“Speaking at and connecting with women through Project F and the F Factor is both inspirational and a great way to build your network. It's more than an event. It's a community.”

- Sally-Ann Williams

“The F Factor is important for 3 reasons - inspiration, information & interaction.
Inspiration - I never leave an event without being inspired by someone's achievements or ideas.
Information - The speakers, panellists & attendees are very diverse personally & in the industries they represent & it does get me out of the "bubble" of information & ideas I inhabit.
Interaction - Whether you go with a friend, colleague or pluck up the courage to talk to other attendees, you are building relationships & let's face it, relationships are what makes life worth living! And they are pretty helpful in making your way in the world.”

- Inga Latham

“The F Factor is an amazing, inclusive group for women in technology to gather, be inspired, and support one another!”

- Hannah Beder

“I enjoyed being a panellist at the last F Factor event - it’s kept light-hearted, fun and supportive. It’s a great way to connect to other women in tech and celebrate the fun parts of our work.”

- Ada Tong

“F Factor is a global differentiator . A group committed to re-defining the conventional and creating lasting meaningful connectedness. A group committed to shaping a landscape built on skill, tenacity, determination and humour. A platform and place that connects women who care to keep kicking a hole in the sky with those we stand beside and for those yet to come. A group who give, not take, a group who understand together, we’re better.”

— Catherine Hyams

“I’m grateful for Project F’s mentoring program for introducing me to my wonderful mentor. I found the process to request for a mentor, simple and well suited to my needs. Can’t thank Project F enough for not only championing women but creating a forum where women champion other women!”

— Akhila Bhatt

“When I joined the F Factor, I quickly realised this was not just an opportunity for me to meet like-minded women working in tech. It‘s been a rare circle of support, transparency, and a place of psychological safety where everyone is able to share, grow and excel together with zero judgement. I’ve met some amazing people through this community and the mentorship programme is no exception. I truly could not have asked for a more helpful, confidence-boosting, kind and supportive mentor - Thank you! The F Factor has played a pivotal part in my career growth to date. Looking forward to the next meetup…”

— Frederica Caruana

“Since August 2019, The F Factor paired me with a suitable mentee, where I would offer 1 hour of my time per month to provide career advice and tips. As a mentor, I’ve gotten so much value from sharing my experiences and helping others. It has been absolutely rewarding being a mentor and I can honestly say we are now great friends. I am proud to be part of the Project F Mentorship Program and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in mentoring or being mentored — it’s a great experience!”

— Ermi Isais

“Being a new migrant to Australia, I am very happy to be associated with Project F and The F Factor. It has opened me up to a world of new opportunities and perspectives. I have to call out the F Factor’s mentorship program, as one of the best programs that helps women support each other. Matching was done within a couple of days of registering my interest to be a mentor. Though I started as a gesture of giving back to the community, I soon realised that it’s a learning exercise for both parties. The bond that was created has now matured beyond mentor-mentee and I am happy to say that I have found a good friend. Thank you Project F.”

— Nisha Amanulla

Community FAQ

+ Which companies are good places to work for women in tech?

Clients who are embarking on Project F’s Program 50/50. Other than that, most will still be plagued by the systemic detailers that cause 56% of women to quit technology mid-career, despite attractive window-dressing techniques and slick employer branding that can make them look wonderful.

+ How do I find a mentor?

The best place to look is in your network and tech community. If you are a member of a tech community start there, look for people who have more experience than you do and could provide you with advice and guidance from their experience. Remember a mentor is not a coach or trainer in terms of technical skills, they are helping you develop as a person and in your career, with advice, counselling and, in some cases, advocacy.

Mentors provide you with advice and guidance on how to navigate your career from their experience. A mentor can be from anywhere inside or outside of the place you work. A sponsor is someone who is in a senior role in your organisation and is tasked with leveraging their own standing in order to help you progress. A sponsor will be your ‘champion’, advocating for you in your absence, making introductions to people and opportunities that can accelerate your advancement.

+ Could I be a mentor?

Yes! Mentoring another woman in tech and passing on your experience and knowledge is an amazing gift. The intent of mentoring is not to remediate weak performance, but rather to help shape a career that shows promise. Think of mentoring as an opportunity to give back to the industry by teaching the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Firstly find out if your organisation has a formal sponsorship program already. If they don’t then this is a conversation you will need to begin yourself, probably starting with your direct leader. Explain that you would like to find a sponsor to help you advance your career and ask for their help in identifying who that could be. Alternatively, if you have someone in mind who you think could be well placed to sponsor your advancement, then go ahead and approach them directly. Before you do so, be clear about the expectations so you can explain it well.

+ Do I have to pay to be a member of The F Factor?

Annual membership is $39.99 which gets you into all our events, access to our mentoring program, priority access to career roles with Program 50/50 accredited companies and a raft of high-value career resources. Alternatively, find us on Meetup.com and you can attend events at $20 each (all profits from ticket sales still go to Robogals).