Tech et Transmission: First Show on the Inclusion of Women in Tech in Quebec
Hello everyone! At DigiWomen, we continue to promote the inclusion of women in technology through inspiring initiatives. Today, we present a blog post based on the transcript of the first Tech et Transmission program, broadcast on CIBL 101.5 Montréal on June 4, 2025. Hosted by Elsa Tannous, founder of DigiWomen, this weekly program explores tech issues in an accessible way, focusing on intergenerational transmission, women’s careers and industry challenges.
Discover a detailed summary of the episode below, with key excerpts from the conversation. For a full immersion, watch the full video on YouTube: Listen to the show here.
Introduction to the show: Why Tech and Transmission?
Elsa Tannous opens the show by explaining its aim: to create a space for dialogue on technology, often misunderstood or perceived as an elitist, male domain. “Why this show? Because too little is said about tech in families, in living rooms, over meals. Tech professions are often misunderstood, intimidating or even perceived as reserved for a male elite.”
The show aims to convey inspiring values, journeys and role models through the experiences of its guests. For this first episode, Elsa welcomes three exceptional women: Michelle Paquin, SAP consultant and trainer at HEC Montréal; Yasmine Benarous, youth ambassador at DigiWomen and creator of the Calmos project; and Neila, Yasmine’s mother and a science and technology professor with expertise in AI applied to healthcare.
Suggested image placement: Add here an infographic illustrating guest profiles (e.g. career icons, ages, roles), created with Canva, to visualize generational and professional diversity.
Inspiring career paths : From Junior Lawyer to Tech Enthusiast
Yasmine, aged 17, shares her evolution: “At first, I wanted to be a lawyer, as my sister is in law and my brother in finance. But my mother always gave us the choice.” Her interest in tech stems from her Calmos project, an initiative to combat performance anxiety in young people via technology. “I merged my interest in tech with social areas, which are often not connected enough.”
Neila, his mother, expresses her initial surprise: “I was surprised because she was always called ‘Yasmine the lawyer’. But I’m reassured, because she chose him out of love.” She stresses the importance of early exposure: Yasmine started robotics at the age of 10.
Michelle Paquin, a new mother and partner in an SAP firm, describes a more meandering path: “I was undecided at university. I fell into tech by accident, via an IT implementation in logistics.” She insists on flexibility: “There’s no linear path; it’s normal to change.”
The Role of Parents: Educating for Inclusion and Balance
The discussion focuses on parental support. Michelle: “I have a boy, and I want to educate him so that women in tech become a normality. Men need to be allies.” Neila adds, “Present without imposing. Have as many tech items as traditional toys in a little girl’s room to create balance.”
Yasmine credits family dinners: “My mother used to tell me about her projects, like with the Canadian Space Agency. It made tech exciting and human.”
Suggested image placement: Insert here an image of a diverse family around a table, discussing tech (generated with Canva), with a caption like “Intergenerational transmission: Dinners that inspire tech careers in Quebec”.
Challenges and Stereotypes: Romanticising Tech for Women
The guests discuss the obstacles: the lack of “romanticization” of tech for girls. Yasmine: “For boys, there’s gaming like Roblox. For us, there are few ways of seeing tech as exciting. There is no ‘tech princess’.”
Neila and Michelle highlight gender stereotypes and the importance of mentoring, especially for graduate mothers. Neila: “I finished my post-doc with two kids. It’s possible to have a career and a family.”
Corporate and University Responsibility
Michelle, as a business leader: “Create parity via partnerships, events and demystification. Include women in recruitment and value empathy, especially with AI.”
Neila, from the academic side: “Labs are like businesses; offer mentoring and exchanges to celebrate women’s successes.”
Suggested image placement: Add here a screenshot or poster from the documentary “Femmes en Tech, et alors?” (linked to DigiWomen), or a mentoring icon, to connect to our past initiatives.
Closing messages: Dare and Pass on
In conclusion, Neila encourages parents: “Dare to leave the choice; expose to tech indirectly.” Yasmine to young people: “Try everything; open the doors to all possibilities.” Michelle: “Small actions change things; dare to try.”
Thanks to Elsa and the guests for this enriching conversation! At DigiWomen, we believe that tech is passed on through stories like these.
Share your experiences in tech in Quebec in the comments below – what was your trigger? And don’t hesitate to share this article on social networks to boost the conversation around women in tech in Quebec!
For more information on our programs, visit digiwomen.ca.
