Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Topeka, KS in 2026

Table of Contents

• Navigating Topeka's Tech Trail for Women in 2026
• Topeka Corporate & Leadership Initiatives
• Wichita Women in Tech
• Girls Who Code
• WomenTech Network
• WeCode KC
• Washburn University & Washburn Tech Scholarships
• Leadership Greater Topeka
• AnitaB.org
• Grace Hopper Celebration
• Kansas City Women in Technology
• Your Tech Career Expedition in Topeka
• Frequently Asked Questions

Topeka Corporate & Leadership Initiatives

The most immediate trail markers for career advancement are often found within Topeka's leading institutions themselves. Internal initiatives at major employers form a critical, often overlooked, support network that blends professional development with community influence. These programs represent the well-maintained paths for building long-term, impactful careers within the Heartland's established pillars.

Accenture's Topeka operations are consistently highlighted for creating supportive environments, specifically recognized for their "Women in Leadership" programs and flexible telecommuting options. A local professional noted the company makes "big efforts to hire more women and to promote them," a sentiment reflected in its high ratings on platforms that evaluate workplaces for women. Similarly, Evergy actively hosts and sponsors major tech events focusing on diversity, such as the WeCode KC AI Tech Summit, reinforcing its role in the regional ecosystem.

For those aiming to shape Topeka's future, Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT) is an unparalleled resource. The program, run by the Greater Topeka Partnership, creates a cohort-based network spanning business, government, and non-profits. The Class of 2026 includes women in technical and strategic roles, embedding participants within the city's decision-making fabric and building deep, trusted relationships with local leaders.

Engagement typically starts internally through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) or by applying for sponsored leadership development. The value is direct: accelerated career advancement within key local industries, a strengthened professional reputation, and the chance to influence workplace and community culture from within. This is the path for those committed to growing where they are planted. Discover more about this local leadership pipeline through the announcement of the latest LGT class.

Wichita Women in Tech

While Topeka's local ecosystem is robust, sometimes the most revealing trail markers are found just beyond the immediate horizon. For women in tech, expanding your network to include the vibrant community in Wichita - an hour's drive southwest - opens doors to adjacent industries and a broader Midwest perspective. Wichita Women in Tech (ICT WIT) serves as this vital regional connector.

This group actively hosts major events that resonate with Topeka professionals, such as panels on "Women + The AI Shift" and talks focused on building inclusive tech environments. Their programming provides crucial insights into the intersection of technology, aviation, and advanced manufacturing - sectors where Wichita is a national leader. For a Topeka-based data scientist or software developer, attending an ICT WIT summit means connecting with peers at global companies like Textron and Spirit AeroSystems, diversifying your professional network across Kansas.

The value is in cross-pollination. Engaging with this community allows you to gain exposure to different tech challenges and innovative solutions applied in neighboring major industries, making you a more versatile and informed technologist. The drive from Topeka is manageable for a day-long conference, and many events offer hybrid or virtual access.

Following their social channels for event announcements is the first step. This engagement represents a strategic choice to look beyond the KC corridor, using a nearby city's thriving tech scene as a resource to enrich your own career map and discover new paths you may not have seen from home.

Girls Who Code

Building the future tech trail means planting markers for those who will follow. In Topeka, this work begins early through dedicated chapters of Girls Who Code, which demystify technology and build foundational skills for young women. This investment in the local talent pipeline ensures Topeka's tech ecosystem grows more diverse and robust from the ground up.

The Girls Who Code club at Topeka West High School provides a direct, local entry point, often facilitated by volunteer professionals from organizations like the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. Nationally, the organization has evolved its offerings to include the Pathways Program, which replaced the Self-Paced Program in 2025. This program provides high school girls across the country, including in Topeka, with flexible coursework in critical areas like AI, cybersecurity, and web development.

Getting involved is a multifaceted opportunity that benefits the entire community:

• Students can join a school club or enroll in the national Pathways Program to explore tech in a supportive, all-girls environment.
• Parents and Educators can connect young women with these resources, helping to shape their educational journey.
• Tech Professionals can volunteer as club facilitators, guest speakers, or mentors, offering real-world insight and inspiration.

The value is profound and twofold. For young women, it builds technical confidence and opens a window to viable, high-demand careers right in Kansas. For volunteers and the city, it's a direct investment in Topeka's future workforce, fostering homegrown talent that may one day lead at local employers like Stormont Vail Health or the State of Kansas. Explore the national program's structure at the Girls Who Code Pathways page to understand the curriculum shaping tomorrow's technologists.

WomenTech Network

For women in Topeka working remotely, for global companies, or simply seeking connections beyond geographic limits, the digital realm offers its own essential trail markers. The WomenTech Network serves as a premier virtual home base, ensuring that your location in the Heartland doesn't limit your access to global trends, thought leadership, or a worldwide peer network.

