WomenHack 2022: The Return of In-Person Events

Reconnecting Face-to-Face While Keeping Virtual Options

2022 marked WomenHack’s return to in-person events while maintaining the virtual capabilities developed during the pandemic. The hybrid approach allowed us to serve more participants than ever while recapturing the magic of face-to-face connection that made WomenHack special from the start.

Major Events and Milestones

Siemens WomenHackAI: The standout event of 2022 was Siemens’ ambitious WomenHackAI—a 48-hour hackathon designed to empower women in artificial intelligence. Over 100 women applied, with 30 selected for the intensive experience tackling real AI challenges.

The event demonstrated corporate commitment at a new level. Siemens didn’t just sponsor or host—they created a custom experience leveraging WomenHack’s community while addressing AI’s particularly acute gender gap.

The Hybrid Model in Practice

2022 became the proving ground for hybrid events:

• Virtual events continued serving global audiences without geographic constraints
• In-person events resumed in major cities as conditions permitted
• Hybrid options allowed some events to accommodate both in-person and remote participants

We learned that different formats serve different needs. Some candidates and companies strongly prefer in-person interaction; others value virtual accessibility. Offering both expands our ability to serve diverse preferences.

AI and Emerging Tech Focus

Siemens’ WomenHackAI reflected growing industry focus on artificial intelligence. As AI becomes increasingly central to technology strategy, the gender gap in AI workforces becomes more consequential.

Women represent only about 22% of AI professionals globally—even lower than technology overall. Siemens’ targeted investment in women in AI addressed this specific gap while creating a model other companies could follow.

Post-Event Impact

Siemens demonstrated transparency by publishing results six months after WomenHackAI. This follow-up showed that the challenges tackled during the hackathon had real impact beyond the event itself.

This kind of accountability—tracking and sharing outcomes—raises the bar for corporate diversity events. It moves beyond feel-good moments to measurable impact.

Rebuilding In-Person Momentum

After two years of primarily virtual events, rebuilding in-person momentum required effort:

• Reassuring participants about health and safety measures
• Re-engaging host companies willing to open their offices
• Rekindling excitement for face-to-face networking
• Balancing pent-up demand with realistic capacity

The response exceeded expectations. Participants were eager to reconnect in person, and companies recognized that in-person recruiting offers advantages that virtual can’t fully replicate.

Growing the Global Network

Our global community continued expanding. Virtual events during the pandemic introduced WomenHack to new markets, and 2022 saw increased international interest in hosting in-person events.

The combination of established markets strengthening and new markets emerging positioned us for continued growth.

Looking to 2023

2023 promises to be our most ambitious year yet. With hybrid capabilities proven, in-person events re-established, and global demand strong, we’re planning significant expansion across all formats and regions.

Thank you for your patience during the pandemic years and your enthusiasm for our return. The best is yet to come.