Creating Opportunities in Tech with Fem.AI

At Cadence, it is one of our top goals to create opportunities in what is often considered to be a male-dominated field—that's right—I'm talking about women in tech and AI. Fem.AI was launched in 2024 to help improve access to careers in tech and AI by creating a stronger sense of belonging to the vibrant tech community.

Our goal is to not only help women learn new STEM skills and land their first job, but to retain them on their journey to becoming future tech leaders. To help, Cadence has initiated a movement towards breaking the barriers and making a change under the leadership of Nicole Johnson, our Global Director of Social Impact and Employee Engagement and President of The Cadence Giving Foundation. Although we've only just scratched the surface, we are already starting to see the fruit of this meaningful mission blossom and bloom.

What Exactly Is a Cadence "Watch Party" and How Did It Start?

At the first Fem.AI Summit on October 1, 2024, we got to hear from some of today's leading women in tech who spoke adamantly about leveling the playing field for other women who wish to thrive in tech and AI.

In bite-size portions, various Cadence sites held local "watch parties," enabling our employees to join in and benefit from the invaluable content that was presented by Fem.AI. Thanks to our unique watch party format, we were able to sit, watch, and digest the significant topics at hand. We found an effective way to create a real dialogue and get inspired by some of the industry's most influential women in tech and AI.

Harnessing the Power of Community

Having attended an all-girls school growing up, I can vouch for the positive impact it has had on building my character, self-esteem, and core confidence as a mother, friend, and professional leader in the growing tech industry—especially at Cadence. And I am not the only one.

One of my colleagues, Yael Kinderman, also attended an all-girls school and today leads a large team of talented coders. Yael is constantly reminding us that women in tech is not just a fad and is not a trend. It is part of the evolution in the tech world to broaden the talent pool. I tend to agree. And that is also one of the main takeaways from the first watch party we held.

The Recipe for a Successful Watch Party Event

Together with food and drinks, we held round-table sessions near the main stage and screen where we could comfortably eat, watch, and discuss each topic. In addition, we invited someone to speak and present their story or experience related to the discussion.

The presenter can either be an employee or an external guest speaker, depending on the topic and their availability. They do not have to be an expert or an experienced public speaker. They can just be a professional working in tech.

Tapping Into Otherwise Overlooked Talent

At the Fem.AI Summit, Cadence's CEO, Anirudh Devgan, emphasized women's critical role in AI's future. What's more, the Fem.AI Summit brought together many innovators, educators, business leaders, and investors to help create an ecosystem for supporting women's participation in the AI revolution.

Already, Cadence has partnered with seven pivotal nonprofit organizations focused on increasing the number of women obtaining STEM degrees and landing their first jobs, as well as increasing representation at the leadership level.

Elevating Women in Tech Through Fem.AI

As a global company, Cadence has centers in the US and Canada, Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia. We consider these watch parties another way to be recognized as one of the best places to work worldwide while harnessing more talent—enabling women to be curious, ask questions, and take to the stage while sharing their voices. At our second watch party, we talked about using AI, the future of AI, and how it will evolve in the coming years.

Fostering Equality for the Future of Technology

By supporting women in AI and tech, we can tap into the very fabric of what makes Cadence such a wonderful place to be part of. When we say "Unleash Imagination, "what we really mean is "Reveal your full potential." Innovation and creativity are what we do best. For the women at Cadence, it is not just a slogan—it is the "secret ingredient" of what sets us apart and makes us so unique. Fem.AI gives us the opportunity to belong and make a lasting difference, not just for ourselves but for more women aspiring to a successful future in AI and technology.

Learn more about Fem.AI at Cadence.