Pfizer Wraps Up 8th Year of Immersive Girls Who Code Program

From July 29th to August 9th, Pfizer hosted its 8th Summer Immersion Program in partnership with Girls Who Code (GWC). Throughout the event, more than 60 students participated in colleague-led learning sessions on professional development, data science, cybersecurity, and more.

According to Deloitte, less than one-third of employees in large tech companies are women.¹ Statistics for the workforce at large aren’t much better. While 72% of men participate in the labor force globally, only 47% of women are involved,² making events like GWC an important aspect of Pfizer’s commitment to equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Since its founding in 2012, Girls Who Code has solidified its place in the tech industry. The organization has served almost 600,000 students, creating the largest source of women and nonbinary computer scientists in the world, and continues to use evidence-based solutions to uplift women in this field. Leaders like Girls Who Code CEO Dr. Tarika Barrett have made their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace clear, and Pfizer is proud to back them up.

Pfizer has been a direct partner of Girls Who Code, an international nonprofit organization that aims to close the gender gap in computing, since 2017--more than half the program’s lifetime. Nearly 400 students have attended the summer program, and several have returned to Pfizer as a colleague.

By engaging students around the world with values of bravery, sisterhood, and activism, this organization is committed to supporting women in STEM and increasing the number of women in the workplace.

"Each year when we host the students of Girls Who Code, we are so impressed by their technical talent and interest in the pharmaceutical industry. It's an honor to be helping shape our world's future talent and to close the gender gap in technology," said Lori A. Smith, who leads Pfizer’s Girls Who Code Planning Team.

2020’s pandemic brought challenges for the in-person camp, but Pfizer and Girls Who Code remained determined to keep this innovative partnership going by shifting to a virtual model. This not only allowed Pfizer to continue the program amid the pandemic, but also opened the event up to participants and Pfizer colleagues from around the world.

Within this framework, more resources, experiences, and opportunities became available, including this year’s Partner Welcome Session, which was hosted by Pfizer’s Chief Technology Officer, Lidia Fonseca. During the session, Pfizer’s top digital executive discussed her career journey as a woman in the digital field, fielding questions from and inspiring the next generation of woman leaders in STEM.

Pfizer's impact on the Girls Who Code program is invaluable. As one participant expressed, "A highlight from our SIP Partner Engagements was the “creating your own [vaccine]” game, it really allowed me to see how hard it is to create [vaccines] that are beneficial to us, and the time the people need to spend on it."

Pfizer's involvement not only provides hands-on learning experiences but also cultivates an understanding of the complexities and dedication required to make a positive impact in the pharmaceutical industry. Through this partnership, Pfizer plays a crucial role in inspiring and empowering young women to pursue careers in coding and contribute to the advancement of healthcare.

1. https://www2.deloitte.com/xe/en/insights/industry/technology/technology-media-and-telecom-predictions/2022/statistics-show-women-in-technology-are-facing-new-headwinds.html 
2. https://www.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/Employment/barriers-women#global-gap