Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Des Moines, IA in 2026

Table of Contents

• Fertile Ground for Women in AI in Des Moines
• IA Women in Tech Happy Hour
• Girls Who Code Des Moines
• AnitaB.org Global Community & Virtual Resources
• Women Lead Change Des Moines Conference
• Iowa Technology Summit
• Company-Specific ERGs
• Tech Journey's Broader Ecosystem
• WomenRising 2026 Leadership Conference
• Microsoft's Digital Careers for Women in Technology Series
• The Greater Des Moines Partnership Talent Initiatives
• Cultivating Your Plot in Des Moines
• Frequently Asked Questions

IA Women in Tech Happy Hour

The quintessential grassroots success story, the IA Women in Tech Happy Hour proves the most impactful resources are often homegrown. What began as casual meetups has blossomed into a Catalysts Honoree award-winning series that draws hundreds quarterly to venues like Landus, as recognized by the Technology Association of Iowa.

Its "no-pressure" networking philosophy directly tackles a key challenge in the Midwest: building authentic professional connections without coastal pretense. It’s the heartbeat of the local community for women at corporate anchors like Principal, Wells Fargo, and Hy-Vee Digital. The group's organic growth demonstrates the powerful demand for such spaces, filling a gap left by the closure of other national networks.

"The encouragement, motivational speaking from everyday women... You all have me convinced that I'm capable!" - Attendee, Des Moines Tech Event

Registering for free through the TAI events page, you gain more than networking; it's a direct line to the pulse of Des Moines tech. You’ll meet hiring managers, learn about unadvertised roles, and connect with founders in the StartupDSM ecosystem, effectively planting yourself in the region's most fertile professional soil.

Girls Who Code Des Moines

Building the pipeline is everything for the future of tech in Des Moines. Operated by the local nonprofit Tech Journey, the Girls Who Code Des Moines chapter is relentlessly active, directly seeding future talent for the region’s tech-driven industries like InsurTech and health tech.

The program ensures the city's future is diverse by introducing young women in grades 6-12 to coding fundamentals and career possibilities right here in Iowa. They host monthly club meetups at local venues and intensive offerings like their 2025 Summer Camp, creating multiple touchpoints for engagement throughout the year.

For professionals, this isn't just a cause - it's a powerful opportunity to give back and shape the ecosystem. You can volunteer in several concrete ways:

• As a mentor for club sessions
• As a speaker discussing your career path
• As a workshop leader sharing technical skills

This engagement provides meaningful leadership experience and connects you directly to the next generation. Major Des Moines employers like Principal Financial Group regularly sponsor these events, recognizing them as a strategic investment in building a diverse, homegrown workforce for years to come.

AnitaB.org Global Community & Virtual Resources

While not rooted in a standalone Des Moines chapter, the global reach of AnitaB.org is deeply integrated into the local corporate fabric. This organization provides essential scaffolding for women aiming beyond regional boundaries, offering rigorous benchmarks and platforms that major Des Moines employers actively utilize.

Professionals from Wells Fargo and Principal Financial Group frequently attend the flagship Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), and the organization’s "Top Companies for Women Technologists" framework is used internally to measure and improve equity and retention. Their virtual career fairs serve as a strategic conduit for local talent to connect with national and remote roles.

"You have to do the work to know who you really are so you can build a career for yourself and create the story you deserve." - Alexandria Butler, WomenTech Global Award Winner

Purchasing a membership provides access to mentorship-matching tools and data-driven insights on corporate equity. For women in Des Moines, this transforms AnitaB.org from a distant resource into a powerful lever for internal advocacy and career scaling, perfectly complementing the grassroots strength of the local community with global visibility and standards.

Women Lead Change Des Moines Conference

Positioned as a cornerstone regional event, the Women Lead Change Des Moines Conference is far more than a gathering - it's a major leadership injection for the Midwest. Scheduled for October at the Iowa Events Center, it assembles thousands of professionals across all sectors, with technology as a central pillar of discussion.

In a corporate landscape dominated by insurance and finance, this cross-sector pollination is invaluable for tech women aiming for executive roles where business acumen is as crucial as technical skill. The conference facilitates connections with C-suite leaders from Wellmark, UnityPoint Health, and other Des Moines anchors, directly addressing the need for integrated leadership that local executives prioritize.

You can secure tickets through the Women Lead Change conference site, with students encouraged to apply for sponsored scholarships. The intelligence gained here aligns with the strategic priorities noted in an annual survey of Central Iowa leaders, where collaboration is underscored as a strategic necessity. Attending allows you to cultivate the executive presence and macro-level strategy required to lead in Des Moines's unique, interconnected business ecosystem.

Iowa Technology Summit

As the state's premier technical gathering, the Iowa Technology Summit represents the deep cultivation of expertise within the Midwest. Organized by the Technology Association of Iowa each April at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, this event is where the practical application of technology for regional business challenges takes center stage.

For women in AI and machine learning, its relevance is cemented by the platform it provides: local women consistently lead critical breakout sessions on applied AI, data security, and software development. Attending means learning directly from practitioners at companies like Hy-Vee and LenderClose about solving real-world problems in insurance, healthcare, and retail. You can purchase a pass and explore session details through the official Iowa Technology Summit event page.

This summit is part of a growing conference ecosystem in Des Moines, signaling the market's maturation. It complements newer, focused events like Tech Fuse DSM, a technical conference for developers emerging in 2026. Participating moves you beyond networking into actively building a reputation as a technical expert who understands the unique soil of Central Iowa's business landscape.

Company-Specific ERGs

For many women in Des Moines tech, the most immediate and influential community exists within their employer's walls. The city's corporate anchors have developed robust, well-funded Employee Resource Groups that serve as genuine career accelerators, not merely social clubs.

