Exit Interview: Kylie Woods on Chic Geek’s legacy

Back in 2013, Kylie Woods launched Chic Geek, a grassroots initiative meant to support women in tech. On June 14, after 10 years of helping women and diverse groups build confidence, network, and advance in their careers, Woods announced the decision to sunset the organization. It closes down officially at the end of June.

In a conversation with Calgary Tech Journal last week, Woods acknowledged that it’s “a really sad and hard decision,” but that the time was right to make it.

“We have accomplished a significant amount of what we wanted to achieve in terms of building a community, creating a sense of belonging for women in tech, and working with and engaging a lot of corporate partners,” she says. “We're seeing the conversations around EDI and women in tech – it’s a very commonplace conversation now where it wasn't before. We're also seeing way more organizations in the EDI space like Toast [a membership-based women’s collective], as an example of one that’s stepping in and filling this really amazing gap. There’s been a lot of change since we started.”

That’s one part of the story. The other part, Woods admits, is that the non-profit funding landscape is precarious and gruelling – and amid a rough funding environment, she had to make a call. “We decided, OK, we’re going to celebrate what we’ve accomplished. We’re going to end things on a high note. There are many other great people who will carry our work forward, which we’re excited about,” she explains.

The organizations that do plan to carry the mantle have enormous shoes to fill. Since 2013, Woods says Chic Geek has connected over 14,000 women in tech and allies through its community; engaged upwards of 125 volunteers; leveraged the expertise of 255 mentors; hosted more than 160 events; and helped nearly 60% of mentees in its program advance their careers.

The numbers are impressive, but the memories Woods says she’ll latch onto are more subtle and nuanced. “When we look back at our work, we expect it to be these big gestures, like these big moments of, ‘Wow, I was on this mountain, and it was so high.’ But actually, the moments that I think are really valuable in my Chic Geek journey are those one-on-ones, like the conversations where I met with a community member, and she told me like, ‘Hey, I've been trying to break into tech for seven years, and I became part of the Chic Geek community, attended an event, and made the right connection. And now I'm living my dream job.’ Those are the ones that make this whole work worth it. And it’s like, wow, if I could impact one person and make a positive effect in one person's life, that's worthwhile.”

Chic Geek’s impact arguably extends even further. The organization has elevated corporate conversations around EDI in Calgary and beyond. Although its story is coming to a close, Woods believes that its end creates space for other organizations to take up. She points to the organization Rainforest Alberta and its concept that the innovation ecosystem is a diverse rainforest. There’s an ebb and flow of growth happening all the time; the community is changing with a dynamism that supports entrepreneurship and talent. “And I think that when one tree falls, it actually creates room and growth for many more to step forward and grow.”

She calls out ICTC, Women in Communications and Technology, Women in Tech World, IncluCity, Digital Alberta, and the Calgary Innovation Coalition as organizations putting a strong emphasis on EDI in their work. “When we see that conversation carried forward by so many other hands, it's actually a huge win for us and all the things we've been working towards,” Woods says.

For Chic Geek’s members who are looking for a specific community to get involved with, Toast is waiting. Woods says that as a legacy gift, Chic Geek is gifting 200 women a three-month membership to the Toast Community so they can continue to be supported in their career journeys.

“I feel [Toast] is this amazing example of pure elevation and women supporting women,” Woods says. “Like for [Toast co-founder April Hicke] to really champion the Chic Geek story and make sure that we get our voice heard, even at the tail end of this is a great example of how we're collaborating and supporting each other right to the very end.” (Hicke arranged the interview between Woods and Calgary Tech Journal.)

The two organizations are collaborating on a corporate celebration of life, A Toast to Chic Geek, on June 19 at Bitter Sisters. Then, for Woods, some respite, she thinks. “I've worked with so many women over the years that are in these transition phases. And so I'll be stepping back into that role as well,” she says. “I think I'm going to be looking for some contract work – so some interesting projects in the tech and innovation or people space,” she shares. “And probably some healing time, to be honest. This has been a tough journey, as it always is, whenever any startup founder winds a company down.”

While taking a break, Woods will have some more time to reflect on the ongoing legacy of the organization she started 10 years ago. As for what she thinks people might say about Chic Geek a decade from now, she has this to say: “I don't even know that they need to be talking about Chic Geek. But if these other organizations are going strong and making an impact and moving the conversation forward, and we're actually getting to a point where we don't need to be talking about women in tech, that's the win. And I think that's part of the journey that Chic Geek is a part of.”