Tech Ladies Digest - Week of 4/13

ICON of the Week: Margaret Hamilton + Coding to the Moon 🚀

April 13, 2025

Hey ,

Few people can say their code helped land humans on the moon, but Margaret Hamilton can. This week in our countdown to ICON 2025, we’re celebrating Margaret Hamilton, the pioneering software engineer whose work was pivotal to NASA's Apollo missions.

In the 1960s, Hamilton led the Software Engineering Division at MIT's Instrumentation Laboratory, where she and her team developed the onboard flight software for the Apollo spacecraft . Her innovative approach to software design introduced concepts like priority scheduling and asynchronous task management, which are foundational in today's software engineering .

During the Apollo 11 mission, just minutes before landing, the lunar module's computer was overwhelmed with data, triggering multiple alarms. Thanks to Hamilton's foresight in designing a system that could prioritize critical tasks and recover from errors, the mission continued safely, allowing astronauts to land on the Moon .

Beyond her technical achievements, Hamilton is credited with coining the term "software engineering," advocating for the recognition of software development as a legitimate engineering discipline . Her leadership and innovation have inspired generations of women in STEM fields.

We’re thinking about the bold thinkers and builders shaping tech today as we move towards ICON later this year - a summit for the women rising now and those ready to lead teams, influence product, and break new ground. If that sounds like you, don’t wait—only two weeks remain to grab your early bird ticket at the best possible rate. Join us in NYC this October for two days of skill-building, real talk, and a community that will fuel your next leap forward. 🎟️🚀

đź“° IN RECENT TECH NEWS

  • U.S. Tariff Adjustments Impact Tech Industry: President Trump announced exemptions for smartphones, computers, and other electronics from steep tariffs on Chinese imports, averting potential price hikes for consumers. This decision provided relief to tech companies heavily reliant on global supply chains, such as Apple and Nintendo, which had been bracing for increased costs due to tariffs reaching up to 125%. ​

  • Colossal Biosciences Revives Dire Wolf Traits: Biotech firm Colossal Biosciences revealed three genetically modified grey wolves—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—that exhibit characteristics of the extinct dire wolf. This development marks a significant step in de-extinction efforts and showcases advancements in genetic engineering technologies.

đź“… ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

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🎟️ JOIN US AT ICON NYC 2025

We can’t wait to see everyone at ICON, the inaugural Tech Ladies Summit for emerging, female-identifying leaders in technology! 🚀

We’re committed to empowering the next generation of female tech leadership and are creating the bridge from potential to performance through strategic connections and transformative skill development at this fantastic event. Early bird tickets are limited so grab yours today!

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đź‘­ BECOME A PRO MEMBER

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đź“š LEARN A NEW SKILL

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