Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Carmel, IN in 2026

Table of Contents

• Finding Your Place in Carmel's Tech Garden
• Women & Hi Tech
• Indiana Women IN Tech Coalition
• The Gurl Code
• AnitaB.org and Grace Hopper Celebration
• TechPoint
• Ladies in SaaS
• Company-Specific ERGs
• Women in Tech Global Network
• Girls Who Code
• Lean In Circles
• Cultivating Your Career Ecosystem
• Frequently Asked Questions

Women & Hi Tech

As Indiana's cornerstone STEM organization, Women & Hi Tech represents the essential "soil" for building a lasting tech career in the state. It successfully became the primary local hub after the closure of the international Women Who Code chapter in 2024, offering a powerful, homegrown alternative focused on changing the landscape to be equally inclusive.

The organization provides deep-rooted support through mentorship, leadership opportunities, and significant scholarships specifically for Indiana residents. Involvement centers on hallmark events like the annual Leading Light Awards and Scholarship Gala and targeted workshops, including the "Train Like a Woman" event scheduled for March 19, 2026.

"A blessing for helping women navigate technology and leadership with confidence and grace." - 2026 "Women to Watch" Honoree

Members gain access to a tight-knit network of Indiana-based professionals and exclusive scholarship opportunities. This local focus ensures your growth is nurtured within the same ecosystem where you'll build your career, connecting you directly with the companies and leaders shaping Carmel's tech corridor.

You can explore membership and upcoming events on the Women & Hi Tech official site. For women in Carmel, this isn't just another networking group - it's the foundational community that understands the specific opportunities and challenges of building a tech career in Indiana.

Indiana Women IN Tech Coalition

If Women & Hi Tech is the foundational soil, the Indiana Women IN Tech (INWiT) Coalition is the broad sunlight that helps your professional profile bloom across the state. This powerful statewide alliance orchestrates the flagship Indiana Women IN Tech Week, a concentrated series of events designed to elevate visibility and build connections.

The coalition perfectly positions Carmel professionals at the center of a larger movement. The 2025 Indiana Women IN Tech Week (September 14-21) featured critical sessions on AI and cybersecurity, reflecting the exact skills in high demand within Carmel's health-tech and enterprise software corridors. Participation centers on attending these statewide events or volunteering to share your journey.

"Building systems and lifting people." - IT Leader sharing a career pivot journey on the coalition's blog.

This resource provides macro-level visibility and a storytelling platform that can elevate your personal brand. Leaders use it to share pivotal career journeys, such as navigating a shift from marketing to IT product leadership. For Carmel-based women, it’s an opportunity to step beyond the local network and engage with the broader Indiana tech ecosystem.

You can stay updated on plans for the 2026 iteration through the TechPoint community calendar or explore past stories on the Indiana Women IN Tech Week blog. It’s the "full sun" event that ensures your growth isn't confined to a single patch but seen across the entire garden.

The Gurl Code

While some resources help you grow, others allow you to plant new seeds. Focused on the foundational stages of the pipeline, The Gurl Code, Inc. is an Indianapolis-based initiative dedicated to introducing younger women and girls to coding and tech in engaging, accessible ways. For women in Carmel passionate about mentorship, this offers a direct path to inspire the next generation right in your community.

The group hosts creative, welcoming events that demystify technology. A perfect example is the charming "Code & Crumpets" Mother’s Day Tea, which pairs basic coding lessons with a social gathering. Professionals can volunteer as mentors or workshop leaders to guide these early experiences, helping to shape local talent from the ground up.

For established tech professionals, involvement provides profound fulfillment and addresses the gender gap at its root. Early exposure is critical, as noted by partners like the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, to help girls feel "empowered in this STEM space" before stereotypes take hold. This is the impactful work of tending to the garden's newest sprouts.

You can follow their activities and upcoming events on The Gurl Code, Inc. Facebook page. In the ecosystem of your career, this represents the generous act of propagation - ensuring the landscape remains fertile and diverse for those who will follow.

AnitaB.org and Grace Hopper Celebration

For professionals in a Midwest hub, sometimes the most vital resources are those that transcend geography. While not Carmel-specific, the global AnitaB.org community and its Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) remain indispensable virtual resources, acting like a expertly grafted branch that brings world-class expertise to your local growth. #GHC25 hosted nearly 15,000 attendees, offering a critical window into global trends and top-tier research.