This platform provides a year-round community and flagship events like the Women in Tech Global Conference 2026, which operates on a virtual-first model, and specialized summits focusing on AI and key technologies. As experts like Pooja Varshneya of Lyft highlight, such platforms are crucial for gathering the "diverse perspectives" necessary for "equitable decision-making" in tech. The network also facilitates a global mentorship program where 75% of mentees report increased confidence.

Getting involved is straightforward with a free membership, offering access to community forums, curated event calendars, and job boards. The practical value for a Topeka professional is immense: attending a world-class virtual conference eliminates all travel cost and time barriers while delivering cutting-edge content. It allows you to maintain a global mindset, build connections that transcend regional borders, and stay competitive in an industry where innovation knows no location.

This resource embodies the modern trail marker - a digital waypoint that ensures you are never professionally isolated. It empowers you to participate in the global conversation from your home office in Topeka, making the world's knowledge part of your local career landscape.

WeCode KC

Just an hour east on I-70, a major trail marker for diversity and inclusion in the regional tech ecosystem shines brightly. WeCode KC is a cornerstone organization empowering Black and Brown communities in tech, and its impact significantly benefits the entire Kansas City metro area, including Topeka professionals seeking meaningful connections and inclusive practices.

The organization's influence is underscored by substantial support, including the 2025 Hunt Family Foundation Grant, which funds stipends and internships for students in high-demand fields like full-stack development and cybersecurity. Its flagship event, the WeCode KC AI Tech Summit, is a major regional draw. The 2025 summit at Evergy in Kansas City focused on AI's transformative impact across industries, bringing together employers, technologists, and students from across the region.

For women in tech from Topeka, engaging with WeCode KC offers several clear pathways and benefits:

• Attend Regional Summits: Participate in events like the AI Tech Summit to learn from diverse leaders and connect with regional employers.
• Join Mentorship Programs: Engage as a mentor or mentee in structured programs designed to uplift underrepresented talent.
• Support Scholarship Initiatives: Contribute to or benefit from funded pathways that directly strengthen the regional talent pool.

The value lies in plugging into a highly focused, impactful initiative dedicated to equitable growth. It provides Topeka technologists with perspective on building inclusive tech cultures and access to a vibrant network that views diversity as a driver of innovation. Mark your calendar through their summit announcements and consider the short drive to Kansas City a strategic investment in both your network and your understanding of the tech industry's future.

Washburn University & Washburn Tech Scholarships

One of the most powerful springboards for a tech career in Topeka is found in its local educational institutions. Washburn University and Washburn Tech offer targeted financial resources that make advanced technical education accessible and directly tether talent to Kansas's workforce, addressing both skill development and regional retention.

Washburn University provides substantial merit-based support, including scholarships up to $20,000 that do not require ACT or SAT scores, lowering barriers to entry for career-changers. For those committing to build their future within the state, the Kansas Promise Scholarship at Washburn Tech is transformative. It covers tuition and fees for over 20 high-demand career programs, including IT and cybersecurity, in exchange for a two-year post-graduation commitment to work and live in Kansas.

This creates a direct, debt-minimized pipeline into Topeka's key employers like the State of Kansas IT departments and regional health systems. The value proposition is clear: significantly reduce or eliminate education debt while securing a guaranteed pathway to a stable tech career within the community. It’s a strategic investment in your future that also invests in the future of the local economy.

Prospective students engage through the standard Washburn admissions and financial aid process, specifically indicating interest in the Kansas Promise Act. Exploring these opportunities is a critical first step in mapping an affordable educational route. Detailed information on technical program scholarships can be found at Washburn Tech's scholarship page.

Leadership Greater Topeka

For the woman who aims not just to work in Topeka but to actively shape its future, the definitive path is through Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT). This isn't a generic networking event; it's a rigorous, cohort-based program facilitated by the Greater Topeka Partnership that embeds you within the very fabric of the city's leadership across business, government, and non-profit sectors.

The program, exemplified by the Class of 2026, consistently includes women driving technical and strategic initiatives, such as Laura Burton of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center and Angel Grey of the Greater Topeka Partnership itself. Participants spend a year forging deep, trusted relationships through immersive experiences focused on Topeka's most pressing opportunities and challenges. This builds a cross-sector network that becomes a lifelong professional foundation.

The value of this trail marker is profound and multifaceted:

• Deep Local Integration: Gain an insider's understanding of Topeka's economic and social landscape.
• Credibility & Influence: The LGT alumni credential signals committed leadership to local organizations.
• Community Impact: Move from being a participant in the local tech scene to a shaper of its direction.

Getting involved requires proactive planning, as applications are typically announced in the fall for the following year's class. The process itself is a filter for those serious about long-term investment in the community. For more details on the program's composition and recent members, review the announcement for the Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2026. This is the pathway that turns professional success into lasting community legacy.

