In partnership with The Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC), Capital One presented WEDallas: Meet your Mentor where women with technology businesses and other industries shared their expertise with female startups in speed mentoring sessions, WEDallas is designed to inspire, equip and empower women entrepreneurs. Through the speed mentoring, attendees met a new mentor every 15 minutes from a variety of industries. The event gives new and aspiring women entrepreneurs across North Texas the opportunity to network and gain resources.
Mary Jo Hoch, Senior Vice President Commercial Banking
“The WEDallas events are important for women in tech because men heavily dominate the field of technology,” said Kelli Thomas-Drake, founder and president of Dallas-based healthcare app, My Purple Folder. “There are not enough women mentors present for females in this industry. WEDallas helps level up the playing field for women, so we can be there to help each other succeed.”
Capital One has partnered with The DEC for the past four years to sponsor the WEDallas initiative. Capital One works with partners across the region to make its Future Edge DFW commitment come to life. In 2015, Capital One launched Future Edge, an initiative that pledged $150 million over five years to help more Americans get the skills, tools and resources they need to succeed in the 21st century. As part of this initiative, Future Edge DFW symbolizes Capital One’s commitment to make Dallas-Fort Worth a destination for top talent, spur growth as a world-renowned technology hub, and nurture leaders of tomorrow.
“Technology will catapult us to the future. As a mentor, I always tell other startup owners to stay motivated and be willing to embrace new technology to stay successful,” mentions Thomas-Drake.
To better represent the role of women in technology, Capital One created its Women in Tech initiative that is bringing women and men together to focus on developing a love of technology in young women and girls, improving the representation of women in the technology field and supporting the career development of women in tech roles. Capital One’s commitment to The DEC and WEDallas perfectly aligns with its Women in Tech and Future Edge initiatives.
The DEC supports local entrepreneurs including women business owners and the ventures they lead. The organization is committed to growing jobs in North Texas through support of small businesses and entrepreneurs. The DEC is a 501c3 non-profit organization which serves entrepreneurs in the Dallas area, providing a location where they can receive training, education, mentorship, coworking, events/programs, promotion and access to capital in order to encourage and equip the entrepreneurial community to start, build and grow their business.
“These events are important because it helps empower women,” continues Thomas-Drake. “They can come here to network and find solutions for any challenges they may be facing. I love being able to serve as a mentor and give back to the entrepreneurial community.”