At Principal Financial Group, engineering-focused WiT groups are tied to mentorship and leadership development, while the company consistently sponsors local pipeline initiatives like Girls Who Code. Wells Fargo's tech centers in Des Moines actively utilize external benchmarks from organizations like AnitaB.org to shape their internal networks and improve retention. Meanwhile, Hy-Vee Digital's internal groups provide direct access to engineering leadership and project sponsorship.

The strategic value of these ERGs is recognized locally, with West Des Moines-based firms like ITA Group being highlighted among the Best Workplaces for Women. For professionals, immediate involvement upon hiring provides a safe space to discuss challenges, gain visibility with senior leaders, and secure sponsorship for high-impact projects. If your company lacks such a group, the proven success of these local models provides a powerful blueprint for advocacy, helping cultivate the supportive environment necessary for retention and advancement within Des Moines's major economic engines.

Tech Journey's Broader Ecosystem

While Girls Who Code is its most visible initiative, Tech Journey functions as a cornerstone organization building Des Moines's tech talent pipeline from the ground up. Their broader ecosystem of programs creates vital intersections between education, corporate partners, and the emerging startup community, offering professionals multiple avenues for meaningful engagement.

For women established in their tech careers, volunteering within this broader framework positions you as a leader in the city's collective tech future. It’s a chance to directly influence the ecosystem's health and diversity, making connections with educators, nonprofit leaders, and philanthropists all invested in cultivating Des Moines's tech landscape. This aligns with the regional focus on collaboration and upskilling highlighted in the Business Record's 2026 trends.

Professionals can engage in several impactful ways beyond youth coding clubs:

• Judging student hackathons and innovation challenges
• Mentoring in adult upskilling and career transition programs
• Participating on panels that guide educational curriculum development

This involvement moves your impact beyond a single company, allowing you to help till the soil for the entire region's next harvest of tech talent and reinforcing the collaborative culture that makes Des Moines a uniquely supportive place to grow a tech career.

WomenRising 2026 Leadership Conference

Focused specifically on the next chapter for businesswomen in the region, the WomenRising 2026 Leadership Conference serves as a concentrated catalyst for personal and professional reignition. This half-day event is designed to "empower, elevate, and ignite" participants, providing the focused energy needed to navigate advancement within the Des Moines corporate structure.

In a market where women are underrepresented in leadership roles, such targeted events are essential. The conference offers high-level strategy sessions in an intimate setting, fostering deeper connections and more candid conversations than larger, cross-sector gatherings. You can find details and registration through the official WomenRising 2026 conference page.

The value lies in its specificity and tactical approach. Where broader conferences provide macro-level industry insights, WomenRising 2026 zeroes in on the personal leadership journey, equipping you with the tools and mindset to advocate for your next promotion, negotiate compensation, or successfully pivot into a tech leadership role. It’s a dedicated space to cultivate the confidence and strategy required to rise within the unique soil of Des Moines's business community, ensuring your growth is intentional and supported.

Microsoft's Digital Careers for Women in Technology Series

For women in Iowa exploring a tech pivot or entry point, Microsoft's digital "Careers for Women in Technology" series provides a structured and credible roadmap. This event series demystifies pathways into the field and connects local aspirations with global opportunities, including the growing realm of remote work that Des Moines's cost of living makes particularly advantageous.

The series is specifically noted for its activity in Iowa, featuring panels of inspirational women and outlining clear educational pathways. It’s an invaluable resource for career-changers in Des Moines - perhaps professionals in the insurance or healthcare sectors looking to transition into data analysis or AI - offering a realistic view of the journey and the in-demand skills local employers seek. Keep an eye on community blogs and channels for announcements about this pathways to technology series.

This resource carries added weight as Microsoft is consistently recognized as a top workplace for women in tech, boasting a 33% female representation in its workforce according to a 2026 industry review. For Des Moines-based learners, it represents a direct pipeline from foundational learning to potential employment with a company that values and cultivates diverse talent, providing both the blueprint and a potential destination for your career cultivation efforts.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership Talent Initiatives

As the region's central economic development organization, The Greater Des Moines Partnership operates at the macro level, shaping the very conditions in which local tech careers grow. Their strategic priorities for talent upskilling and attraction provide the essential context for any professional navigating the market.

Engaging with the Partnership - through their forums, roundtables, and strategy sessions focused on innovation - grants you a bird's-eye view of where Des Moines is investing. This intelligence is powerful for making strategic career moves, allowing you to align your personal trajectory with the city's economic trajectory. Their work underscores the collaboration Central Iowa leaders identify as a strategic necessity for growth.

This means you can identify which sectors, like InsurTech or health tech, are receiving targeted support, which technical skills are in highest demand, and which companies are in expansion mode. For women in AI, this isn't just networking; it's strategic market analysis. It allows you to plant your career in the most fertile and supported plots within Des Moines's evolving landscape, ensuring your skills meet the region's most pressing future needs.

Cultivating Your Plot in Des Moines

Choosing your resources is the first step, but the real work - and reward - lies in consistent cultivation. Plant yourself in one or two of these communities, attend events regularly, and volunteer to lead a workshop or speak on a panel. As you build your technical skills, consider structured, affordable pathways like the 25-week Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur Bootcamp or the 15-week AI Essentials for Work program from Nucamp, with tuition from $2,124 to $3,980, designed for the flexibility career-changers in Des Moines need.

In Des Moines, you have the unique advantage of building your story in a supportive, accessible market. The lower cost of living allows you to invest in upskilling, the strong corporate anchors provide stable career pathways, and the emerging startup scene offers dynamic innovation. Your harvest - a fulfilling AI career, a powerful network, and leadership stature - is waiting. Start planting your seeds in the rich soil of our community today.

Frequently Asked Questions