The benefits are career-accelerating. The AnitaB.org Apprenticeship Pathway Program (APP) reports a 75% increase in mentee confidence and a significant lifetime earnings boost for participants. Engaging with this community allows Carmel-based women to benchmark against global standards and bring cutting-edge insights back to local companies like Eli Lilly or Salesforce.

How can you tap into this stream of knowledge? Start by joining the AnitaB.org community online and exploring their structured mentorship programs. Apply for scholarships to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration, which can provide crucial registration and travel support.

This resource ensures your perspective isn't limited by Indiana's borders. It's a strategic way to cultivate a global network while being rooted in Carmel's advantageous cost of living and strong employer base. Explore more about their career resources and the path to GHC on the AnitaBorg scholarships page.

TechPoint

To navigate any garden successfully, you need a good map. In Indiana's tech landscape, that map is provided by TechPoint, the state's central growth engine and ecosystem nexus. This isn't just an event host; it's the organization that catalyzes connections, highlights innovation, and supports the internal growth of tech companies across Indiana, many headquartered in the Carmel corridor.

For any tech professional in Carmel, engaging with TechPoint is non-negotiable. Attend their frequent summits and mixers in the Indianapolis area, engage with their content, and monitor their job boards. Their platform is a prime channel for discovering rising startups, corporate initiatives, and crucial networking opportunities that define the local terrain.

The value extends beyond a simple calendar. TechPoint actively champions and supports internal women’s groups at portfolio companies, recognizing them as a "unique culture and hiring differentiator" that helps attract and retain diverse talent. This advocacy ensures the ecosystem itself becomes more supportive.

Think of TechPoint as your source for understanding the soil composition and seasonal patterns of Carmel's tech garden. It provides the context you need to find your ideal place to grow. Explore the broader ecosystem and upcoming events on the TechPoint index to chart your course.

Ladies in SaaS

Every garden has its specialty crops, and in Carmel's tech ecosystem, one of the most prolific is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). From startups launched by High Alpha to established players, this sector dominates the local economy. Ladies in SaaS cultivates a dedicated plot for women within this specific, high-growth field, creating space for deep, relevant conversations about go-to-market strategies, product-led growth, and venture funding directly applicable here.

This hyper-focused community allows for a level of peer support that broader groups cannot match. In a field that moves at breakneck speed, having a forum to discuss SaaS-specific challenges with other women who understand the local Indianapolis business environment is invaluable. It provides the "additional perspectives and support" needed to advance and signals to others that there is a place for them in this sector.

Joining their gaining momentum in the Indianapolis area connects you with a network that speaks the unique language of SaaS. Whether you're navigating customer acquisition costs, refining a subscription model, or scaling a platform, this community offers the shared wisdom of fellow cultivators tending the same type of crop in the same regional soil.

For a woman building a tech career in Carmel, involvement here is like mastering the art of growing a prized heirloom tomato - it requires specific knowledge that, once shared, leads to a more abundant and specialized harvest for everyone involved.

Company-Specific ERGs

Within the larger garden of Carmel's tech scene, some of the most nurturing environments are the dedicated greenhouses: Company-Specific Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). For women employed at major local corporations like Eli Lilly & Company, Salesforce, and JPMorgan Chase, these internal communities provide a first-line, powerful resource for advocacy and growth.

These groups, such as Lilly's Women in Engineering initiatives or the Salesforce Women’s Network, offer more than just networking. They create a "built-in support system" and a "safe place" that fosters the trust and vulnerability essential for advancement in large corporate or remote environments. Engagement starts on day one, with participation in mentorship pairings, leadership programs, and events that often partner with external community organizations.

The value is direct and multifaceted. ERGs provide structured access to senior leaders, advocacy for career advancement, and a community that intimately understands your specific corporate culture. Companies also leverage these groups for impactful external outreach, as seen when JPMorgan Chase acted as presenting sponsor for the 2025 Girls Inc. TogetHER Luncheon.

For your career, this is the controlled environment where you can develop robustly before branching out. It’s the strategic advantage of having a dedicated plot within the vast corporate landscape, ensuring you receive the targeted nutrients and support needed to reach your full potential.

Women in Tech Global Network

While local roots are essential, sometimes the most revitalizing element is a breeze that carries pollen from distant fields. The Women in Tech Global Network (often branded WomenTech Network) serves as this vital connector, providing a massive, virtual-first platform that complements Carmel's in-person communities with global expertise. Based on glowing testimonials, this network excels at creating "seamless speaker navigation" and "effortless built-in networking" in a digital space.

