Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Anchorage, AK in 2026

Table of Contents

• Finding Your Constellation in Anchorage Tech
• POWR Program
• Alaska Society for Technology in Education Conference
• Alaska Women Leaders and WomenRising Conference
• University of Alaska Anchorage STEM and Incubators
• Alaska Young Professionals Summit
• Anchorage ATHENA Society
• Employer-Led Initiatives
• WITI Alaska Network
• AnitaB.org Local Communities
• Girls Who Code Anchorage Clubs and Pathways
• Frequently Asked Questions

POWR Program

The POWR Program from Alaska Resource Education serves as a critical gateway for young women into the state's tech-adjacent powerhouse industries. While not exclusively a coding bootcamp, it provides an essential introduction to sectors like energy, engineering, and telecommunications where advanced technology drives innovation.

This initiative connects high school and college students with female leaders across companies that are major Anchorage employers, such as ConocoPhillips Alaska and GCI. Through site tours, networking dinners, and mentorship, participants gain a practical, Alaska-specific lens on STEM careers where tech skills command a premium. Understanding the intersection of software, data analytics, and resource management is a powerful advantage for anyone targeting a role at a local utility or infrastructure firm.

For a woman aiming for a tech career anchored in Alaska's unique economy, POWR offers the foundational network and industry insight that generic national programs cannot. Applications for the annual cohort typically open in the fall through early winter, offering direct access to the leaders shaping the state's high-paying, tech-driven future.

Alaska Society for Technology in Education Conference

For women specializing in educational technology, instructional design, or tech training, the Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE) Conference is the premier annual gathering. Hosted at venues like the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, this event serves as the central hub for sharing "StoryBytes" of innovation and best practices across the state.

This is where women leading digital transformation in the Anchorage School District, the University of Alaska system, and private educational companies converge. The conference provides a critical platform to showcase projects, learn about emerging tools, and build a professional circle that intrinsically understands Alaska’s unique challenges, such as distance delivery for remote communities and initiatives for digital equity.

Engaging with the ASTE community, often coordinated through their active social media presence, connects you to a statewide network of decision-makers in a stable and growing sector. It transforms the specific hurdles of Alaska's educational landscape from career obstacles into areas where your tech expertise can have an outsized, meaningful impact.

Alaska Women Leaders and WomenRising Conference

For women targeting the senior leadership tier in Anchorage's tech ecosystem, Alaska Women Leaders and its flagship WomenRising conference provide targeted, high-level development. This organization fills a vital niche by focusing on the "Powerhouse Speakers" and strategic skill-building needed to ascend into roles like product management, director of operations, and executive leadership.

In a market where senior tech positions at major employers like Alaska Airlines or GCI offer salaries ranging from $120,000 to $180,000, this focused training is invaluable. The half-day WomenRising conference is designed to equip women with advanced skills directly applicable to breaking into the C-suites of Alaska’s top companies, addressing the specific need for more women in tech leadership.

This local initiative is complemented by other opportunities like the Alaska Women Ascend leadership training, which prepares women for influential roles across sectors. Experts note that reaching this level requires a robust support framework, often described as a "tripod of support" comprising a mentor, a sponsor, and a peer network - all of which these focused conferences help to build within the Anchorage professional community.

University of Alaska Anchorage STEM and Incubators

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is more than an academic institution; it's a dynamic living lab and the central physical anchor for the state's tech community. For women building or pivoting their careers, UAA’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and its associated business incubators provide an active pipeline to education, entrepreneurship, and essential local networking.

These resources offer practical, affordable upskilling through non-degree certificates and specialized courses in AI and machine learning. The university regularly hosts networking mixers and guest lectures that directly connect students and professionals with tech teams from major local employers like Providence Alaska Medical Center, effectively bridging academic training with immediate industry application. This is particularly valuable in a geographically dispersed state where centralized hubs are crucial.

Engagement opportunities extend beyond traditional degrees. You can attend a continuing education course, participate in a guest lecture series, or utilize career services specifically tuned to Alaska's market. By engaging with UAA’s ecosystem, such as events hosted by its professional development centers, you gain direct access to local industry partners and a community of peers and faculty invested in Alaska's specific tech growth, from health informatics to telecommunications.

Alaska Young Professionals Summit

Hosted by the Anchorage Chamber, the annual Alaska Young Professionals Summit is a large-scale, efficient engine for building a broad, cross-industry network. Drawing over 200 professionals, it consistently features dedicated tech and innovation tracks alongside sessions on the future of work and digital leadership.

The summit's panels and workshops often feature technology leaders from local giants like GCI and innovative startups, providing a wide-angle view of how tech is transforming various Alaskan industries from the inside. This cross-pollination is key in a market where tech roles are embedded within sectors like aviation, healthcare, and natural resources.

For a woman new to Anchorage or actively seeking a career pivot, this event offers rapid onboarding into the city’s professional community. The value lies in the scale and diversity of connections, allowing you to efficiently map where your skills fit within the broader economic landscape and identify the key players driving innovation across multiple fields, as highlighted in local business event calendars.

