TIME Digital: Live, from the convention floor at I-World....We're chatting with Aliza Sherman, president of Cybergrrls, Inc. and the founder of Webgrrls, the worldwide support group for wired women. Ms. Sherman is the author of "Cybergrrls: A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web."

Aliza Sherman, Cybergrrl: That is Cybergrrl, Mr. Host - singular! hehe! Hi everyone!

martytobeync Everybody wants to know who is Aliza Sherman?

Aliza Sherman: Ah, who am I? Personally or professionally? Yes, I know - inquiring minds want to know. Well, I'm a writer... first and foremost, my dream all my life has been to write. Now I am president of my own company, Cybergrrl, Inc. - lots more to do than writing. I'm having an interesting ride with the business but my favorite part is writing for my website and writing books and articles. In my spare time... I have 2 chihuahuas - you can visit their website at www.cyberchewie.com

moniqua_the_chica asks: Hmmm challenges...well, what is it like working in a male dominated industry? what are the challenges you face?

Aliza Sherman: I think that this is the first industry I've worked in that I felt there was a lot of room for me. I think the doors are wide open in new media for women, and I have not encountered much resistance to Cybergrrl. Guys are really supportive of what we do. I think that women should support other women in the industry. That's why we founded Webgrrls Intl. - to have places for women to meet, to talk about new media and the Internet, and to learn new skills. It is global. There are over 100 chapters worldwide, and women gain momentum in the industry from joining. So I don't look at this as male dominated industry... I think women are going to take over, the men just don't know it yet.

moniqua_the_chica asks: How does a programming major (female) become a webgrrl member?

Aliza Sherman: To join Webgrrls, go to the Webgrrls site www.webgrrls.com, and you will see a listing of over 100 chapters around the world with email addresses and URLs - Tokyo, San Francisco, Austin, Holland, China, Italy, Canada and all across the States. There is a chapter in each state, and membership from 50 members to 2000. They meet twice a month in NYC and 1 x a month in other cities, and they offer classes.

moniqua_the_chica asks: I'm wondering how hard it is after graduating from college, getting a job is in the techno field?

Aliza Sherman: Not hard at all - so many companies are looking for qualified candidates, and you don't have to have hard core tech skills to get a job. You can translate your current skills into a new media - the beauty of new media is that you can be great in marketing and pr and get a new media job. Or be a great graphic designer , and get a new media job as well.

moniqua_the_chica asks: What is your educational background? Program of study? What technical aspects that you've learned in school do you use in the field? What did you learn in school that you didn't use in real life? Do you think you learned more in school than you needed or not enough?

Aliza Sherman: My background is very eclectic... I didn't want to go to college. I didn't graduate from college. I took whatever I felt like - fashion, business law, Shakespearean literature, Russian history, Baroque music. I am not a techy. What did I learn in school that I don't use? Baroque music Communications skills are key - writing, speaking, analyzing, communicating - that has helped me more than anything.

iWorld_Visitor asks: Can young girls interested in computers get direction from your site?

Aliza Sherman: Young girls can find a mentor through Webgrrls and they can hook up with women to lead them offer advice You can find a lot of profiles of women on the Cybergrrl site which inspires young women to find out what their opportunities are.

solaryclipse asks: Tell us more about joining cybergrrls...What are the benefits?

Aliza Sherman: The website is Cybergrrl, the cartoon is Cybergrrl, but the group is Webgrrls -- the benefits are job listings, classes in HTML, Photoshop, you can network.

Necromancer_1998 Aliza (unique name)..Can men join??

Aliza Sherman: Well, why would a guy want to join it...let me think...hmmmmmmmmmmm. It is a networking group for women - guys are really supportive of that, so I'm not sure why guys would want to join

Crimson_Prince asks: Who is cyber girl?? Are you like Lara Croft??

Aliza Sherman: Cybergrrl doesn't have boobs as big or a waist as small. But she is a superhero! Or superheroine. She fights evil - right now she is trapped in cyberspace and trying to get home.

moniqua_the_chica asks: Do you feel you are paid adequately in comparison to how much men make? Is it equal?

Aliza Sherman: Well, since I own my own company and pay myself, no I don't pay myself nearly enough... but that is the plight of a startup business - the founders get paid less than the receptionist.

