Dear Gentle Readers,
There is something about August that I really love about, it makes you pause!
Our calendars get to breathe, Out-of-office messages increase and for a moment, there is actual space to think. Not just react. Think!
I did not take the summer holidays because my vacation happens after the summer, but I still found sometime to get away and recharge in the bustling city of Budapest.
Regardless somewhere in this quiet August, a question found me. One that felt too big to answer quickly and too important to ignore..
What are we building?
Not what title we are chasing. Not what certification is next on the list. But what are we actually building beyond ourselves. What conversations are we starting. What doors are we leaving open behind us. And what becomes possible for someone else because we chose to show up?
Last month, I talked about showing up, this month I want to push that a little further.
Because showing up is powerful. But building is intentional.
In tech, we are constantly told to adapt. Learn the new tool. Understand the AI. Build the skill. Keep pace...and yes, we should. But the main question underneath all of that is really this... what are we contributing to the future we are helping to create?
Technology is never just about code, products, or decisions on a screen. What we create leaves a mark on the world around us, and that is why our presence matters so deeply. Our questions matter. Our voices matter. Our perspectives matter.
And perhaps most of all, our willingness to stand together and build in community matters.
So as August comes to a close and we step into the final stretch of the year, I want to leave you with one heartfelt question:
What are you building that is bigger than your job title?
What are you building that is bigger than your job title?
✨ Maybe it is a business.
✨ Maybe it is a community, a body of expertise, a new chapter entirely. Maybe it is simply a version of yourself who stopped waiting for permission.
✨ Whatever it is, keep building!!
And when you get further up, look back. Someone else may be right behind you, waiting for the hand you are now in a position to extend.
Keep showing up. Keep building. Keep lifting.
The Tech Conversation
🌍 Round the world
- Cybersecurity: Major technology and financial companies issued a joint call this month for stronger preparation against AI-driven cyberattacks, warning that AI could make hacking significantly more powerful and pervasive.
🇪🇺 European Union
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On 2 August 2026, important provisions of the EU AI Act became enforceable, including rules around prohibited AI practices, transparency requirements and general-purpose AI models. The European Commission says certain AI systems will need to make clear when users are interacting with AI, while AI-generated or altered content will increasingly need to be labelled. For anyone working in technology in the DACH region, this is more than a regulatory story. It is a career story, it is our job. Whether you work in product, engineering, data, cybersecurity, marketing, legal, compliance, HR or leadership, understanding responsible AI is becoming increasingly valuable. The opportunity: don't wait until AI governance becomes someone else's job. Start learning now.
- Recently, the EU awarded a €387.8 million contract to French company Bull to develop LUMI-AI, a new AI supercomputer in Finland. The system is expected to become operational in the second half of 2027 and forms part of Europe's wider AI Factories programme.
🇩🇪🇦🇹🇨🇭 DACH Region
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Germany has been working on the national implementation of the EU AI Act, with the Bundestag moving forward with legislation to establish the framework for implementing the European regulation. The Bundesnetzagentur is expected to play a central role in market surveillance for AI systems in Germany.For professionals working in Germany, this creates an interesting moment. That intersection—technology + regulation + business + people—is going to become increasingly important.
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Diversity in tech: Several DACH-based companies have renewed their commitments to inclusive hiring and pay transparency ahead of the EU Pay Transparency Directive taking full effect in 2026- a topic close to our community’s heart. More info to come on this
Community Corner
📆 Upcoming Events - Berlin, we are coming! 🚀
Black Women in Tech DACH is preparing for Berlin 2026 this November, and the community is currently calling for speakers.
If you have a story, an idea, a lesson or expertise to share, this might be your moment to step forward.
Don't wait until you feel 100% ready. Apply to speak or nominate someone -> https://hubs.la/Q04tk2_m0
Sometimes the room needs exactly what you already know.
August Reflection:
As September arrives, take 20 minutes.
Put your phone away.
Open a blank page.
And answer these five questions:
1. What am I proud of building this year?
2. What have I been afraid to start?
3. Who has helped me get here?
4. Who can I help get there?
5. What do I want to be different by December?
Don't overthink the answers.
Write honestly.
You don't need a five-year plan.
You just need enough clarity to take the next step.
A final note and a new month Challenge
This month, build something for someone else.
Make one introduction.
Share one opportunity.
Recommend one woman.
Mentor someone.
Invite someone into your network.
Give someone credit publicly.
Or simply send a message to someone whose work inspires you.
Because we don't build stronger communities by waiting for someone else to do it.
We build them together.
With gratitude,
Chioma
Black Women in Tech DACH e.V.