Anchorage ATHENA Society

Operated in partnership with the Anchorage Chamber, the Anchorage ATHENA Society is uniquely dedicated to honoring leadership and fostering a powerful legacy of reciprocal mentorship. While inclusive of all professional sectors, its emphasis on creating meaningful, one-on-one guidance relationships makes it an exceptional resource for women in tech.

In a technology landscape where personal advocacy and sponsorship are often key to advancement, being connected to the ATHENA network can open doors to board positions and executive-level support at Anchorage's leading companies. The annual ATHENA Leadership Luncheon is a landmark event that gathers the city's most influential leaders, providing unparalleled access in an intimate setting.

The program's core philosophy aligns with the expert-identified framework for success: a tripod of support requiring a mentor, a sponsor, and a peer. For women aiming for the senior tech roles that command salaries of $120,000+ locally, engaging with this society - by attending the luncheon or nominating a leader for an ATHENA award - provides direct access to a curated network of established professionals committed to paying their success forward within the Anchorage community.

Employer-Led Initiatives

Some of the most direct and impactful resources for career growth are the internal diversity, equity, and leadership programs within Anchorage’s major employers. Companies like GCI, Providence Alaska Medical Center, and Alaska Airlines have established internal groups such as Women in Technology forums and leadership development programs specifically for female employees.

These initiatives are critical for mid-career advancement, offering direct access to executive leadership, sponsored stretch assignments, and clarified pathways for promotion. For example, a data scientist at Providence can work on pioneering AI-driven patient care initiatives while being supported by an internal women’s network that understands the institutional landscape. These employers represent some of Alaska's most stable and high-paying tech opportunities, with senior roles often offering $120,000 to $180,000 in compensation.

As highlighted in industry reports on women breaking barriers in STEM, such corporate commitment is essential for retention and advancement. Engagement with these programs is typically available upon employment, making research into a company’s diversity and inclusion pages a crucial step during the job hunt in Anchorage’s competitive market.

WITI Alaska Network

The WITI (Women in Technology International) Alaska Network provides a structured, professional framework for connection that maintains both local relevance and a global perspective. This network fills a strategic gap in the landscape by offering a dedicated Alaska presence with the backing of an international organization, creating forums for both virtual resource sharing and potential in-person networking.

For women in specialized technical roles at places like Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson or within federal agencies, this network is particularly valuable. It connects them with peers across the state who understand the unique blend of public and private sector work that defines much of Alaska's tech economy, from defense contracting to telecommunications infrastructure.

Engaging with the WITI Alaska network involves joining the overarching organization and subscribing to local group updates. The value lies in belonging to a professional community with periodically updated event schedules and a consistent structure, offering a reliable beacon for support and career development that complements Anchorage's more informal networking scenes.

AnitaB.org Local Communities

While Anchorage lacks a physical office, the AnitaB.org Local Communities program serves as a powerhouse virtual portal to the global mainstream of women in technology. This resource connects Alaskan professionals to a worldwide mentorship platform, exclusive skill-building webinars, and critically, scholarships to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) - the world's largest gathering of women in tech.

For an Anchorage-based machine learning engineer or software developer, this connection is indispensable for overcoming geographic isolation. It provides a platform to share Alaska’s unique tech challenges - like developing AI models for Arctic logistics or remote healthcare - with a worldwide audience and gain insights from established tech hubs. As noted by the Women in Tech Network, this access to world-class development resources is available without ever leaving the state.

The value proposition is clear: maintain your career in Alaska’s unique market while tapping into the mentorship, trends, and professional recognition of the global industry. By signing up for the AnitaB.org community and indicating your Alaska location, you bridge the distance, ensuring your work on the Last Frontier’s frontiers is seen and supported by an international cohort of peers and leaders.

Girls Who Code Anchorage Clubs and Pathways

Topping our list is the foundational pipeline: Girls Who Code. This organization is proactively building Anchorage's future tech workforce from the ground up, addressing the critical need for homegrown talent through early exposure and skill-building. Its free clubs for grades 3-12, often hosted at local libraries and schools, create a sisterhood of support that instills the confidence needed to pursue tech careers in Alaska or beyond.

The transformative power lies in programs like the 100% free, virtual Pathways courses. As outlined in their 2025 Fall Pathways Program FAQs, these offerings in AI, cybersecurity, and web development culminate in professional certificates that students can use for college applications and early career positioning. This provides top-tier computer science education accessible to every young woman in the state, regardless of location.

For parents, students, and professionals alike, the value is unparalleled. You can find local clubs or apply for national programs directly online, and the community always needs volunteers to facilitate clubs. By investing in this earliest stage of the talent journey, Girls Who Code doesn't just teach coding - it ensures the brilliant glow of Anchorage's tech future has a diverse and prepared group to celebrate it.

Frequently Asked Questions