Category Archives: Mentoring & Other Business

October 26, 2011 · 8:26 pm

Happy Birthday Hillary!

Today is the birthday of the champion of the TechWomen mentoring program, US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. I was reading today’s poem offered by The Writer’s Alamanac and noticed their happy birthday wishes for her as the author of two popular books.

Also today, one of the TechWomen launched the first coupon discount web site in Algeria, one of a dozen or more new ventures and non-profits already started by the 37 mentees since their return to their homes in the Middle East and North Africa in July. What an astonishing, accomplished, and supportive group has been created by Hillary Clinton’s program. A grand birthday present indeed!

Images Copyright 2011 Katy Dickinson
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October 25, 2011 · 8:17 am

Mohammed VI of Morocco

On last week’s visit to Morocco, I was impressed by how many positive comments I heard about King Mohammed. Being an American, kings are strange to me. I am used to our special version of democracy where complaining about the government is expected and politics is a contact sport.

Seeing the young king’s picture everywhere was a surprise – especially the many photos which had clearly been taken locally (not formal portraits). Mohammed VI of Morocco seems to be not only highly regarded by his people but actively involved in making positive social change. In particular, the 2004 reform of the Mudawana or family code was widely praised for supporting women’s rights and gender equality within an Islamic legal framework.

I was only there for ten days and maybe I just did not hear about the bad stuff. But I can’t think of an American politician about whom everyone has only good to say. Like the king’s photo which presided over most of our TechWomen meeting rooms – he seems to be very much a part of his people’s daily life.

Images Copyright 2011 Katy Dickinson
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October 25, 2011 · 7:32 am

What is inside a minaret?

During last week’s visit to Morocco by the TechWomen delegation, we had many fascinating conversations during the long bus rides. I asked several of the women, what is inside a minaret?

The delegation spent days in Casablanca and saw the impressively huge Hassan II Mosque but of course even tiny neighborhood mosques each have their own minaret. None of the women had been inside a minaret (not allowed). One said she toured La Giralda (built in 1184 in Seville, Spain) where the ancient minaret had been converted to a cathedral bell tower. She said it enclosed a ramp big enough for the muezzin to ride a horse to the top to lead the call to prayer. Several thought that inside a minaret was probably just stairs (or maybe a ladder) and empty space.

My home church is always struggling for storage space – where to store the Christmas pageant costumes? Where do the tablecloths go between parish dinners? If our church had a bell tower, I think it would soon be full of Thanksgiving table decorations and extra candles. I hope I am not being disrespectful in wondering if mosques have similar storage problems.

I found some web pictures of stairs inside small minarets. But I am still curious if all that is inside the great minarets is a stairway?

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October 23, 2011 · 2:05 pm

TechWomen in Morocco – Day 7 – Last Day, in Casablanca

Friday was the last day for the TechWomen delegation in Morocco. We spent most of the time speaking and learning at a technical women’s conference at the Technopark in Casablanca. We were welcomed by the US Consul General, Mr. Brian Shukan. I ran a panel on “Venture Design: Documenting the Start-up Company” with Mimi Hills (of Research in Motion) and Jody Mahoney (of the Anita Borg Institute). Here is a link to the presentation slides. Also, I was on the Imposter Syndrome panel run by Jody.

After the conference, we went shopping (again!) in the souq and then to a dinner and henna party at the restaurant of the Association Solidarité Féminine.

Images Copyright 2011 Katy Dickinson
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October 21, 2011 · 7:22 am

Architecture Observed in Morocco

The TechWomen delegation is finishing its week here in Morocco. We have visited many organizations benefiting women and girls, both teaching and learning. While walking and driving in Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, and nearby cities, I have enjoyed meeting many of the charming, capable, and open hearted women leaders of this beautiful country.

I have also enjoyed observing the architecture, starting with the colors. Marrakech is a red city – with the most common color of buildings being a warm terra cotta brown. The Berber primary colors (yellow, red, blue) are frequent details in Merrakech. When we took the bus to Casablanca, we saw many colors of the earth, from sharp grey stones, to iron-red earth, to the chocolate brown of plowed fields. Casablanca itself is more of a dirty white, in keeping with its industrial style.

At home in San Jose, California, I live in a Spanish mission-style home. I have been charmed to see many of elements of that style here – red tile roofs, white walls, ornate iron work, wide rounded arches, and small balconies.

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October 21, 2011 · 5:14 am

TechWomen in Morocco – Day 6 in Rabat

The TechWomen delegation in Morocco has had an excellent experience, both teaching and learning this week. We spent time with a wide variety of women’s organizations – some technical and others focused on social improvement. The delegation visited Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and other cities – all different and fascinating. Spending the week with twenty talented and remarkably intelligent technical women has been a lasting inspiration. Our time on the bus chatting about family, religion, Engineering, and business has been as valuable as all of the formal events.

I was proud that my company, Huawei, was able to host the delegation for dinner last night at the Royal Nautique Club Bourgreg in Sale, across the river from Rabat. Huawei has 350 staff here in Morocco and several of the women technical staff joined us for dinner. Today the delegation is at a conference in Casablanca.

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October 19, 2011 · 5:37 pm

TechWomen in Morocco – Day 5

The TechWomen delegation in Morocco had a full and interesting day today in Casablanca and Mohammedia. Our day started early, so we got to watch produce being sold in the neighborhoods from tiltcarts. It is surprising to see sheep, cows, horses, and donkeys grazing and wandering around on city streets. We had one herd of sheep cross the freeway in front of our bus – with the shepherd throwing smalls stones at the last sheep while he caught the one which was refusing to cross.

We visited the Association MOUASSAT (Nonprofit of Equality) which supports poor widows and their children. It seems that the high number of traffic fatalities leads Morocco to have many widows. We then met the leadership and faculty of the Universite Mohammedia Hassan II and we gave presentations on technical workflow management, and using and contributing to Open Source. After lunch with the faculty, we visited and traded presentations at the Galilee-Vivaldi girls College and Lycee. I just got back to the hotel from a lavish and delightful family dinner at the home of one of the TechWomen mentees. An amazing and inspiring day.

Tomorrow, the TechWomen are being hosted for dinner by Huawei in Rabat after a day of meetings and presentations.