A 2018 study by Gallego and Gutiérrez on the impact of gender diversity on innovation and productivity highlighted that firms with a larger share of women in the knowledge creation and innovation process increase their innovative behavior – gender diversity drives firm productivity.

Initiatives like Girls in Tech – Guyana and their Coffee & Code – Mentor Meetup propose significant transformational potential to a society like ours in which we must navigate cultural and economic challenges towards achieving that sought-after ideal in Guyana.

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Full remarks by Eldon Marks, Founder Nexus Hub Inc.
GIT Coffee & Code Mentorship Meetup, Oct 10, 2019.

Mentorship is the reason why many of us are here today, both literally and figuratively.

I’m sure every one of us has a story to share about their priceless interaction with a mentor; one that helped shape their lives, professionally or personally.

I for one am no different; I know how influential a mentor can be.

I encountered my mentor as a student doing Computer Science at the University of Guyana. I was just a regular student with an average GPA – nothing special. I never thought that I would end up anywhere other than the well-beaten path of falling into an occupation after my graduation, perhaps teaching in a High School or working in whatever IT Department that would hire me. My mentor, who was my project supervisor at the time, saw potential in me that I never knew existed. For quite a while I was in denial; he must have been hallucinating, but, I kept an open mind. What stood out was his unrelenting belief in what I could become and this was paired with action when he invited me to demonstrate my research project to the personnel department and apply for an assistant lecturer position at the University. This seemingly simple act created for me ripples, at the time, which, over the years turned into waves which catapulted me professionally.

Mentorship changed my life – and it created an undeniable purpose in me to pay it forward.

Now multiply this by the many lives a single mentor can influence and we’ll begin to appreciate the importance of mentorship.

When thinking about the future of our nation – that sough-after improved quality of life we strive for, becoming a mentor is a good place as any to play a part in contributing to this vision.

Major positive strides in societies in general which affect the economy and quality of living (throughout history) can be traced back to mentors who somehow inspire change agents and leaders within society.

Combine mentorship with techpreneurship and gender diversity in the industry and what we get is a formula which has the potential to tremendously contribute to Guyana’s status as a fast-growing economy.

Here’s why…

Fast-growing economies, the world over have managed to maintain course amidst intrinsically fluid “landscapes”. There is one commonality to these economies which experience this transformation – technological change.

Technological change essentially refers to the transformation of products or processes to become more efficient – i.e. doing more with less.

The US attributes 2/3 of its economic growth to technological change alone.

Today, “Big Tech” has now taken the place of what was once “Big Oil”; The most valuable companies in the world are not oil companies anymore but tech companies.

As we face our fourth industrial revolution in which industries are forced to evolve or expire through that undeniable influence of tech, we have to respond and rise to these changes.

We must innovate.

But we need diversity to do so..

A 2018 study by Gallego and Gutiérrez on the impact of gender diversity on innovation and productivity highlighted that firms with a larger share of women in the knowledge creation and innovation process increase their innovative behavior – gender diversity drives firm productivity.

I have personally witnessed this in our tech firm, even through our men out number our women, 6 – 1.

It is all about understanding the mechanics of innovation – it needs a variety of perspectives to work well – cultural, generational and gender-based.

Initiatives like Girls in Tech and their mentorship movement propose significant transformational potential to a society like ours in which must navigate cultural and economic challenges towards achieving that ideal.

I urge everyone to take responsibility for our shared future and get involved.