TIME Digital:Tell us about your company! What does Cybergrrl Inc. do?

Aliza Sherman: Cybergrrl, Inc. is a new media entertainment company that creates original content and websites for ourselves and for our clients like Clinique, Origins, Jane Cosmetics, National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations... Girls Inc. and more, more, more. We don't want to be just Web - we also want to be TV and print and radio and everywhere

iWorld_Visitor asks: Any ideas on how to promote computers to young women in high school?

Aliza Sherman: I think something like Webgrrls in schools could be helpful. Get a chapter in a high school -- and have them hook up with a local chapter of women who own new media businesses and work in the industry and they will have instant mentors!!

Stamm444 asks: The language and structure of the web seems suitable for 18-year-old male geeks. How can it be transformed into a more civilized structure? Or do women have to adjust?

Aliza Sherman: Women are basically coming in and taking over so they are making big changes. Women don't have to conform to 18 year old geek style but neither does anyone else, so I think we just need to create our own spaces and put our own personal touch on the Web.

Liquidhair asks: How did you go from being a writer, to becoming the president of your own company?

Aliza Sherman: Very carefully... Actually, I decided to start a company with a friend, and my role was to be president -- and to wear all the hats. One of the hats was to write so we would get PR, so I ended up sparking my writing career and getting a book deal from being in this company. PLUG: Cybergrrl: A woman's guide to the WWW

TIME Digital:Did you have to get people to invest in you? Or did you scrape up the cash out of your own pocket?

Aliza Sherman: At first, the money came from a friend of mine, and he became the seed investor. Then CMP Media became our first investor, and now we are looking for a second round of financing - anyone out there interested in financing Cybergrrl, please email! aps@cgim.com

TIME Digital:Do you work with other women's sites on the Web, like www.chickclick.com, or www.breakupgirl.com?

Aliza Sherman: I love those sites!!!!! I invited Heidi Swanson from Chickclick to be on a panel with me in March 1999 - SXSW in Austin Breakupgirl is going to TV - I'm so jealous!!! But we are happy for them! Anyone out there a TV producer?

Alderaan_Princess asks: Why do we need a special guild?

Aliza Sherman: I don't think it is a special guild - it is just one more option.

welsh22 asks: I asked ,were did you come up with the idea to run such a provocktive comic?

TIME Digital:Somebody get Welsh a dictionary....

Aliza Sherman: My dream has always been to be a writer, and I love science fiction -- and I think that women can be really cool, strong, smart superheroes. I want to encourage more women and girls to get online and use technology. I think that the rest of it comes from my daydreams and nightmares, and a little homage now and then to my fave movies: Bladerunner, Logan's Run, Highlander.

TIME Digital:Woo! Logan's Run.....

moniqua_the_chica asks: So how is business doing?

Aliza Sherman: Business is great! Busy busy busy. Did I say, busy? We have 15 people working in our office, and we are having a great time building something cool and amazing that we can believe in... mission driven!

Necromancer_1998 asks: Do women on the web feel that isolated??

Aliza Sherman: I don't think women in particular feel isolated. I think the Internet is a great connector - that connects people to other people - it helps you feel less isolated.

Stamm444 asks: So, what at IWorld impresses you? Any new technology to make cyberspace more accessible for non-geek chicks?

Aliza Sherman: I haven't had time to look! Remember, I am running a business so I'm busy busy busy. But I'm about to run off right this minute to check a few things out... I love seeing women at the booths who aren't models wearing mini skits - women who own their own businesses! Tune into www.cybergrrl.com for Cybergrrl Sez, my weekly column - I'll give an Internet World Review!

moniqua_the_chica asks: Are you happy with your accomplishments? Where do you picture yourself 5 years from now?

Aliza Sherman: I don't think I could be so driven if I was totally happy - I guess. I'm always looking for what more I can do. In 5 years, I would love to have a totally virtual business, and no one will know that I'm running things from a cabin in the mountains with my Chihuahuas www.cyberchewie.com - shameless plug for my Chihuahua's site!!

TIME Digital:That was fabulous fabulous! Thanks so much for coming out today -- and thanks to all you in the audience for the great questions.

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