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Nevertheless, She Persisted
4 Women Who Have Thriving Careers in Tech —
It’s common knowledge that the technical world is male-dominated. From the cultural belief that Computer Science is a "subject for boys," to the assumptions and discrimination women experience in the field, it can be challenging for women at every stage of their careers to thrive in tech. Nevertheless, many high-performing women persist and succeed as leaders despite the gender biases pitted against them. Here are excerpts from the leadership journeys of 4 such women.
TELLE WHITNEY
Former CEO and President of the Anita Borg Institute for Women & Technology
Co-Founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
Telle Whitney’s strongest role models have always been women, starting in her youth with astronaut Sally Ride. By happenstance in college, she discovered her affinity for programming, which provided the direction that has guided her from then on. In her early career as a technologist, her mentors and sponsors tended to be men. After meeting fellow CS professional Anita Borg, her profession took an unexpected turn toward becoming a mentor herself, in a big way, to the many women in tech who have been touched by their creation of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, and subsequently the Institute for Women in Technology. Telle’s success arose from her intensive pursuit, not just of science, but also of building the skills required to grow this nonprofit from a dream to a powerful and respected technology organization.
Says Telle: "Women leave the technology field at twice the rate of men, so it’s not just about getting women into the pipeline — it’s about creating cultures where women thrive, which means, compared to today, the culture of the future is going to look significantly different."
Takeaways:
• Telle stresses the need for support; women are over "over-mentored and under-sponsored." She has had many mentors and sponsors throughout her career.
• t’s important to have a mentor that matches your skill set, even if that means choosing a male over a female mentor.
• Even more important than a mentor is a sponsor who advocates for your career growth.
• elle stresses the importance of taking risks, and of failures, because that’s the way to learn.
ANNABELLE LIU
Former VP of Engineering, LinkedIn
Growing up in a small village in China, Annabelle Liu saw how the Communist Party’s effort to promote gender equality dramatically improved women’s socioeconomic status. She remembers slogans like "Women hold up half the sky" as an illustration of how women should play an equal part in the economy and the society. Her family moved to the US when she was 15, and she learned BASIC in high school. She immediately fell in love with programming. Now working at a stealth startup and previously as VP of Engineering at LinkedIn, Annabel calls herself a geek and still loved coding. Her ultimate career goal has always been to continue to push herself to be the best she can be.
Says Liu: "When all things are said and done, your fears will come to pass. Through practice, you gain skills. You have to be brave and push yourself to go on. Don’t go back to your comfort zone because of fear. The strongest force that’s holding us back is our fear of being rejected, of feeling embarrassed, of making a fool of ourselves. So what? You have to focus on the longer-term goal. I take pride in myself for being courageous and willing to take risks. Focusing on the long-term self-betterment helps me get over these negative feelings."
Takeaways:
• It’s crucial to find a company that is a right fit for you.
• Annabelle believes in the importance of feedback in learning how to develop a team that works well together.
• Her highly technical nature is an underlying factor in her success.
• Annabelle benefited from finding a mentor who fit her style.
• Annabelle urges women to manage their reputation and communicate their achievements, knowledge, and passion.
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April 1, 2022JENNIFER ANDERSON
Engineering Leadership, Uber
Does it matter if you don’t fit the mold of a stereotypical leader? Will it affect your aptitude as a leader or your chances of being promoted to a leadership position? Yes and no. Stereotypes of leaders to exist and can affect who is promoted. Thought Jennifer doesn’t’ have all the stereotypical traits of a leader – she admits that she is an introvert – her thoughtful and collaborative leadership style has made her a highly effective leader. She shatters the image of a leader we expect or envision. Formerly a VP of Research and Development at VMware, and currently the Engineering Director of the Data Team at Uber, she demonstrates that diverse leadership is possible and needed in the world of tech.
Says Anderson: "People who are aggressive and assertive are often seen as natural leaders, and they are the ones that tend to get promoted. Many women, such as myself, were not brought up that way, but it doesn’t make me any less effective as a leader. There has to be a cultural shift in our understanding of what makes a good leader. Someone who gets people to cooperate is a better leader than someone who asserts their agenda to get what they want. We need to realize there are different personality types that can all contribute in different ways to making a great company."
Takeaways:
• The early influence of her father and the gadgets he brought home helped spark Jennifer’s love of technology.
• Being a woman in STEM didn’t deter Jennifer — even when she was the only woman in her PhD program.
• Jennifer developed a successful leadership style even as an introvert with few stereotypical leadership qualities, by taking some tough feedback and using it as a blueprint for change.
• Success isn’t always defined by a title or role: Jennifer pursued what she thought was best for her, even though some would say that she took a step down mid-career.
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ALAINA PERCIVAL
CEO, Women Who Code
Alaina Percival is CEO and Board Chair for Women Who Code, a nonprofit with global reach that works to help women thrive in technology careers. She has an MBA in brand management from Georgia State University, and a master’s degree in organizational management from Institut d’Administration des Enterprises. Because she leads a tech-oriented nonprofit that supports women, Alaina has a sold knowledge base from which to share her perspective on the current status of women working in engineering in the technology sector. She has some amazing success stories to tell about the benefits to women who have immersed themselves in the activities of Women Who Code.
Says Alaina: "Women know when they are paid less than their male counterparts, and it leads to them having less career satisfaction, and to leaving the company and the industry faster. That is a huge hidden cost to companies."
Takeaways:
• Alaina wasn’t initially encouraged in math and science; she views this as a potential reason for missed opportunities in a career path in STEM.
• One of her pivotal moments was when she started thinking like a start-up and doing empowerment work.
• Alaina started making career choices that helped women learn to code, thus supporting women in the industry.
• The curriculum in secondary schools and colleges needs to be changed to encourage women to study math and science.
About the Author: Pratima Rao Gluckman is an engineering leader in Silicon Valley. She is also a co-owner of a start-up called Innovation for Youth which is a STEM education enrichment company. One of the programs within Innovation for Youth is to design and deliver educational experiences that help build young women’s confidence and abilities in STEM-related skills. She is the author of Nevertheless, She Persisted: True Stories of Women Leaders in Tech (Friesen Press, May 20, 2018) for which she interviewed 19 female executives about their encounters with bias, their influences and inspirations, and their strategies for success. For more information, please visit www.pratimagluckman.com.
This article contains excerpts from the book Nevertheless, She Persisted: True Stories of Women Leaders in Tech by Pratima Rao Gluckman.