If you had asked me 20 years ago what I thought I’d be doing for a career, I wouldn’t have said working in tech. At the time, women only made up 9% of the tech workforce, a statistic that has marginally progressed to 35% today.
I was enthralled with the opportunity the tech industry presented to solve problems by thinking outside the box and collaborating with others. It offered a fast-paced environment to try new things, learn from mistakes, and solve pressing issues. I was hooked. However, this career path (especially early on) didn’t come without its challenges.
I’ve learned five important lessons over the past two decades that helped me build my career with confidence, lead other women to find their place in the tech industry, and encourage leaders — of any gender — to create more inclusive workplaces.
1. Focus on people first and technology second
Technology is constantly evolving. Take AI, for example. In just a few decades, it’s gone from a niche application for early computers to a mainstay in everything from consumer technology to retail to mission-critical industries. So, while getting ahead of the latest trend is important, there’s no guarantee of how long that momentum will last.
What will last is a team of great people rallied around a common goal. That’s where women can thrive. We are team builders. We bring people in and nurture them in whatever way that looks for us individually. We can see beyond the task to the person and create an environment where creativity and collaboration bloom. This people-first mindset can lead to higher productivity, lower absenteeism, and a comfortable space for teams to try new ideas. In the end, it also benefits customers and the bottom line because it allows people to look for “the question behind the question,” and get to the root issue a customer needs solved to present a path forward.
2. Look for opportunities to not be the smartest person in the room
It may sound counterintuitive, but the best leaders make sure they aren’t the smartest person in the room. It’s easy to surround yourself with people who agree with you, have the same experience as you, or look at problems in a similar way to you.
However, this doesn’t always encourage healthy discord or diversity of ideas. If a customer has a problem and everyone is thinking about how to use solution A to fix it, there could be a solution B that’s a better fit, but no one is at the table to raise that idea.
As an emerging leader in tech, my best learnings came when I surrounded myself with people from different backgrounds, experiences, titles, and skill sets. It helped me think through a challenge from every perspective. It also helped me build relationships and solidify my leadership style. It taught me to be okay with saying, “I don’t know” or, “Tell me more about that idea,” which, in turn, gave those I worked with the opportunity to do the same.
3. Embrace change and flex your adaptability muscles
One of the best ways women can lead in tech is by guiding others through change. I like to think of women as “change warriors.” We’re built to adapt. We wear many hats. And we’re always adjusting to whatever life throws at us. That’s no different in the workplace. A customer may be satisfied one day and in crisis the next. A team may collaborate well but must learn a new work style after team changes. There’s an endless possibility of change in tech.
And that’s where women can flex their “adaptability muscles” and guide teams in addressing these challenges with the appropriate amount of speed and collaboration. We can step back and see the bigger picture while homing in on the finer details to build a plan. We approach change with empathy, which allows us to see many paths forward and work with others to determine an approach that benefits the business, people, and customers.
4. Celebrate your accomplishments
We are often conditioned to give credit to others without recognizing our achievements. We say, “The team did a great job pushing out the new product in record time,” or “It was a team effort.” And while it often is, it’s also important to recognize the specific ways you contributed to the team’s success.
And this is a particular struggle for women. For example, it's not uncommon for women to not apply for a job unless they believe they meet 100% of the job requirements. A lot of that thinking comes down to not knowing your accomplishments. A job may ask for someone with “project management skills,” and if a woman doesn’t have a specific certificate, training, proficiency, or official title, she may not apply even though she’s been leading teams for years.
Pointing out your successes can be challenging. I found it helpful to start by recognizing specific successes in other women and creating a safe space for them to do the same for me. It not only encouraged those around me but gave me the skills to identify and celebrate my work.
5. Prioritize diversity and advocacy
Reaching gender equality in tech will take time, but we can all do our part today to get one step closer to an industry where everyone can thrive. For people in leadership and hiring positions, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that if you can’t hire for diversity, hire for advocacy.
Early in my career, I was one of a few female leaders at an organization, which had its challenges. But one interaction truly left a mark on me. A new male vice president at the company said, “I want you to know that no matter what, I will believe you first.” His recognition of my value in the company and trust in my work and place on the team was incredibly validating. It gave me the confidence to keep pushing in my role and be an example and mentor to other women in the industry who may not have had a male coworker who supported them in this way.
It’s my dream for the tech industry to become the place where anyone can step in and see themselves represented in every area of the company — from C-suite to intern. Where diverse teams create space for creative innovation and empathetic and adaptable leadership. Women in tech — don’t lose sight of that dream.
Together, with other advocates in our industry, we can continue to build off what we’ve already accomplished to make that dream a reality.