For a Carmel-based professional managing a budget and schedule, it’s a practical way to tap into worldwide trends and inspiration without travel. The network's virtual conferences, like the Women in Tech Global Conference, aggregate a stunning diversity of perspectives. One participant noted it was the "best online event I ever attended", specifically citing the range of talks, speakers, and companies represented.

"Success isn't just about achieving your goals, it's also about having the courage to pursue them in the first place." - Anna Radulovski, CEO of WomenTech Network

You gain scalable networking and on-demand learning that fits around your life in the Midwest. Joining the free global community online gives you access to this stream of inspiration, allowing you to bring fresh ideas back to your role at a local health-tech firm or SaaS startup. It’s the consistent, cross-pollinating breeze that ensures your local growth doesn't become isolated.

Explore upcoming virtual events and their speaker directory on the Women in Tech Global Conference page. In the ecosystem of your career, this network ensures you’re nourished by the broadest possible climate of innovation.

Girls Who Code

True cultivation involves both nurturing new growth and tending to your own branches. Girls Who Code offers this dual opportunity through structured, practical programs that support the pipeline while enabling hands-on technical growth. While the international organization remains strong, its local presence is felt through library-based clubs and, most notably, its new Pathways Program, which offers year-round, project-based tracks in high-demand fields like AI and data science.

For professionals in Carmel, this is a chance to engage in the vital work of skill propagation. You can volunteer to facilitate or mentor at local clubs, such as those hosted by libraries like the Bartholomew County Public Library. Teaching foundational coding concepts to the next generation is a powerful way to solidify your own knowledge and give back to the community's talent pool.

Simultaneously, the Pathways Program represents a direct route for your own upskilling. Women looking to pivot or advance can explore its focused curricula to graft new, relevant technical skills onto their career tree. This project-based approach in AI and data science is perfectly aligned with the skills driving innovation at Carmel’s major employers and startups.

This resource embodies the gardener's practice of pruning and grafting - refining the shape of the future landscape while strengthening your own growth. Learn more about their approach to building technical fluency on the Girls Who Code Pathways page. It’s a practical, hands-on way to ensure the entire ecosystem grows stronger and more resilient.

Lean In Circles

Even the hardiest plants benefit from regular, attentive watering. Across Carmel's tech scene, especially within nimble startups and innovation-focused companies, Lean In Circles provide this consistent care through a proven framework for intimate peer mentorship. These small, trusted groups create micro-communities where women can share challenges and strategies in a confidential setting.

Getting involved often starts within your own workplace. Inquire about existing Circles at your company, or take the initiative to start one using the free online resources and frameworks provided by the Lean In organization. Many tech companies in the area, particularly in the vibrant startup ecosystem, utilize these circles to foster internal support and development.

The value lies in sustained, confidential peer support that larger networks can't provide. Participants consistently report that these circles create the "safe place" and vulnerability often missing in fast-paced tech roles. This regular check-in becomes the dedicated attention that prevents your professional growth from withering under daily pressures.

From an organizational perspective, these groups represent smart cultivation. Leadership experts note they act as a strategic culture and retention tool, helping companies attract and keep diverse talent by demonstrating tangible commitment to employee support. In your career garden, a Lean In Circle is the faithful routine of watering that ensures steady, sustained growth season after season.

Cultivating Your Career Ecosystem

Just as a master gardener cultivates a patchwork of microclimates to support a diverse harvest, your tech career in Carmel will flourish with a blended ecosystem of resources. Start with the deep roots of Women & Hi Tech for foundational support, add the broad sunlight of Indiana Women IN Tech Week for statewide visibility, and graft on global insights from AnitaB.org. Remember to nurture new shoots with The Gurl Code and ensure your own growth is sustained through the peer support of a Lean In Circle.

This intentional cultivation is how you build resilience and opportunity. Carmel's unique landscape - with its blend of corporate anchors, a growing AI and health-tech startup scene, and a lower cost of living - provides exceptionally fertile ground. The key is actively combining these native and hardy resources to create your own ideal conditions for growth.

For those looking to plant new technical skills in this fertile soil, structured learning can accelerate the process. Affordable, local upskilling options like the 25-week Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur bootcamp or the 15-week AI Essentials for Work program from Nucamp provide the practical training to thrive in Carmel's specific market, with programs priced from $2,124 and flexible payment plans.

Your career is a living system. By thoughtfully selecting and combining these communities - the soil, the sunlight, the water, and the careful pruning - you create an ecosystem where you don't just survive, but bear fruit for years to come. Carmel's tech garden is waiting for your cultivation.

Frequently Asked Questions