Celebrating Women in Tech on March 8th
FinTech company Advanon chose International Women’s Day to host WomenHack Zurich—making a powerful statement about their commitment to women in tech. The timing elevated the event from a recruiting activity to a celebration of women’s contributions to technology.
As shared on Medium, they described the event as “speed dating the future employer” with 15-20 face-to-face meetings of 5 minutes each.
The Significance of March 8th
International Women’s Day has been observed for over a century, commemorating women’s achievements while calling for continued progress toward equality. By hosting WomenHack on this date, Advanon connected their recruiting activity to this broader movement.
This timing also ensured visibility. International Women’s Day generates significant media and social media attention around women’s issues. A WomenHack event on this date benefits from heightened awareness and interest, potentially attracting attendees who might not have noticed an event on an ordinary day.
“Speed Dating the Future Employer”
Advanon’s characterization of the event as “speed dating the future employer” captures the format’s essence. Like romantic speed dating, WomenHack’s approach allows participants to have many brief conversations to identify promising matches. The format emphasizes connection and chemistry over lengthy evaluation.
With 15-20 opportunities for 5-minute conversations, each participant could meet a substantial portion of the participating companies. This efficiency is valuable for both sides—candidates explore multiple options, and companies meet many qualified people, all in a single evening.
FinTech in Switzerland
Switzerland has established itself as a FinTech hub, benefiting from the country’s strong financial sector, stable regulatory environment, and access to European markets. Zurich and Geneva host numerous FinTech startups and innovation centers, while established financial institutions invest in digital transformation.
Advanon operates in this ecosystem, providing factoring and financing solutions through technology. Their participation in WomenHack reflects both the competition for tech talent in Swiss FinTech and the industry’s growing awareness that diverse teams perform better.
Zurich’s Tech Talent Market
Zurich faces intense competition for technology talent. The city’s position as a financial center, proximity to ETH Zurich, and high quality of life attract major tech employers. Google has a significant engineering office there. This concentration of employers creates a seller’s market for tech talent.
In this competitive environment, companies that can differentiate their employer brand and access diverse talent pools gain advantages. Hosting a WomenHack event on International Women’s Day accomplishes both—it demonstrates values and creates access to candidates who might not engage through traditional channels.
The WomenHack Format in Action
The 15-20 meetings per participant demonstrate the format’s efficiency. In a traditional recruiting process, scheduling 15-20 conversations would take weeks. At WomenHack, it happens in a single evening. This compression creates energy and momentum—both candidates and companies leave with many new connections.
The 5-minute limit prevents any single conversation from becoming awkward or overstaying its welcome. If there’s mutual interest, both parties know to follow up afterward. If not, the conversation ends gracefully and both move on.
Building Community
Events like this WomenHack Zurich contribute to building community among women in tech. Participants not only meet potential employers but also meet each other. These peer connections can become valuable throughout careers—for job referrals, advice, and mutual support.
Hosting on International Women’s Day reinforced this community-building aspect. The event wasn’t just about individual job searches but about collective celebration and advancement of women in technology.
Thank you, Advanon, for celebrating women in tech on this meaningful day and for creating connections that advance both careers and community.
Source: Advanon on Medium – WomenHack