{"id":24629,"date":"2014-12-12T11:36:11","date_gmt":"2014-12-12T16:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/?p=24629"},"modified":"2016-05-19T15:19:37","modified_gmt":"2016-05-19T19:19:37","slug":"female-executives-share-what-the-future-holds-for-women-in-management-information-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/2014\/12\/female-executives-share-what-the-future-holds-for-women-in-management-information-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Female executives share what the future holds for women in management information systems."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"women-in-it\"<\/a><\/p>\n

New opportunities are emerging for women who want to work in management information systems, a field that has recently become dominated by men. Sectors including data analytics, security, mobile, and telecommunications are increasingly looking for female graduates.<\/p>\n

That was the message from four senior female IT executives as they shared experiences, challenges and advice at the ITWomen NextGen forum on November 7, 2014 at the Frost Museum Caf\u00e9. FIU\u2019s ITWomen NextGen Chapter is dedicated to increasing the number of girls and women in the fields of technology and engineering.<\/p>\n

Gladys Simpson, instructor in the Decision Sciences and Information Systems department and co-founder of ITWomen NextGen welcomed participants and attendees pointing out the importance of management information systems (MIS). Vanessa Guzman, president of ITWomen NextGen, and incoming president Jennifer Baker highlighted the programs offered by the organization, including scholarships and mentoring.<\/p>\n

The panel was moderated by Kendall Brown, vice president of sales at RGP Healthcare, a consulting firm specializing in incident management software solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re generating data like crazy and the future jobs are going to focus on how we take this data and generate information from it,\u201d said Monica Chiarini Tremblay, chair and associate professor at FIU\u2019s Department of Decision Sciences and Information Systems.<\/p>\n

The executives provided tools and information about the latest trends in technology, engineering and entrepreneurship that FIU students can use to shape their careers. Today, hot jobs in management information systems include business analysis, data analytics, health information management, information security, and mobile computing.<\/p>\n

\"women-in-it-2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Karlene Cousins, associate professor in the Decision Sciences and Information Systems Department and co-founder of ITWomen NextGen, said that a career in MIS is one of the most lucrative for women, with starting salaries of $51,000.<\/p>\n

Participants agreed that work experience is a must-have because it provides \u201cacademia surrounded by business acumen.\u201d In any job, they insisted, students have to learn as much as possible, and internships provide the means to do it.<\/p>\n

Insights from the forum participants:<\/em><\/p>\n

Margaret Brisbane, Assistant Director, Information Technology Department – Miami Dade County:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cStudents working in the area of technology need three critical skills: ethical reasoning, good analytic skills and great communication skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily Loos, Client Executive \u2013 Public Sector, IMB Corporation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that companies like IBM and Bell Labs had the foresight to create a new industry called information technology was absolutely the best thing for all minorities because it wasn\u2019t a male or female industry, it was a new industry always very open to women.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alejandra Lorenzo, IT Specialist, NOAA:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNow it\u2019s very difficult to find young women who are studying computer science or computer engineering that want to have internships with us. It\u2019s important that women grow in this industry because it\u2019s not a woman or male, it\u2019s all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information on ITWomen NextGen visit itwomennextgen.weebly.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n