AnitaB.org

Sometimes the most specialized guidance isn't found on a local path but on a global network accessible from anywhere. AnitaB.org provides this dual-layered support system for Topeka women in tech: a worldwide backbone for mentorship paired with an active local Kansas community for in-person connection. This structure perfectly addresses the challenge of finding niche expertise in a smaller market by leveraging a vast, international pool of experience.

The core of its value is the global mentorship network, where 75% of mentees report increased confidence in their careers. Whether your niche is AI ethics in healthcare, DevOps for government IT, or product management, you can find a mentor with that specific expertise. Simultaneously, local Kansas members drive regional initiatives through organizing "Community Connect" planning sessions, ensuring the global mission has roots in the Midwest.

Engaging with this resource involves joining as a member to access the mentorship platform, local community lists, and discounts for events like the Grace Hopper Celebration. For a professional in Topeka, this means you can find a mentor at a Silicon Valley tech giant on Tuesday and attend a local Kansas meet-up on Wednesday, creating a holistic support system that bridges geographic gaps.

The value is clear: specialized, structured guidance combined with regional peer support. It ensures you are never limited by the local talent pool when seeking advice, while still being grounded in a community that understands the unique context of building a tech career in Kansas. Explore how to connect with both the global and local layers through the AnitaB.org communities and groups page.

Grace Hopper Celebration

The trail marker for a truly transformative leap in your tech career points unequivocally to the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC). As the single largest gathering of women technologists on the planet, GHC 2026 in Anaheim represents the global highway - a place where ambition is recalibrated on an international scale. For an ambitious professional in Topeka, attending is not just an event; it's a strategic career pilgrimage.

Frequently cited as the "single biggest women in tech event on the planet," GHC features the world's largest tech career expo, with thousands of recruiters from leading companies, alongside deep technical sessions on AI and emerging technologies. It is where you go to be seen, recruited, and inspired by the foremost leaders in the field, from keynote speakers to award winners honored through programs like the Abie Awards.

Accessing this global resource from Topeka is a matter of strategy. Many local employers like Evergy or the State of Kansas have diversity and professional development budgets that can be leveraged for sponsorship. Alternatively, numerous scholarships are available, or it can be a powerful personal investment. The return is unparalleled: direct access to a national job market, a profound sense of belonging in a vast community, and inspiration that fuels direction for years to come.

This experience transcends geography, connecting the Heartland to the heart of the tech industry. Begin planning your expedition by exploring the official Grace Hopper Celebration 2026 site. It is the definitive trail marker for those ready to map their career onto a global stage.

Kansas City Women in Technology

When the local trail meets a major regional highway, the journey expands. For Topeka women in tech, the most active and established connection to this broader network is Kansas City Women in Technology (KCWiT). Just an hour's drive east, this organization serves as the foremost regional trail marker, offering a reliable pipeline of learning, networking, and opportunity that feels like a natural extension of the Topeka scene.

KCWiT's consistent, high-quality programming creates multiple on-ramps for engagement. Beginner-friendly Coding & Cocktails sessions offer hands-on learning in tracks like React and CSS, while career-advancing TechTalks provide insights from industry leaders. This range ensures there's a relevant entry point whether you're new to the field or a seasoned professional seeking to deepen your expertise.

Getting involved is straightforward: join their Meetup group, attend events in Kansas City or online, and explore volunteer opportunities. The short drive from Topeka makes in-person participation feasible for day-long workshops or evening networking events, effectively bridging the geographic gap. You can browse their upcoming sessions on the dedicated TechTalks event page.

The value is immediate and multi-faceted. It provides direct skill development in a collaborative environment, access to a robust professional network across the thriving KC metro, and exposure to the region's top tech employers and startups. For a Topeka technologist, KCWiT doesn't just mitigate the challenge of isolation - it actively connects you to the dynamism of a major Midwest tech hub, allowing you to build a national-caliber career while enjoying a sustainable life in the Heartland.

Your Tech Career Expedition in Topeka

The landscape for women in tech is not a barren plain but a terrain rich with pathways, each marked by those who have traveled before. From the local footpaths of Leadership Greater Topeka to the global highway of the Grace Hopper Celebration, the resources outlined here provide more than a list - they provide a map. Their true power lies in revealing the different scales of engagement available to you.

The unique advantage of building your career from Topeka is this very ability to choose your scale. You can engage deeply with your immediate community, tap into the dynamism of the Kansas City tech ecosystem, and reach for the world stage - all while building a sustainable life supported by a lower cost of living and a central location. You are not limited to a single trail; you can navigate between them.

Your career is your own expedition. These groups and programs are the trail markers, offering direction, community, and proof of passage. But you are the cartographer. With this map in hand, you can plot a course that aligns with your personal and professional ambitions, leveraging the interconnected Heartland landscape to build an impactful and resilient tech career on your own terms.

Begin your journey by exploring how local education can serve as your foundation. For those seeking a structured, community-oriented path into this field, bootcamps like Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work offer practical, affordable skill-building right from Topeka, connecting you to the first markers on your personal map.

Frequently Asked Questions