Diverse teams are more creative, innovative, and productive. In STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—women have so much to contribute, yet we remain underrepresented. It’s time to change that. 

What is Pink programming and why does it exist

Pink Programming is Sweden’s largest community for women and non-binary people in tech. Mainly volunteer-driven, this inspiring organization has the mission to create a gender-equal tech industry. Almost two years ago, when I was still living in Uppsala, I saw a post about Pink Programming on LinkedIn. I immediately thought: “I want to be part of this community!”.

With a small but mighty team of three employees, over 200 members, and 80+ active volunteers, Pink Programming is powered by people who are passionate about coding and equality. At its heart, Pink is a vibrant, welcoming community that provides space, skills, and support for women and non-binary individuals to explore and grow in tech. 

One of Pink’s most impactful initiatives is its events: hands-on coding and networking sessions designed to support everyone from complete beginners to seasoned developers. These events take place regularly in Malmö, Gothenburg, and Stockholm — bringing together tech enthusiasts, mentors, and newcomers in a fun and inclusive environment.

Pink Programming is structured into several teams, each responsible for different aspects of the organization. While the Events Team focuses on organizing external events such as after-work gatherings and Sunday coding sessions, the Social Team — the team I’m part of — is dedicated to creating opportunities for the community to come together, including both volunteers and members. Each year, the Social Team organizes retreats, as well as summer and winter parties.

Pink also hosts immersive summer and winter camps focused on in-demand topics like Robotics and AI. These camps combine tech workshops with outdoor adventures, creating unforgettable experiences. Beyond events, Pink Programming partners with the tech industry to offer sponsorship opportunities, collaborate on events, and deliver Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) trainings, helping companies build more inclusive workplaces from within.

My journey in Pink Programming

As a Latin American woman with a background in biology and over 10 years of experience as a researcher in life sciences, I belong to several underrepresented groups in STEM. When I was living in Uppsala, I found myself craving something more — a sense of purpose beyond my work, and a community I could truly connect with. That’s when I came across a volunteer recruitment post from Pink Programming. They were looking for volunteers for several roles, and the Social Team Leader position caught my eye. 

The role didn’t require deep programming skills, which was a relief, since while I’ve dabbled a bit with R and HTML, I’m far from a developer. Instead, they needed someone to take the lead on planning internal events, coordinating a team, managing activities, and overseeing budgets. It all aligned with my new position as a Project Coordinator. Excited, I put together my application and hit “send.” To my surprise, the Head of Communication reached out for an interview, and soon after, I joined the team.

Since then, I’ve become part of an incredible community of enthusiastic and inspiring women and non-binary people in tech. I now co-lead the internal events team with Madalina, a talented young developer based in Gothenburg. Together, we coordinate a group of 11 amazing volunteers across three cities.

I’ve had the joy of coordinating several summer and winter parties for Pink Programming, but one of the highlights so far has been leading my first Pink Getaway last September — our annual weekend retreat to celebrate and thank our incredible volunteers for their dedication. The 2024 Getaway brought together members from over 15 nationalities at Möllebacken, in the beautiful Skåne countryside. Our team planned a cozy and joyful two-day program filled with arts and crafts, beach hangouts, delicious meals we cooked together, and a movie night under the stars. We also hosted a powerful workshop on building inclusive workplaces, sparking deep conversations and “aha” moments.

What I’ve gained from volunteering

Over the past year with Pink Programming, I’ve learned and grown in more ways than I expected. Volunteering here has been a space not only for personal development but also for professional growth. I’ve gained confidence, leadership skills, and new tools that I now use in my work as a project coordinator.

Last fall, I was asked to lead recruitment for the upcoming season, reviewing applications and interviewing potential new volunteers. My first thought was: Me? Already? I still felt so new and inexperienced! But I decided to take the challenge, nerves and all. I scheduled interviews with eight candidates. During the first one, I was more nervous than the interviewee, but by the end, I enjoyed it a lot. Talking to these young women, all eager to join the community, share their time, and contribute to a more inclusive tech world, was incredibly energizing.

Pink is an organization that truly walks the talk — it’s transparent, well-structured, and smoothly run. Being part of it has shown me how an inclusive and value-driven team can make a big impact while keeping things fun and energizing.

The most rewarding part? Seeing other “Pinkers” enjoy the events we organize — connecting, laughing, and learning — is a beautiful reminder of why we do this work.

And even more so, my team. Watching volunteers collaborate, grow into their roles, and step up with creativity and care has been incredibly fulfilling. It’s inspiring to be part of a group that genuinely supports each other while building something meaningful together. A great example of this was Pink Programming’s annual meeting, which was fully digital this year. To make it more engaging, our team organized local gatherings in Malmö, Gothenburg, and Stockholm so members could attend the event in person. It was a warm and creative way to blend digital connection with real-life community.

This year, thanks to our passionate and proactive team, we’ve also launched co-working sessions in all three cities. Working or studying from home can get a little lonely, and we aim to get things done together with these sessions!

Would you like to join us?

This November, Pink Programming turns 10, and we’re celebrating in a big way! The Pink Programming Festival will bring together our amazing community for a day full of inspiration, connection, and joy. Stay tuned for a dedicated post all about it.

If you’re feeling inspired, recruitment for new volunteers is now open (till 29th April)! But volunteering isn’t the only way to be part of Pink Programming — you can also attend our events, sign up for the newsletter, join our Facebook community, or follow us on social media. Interested? Read more here.