When people discover that I have founded two game changing tech companies and thrived in the predominantly male dominated tech world, the first thing they ask is, “What did you do differently?”
There are a few forces shaping business today, making it ideal for women to create greater impact than ever before.
Today, Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, Yahoo and Xerox have women at their helm. Women own almost a third (29%) of all businesses in the US, and women-owned businesses generate $1.3 Trillion Dollars in revenue annually. Since the beginning of time, we as women have been pregnant with ideas and creativity. As mothers, sisters, and daughters, our traditional roles at home have built-in business leadership functions.
But first, we have to accept that we are different from men; and that there are genetics at play that make us uniquely different from them. But this difference should not to be judged as better or worse – just different! These intrinsic differences are what we can leverage today into veritable business successes that impact our communities and the world at large.
It’s an exciting time to be a woman in tech and business in general. What once was a disadvantage has now become a strength. Smart businesses are recognizing that our perspectives are vital to their success. Our input and contributions are no longer considered niceties, but rather necessities.
Google Diversity Evangelist Jewel Burks recently shared that the measure of true diversity for companies such as Google is ensuring that they reflect on the inside what customers look like on the outside. This is highly insightful in understanding the diversity imperative. We cant serve our customer base well, if we can’t understand their needs. The currency for the long-term success of business is diversity.
Unfortunately, many women have yet to recognize and embrace this power. They believe that, in order to be successful in male dominated areas, they have to behave or act like men. This is counterproductive, because our unique perspective and difference from men is what is needed to create the complete picture. Our skills, thoughts, and dreams are significant because they are often new and different. When we think we need to act like men in order to be successful in business, we limit ourselves and throw the entire equation off balance. It’s like walking with two left feet.
Our significance lies in embracing our talents and raising them to a level of excellence. Small hinges swing big doors , and so it is with our contributions. They matter and can make a huge impact. I have always embraced my differences, as they are what have created so many opportunities.
In a left-brain or right-brain world, it has always been difficult for me to be “whole-brained.” This has been a struggle my entire life. People ask me, “What are you – a techie or a creative? Left brained or right brained? Artist or scientist?” The answer is both! I love technology as much as I love the creative. I am a writer at heart. Throughout my life, I’ve sought opportunities that would allow me to express both. But for a long time, a whole-brained approach was frowned upon, especially in places where people perceived it didn’t fit. Some of my engineering reports were deemed too flowery and verbose, perhaps more suited for a novel. I felt I needed to make a choice between the two, and people often demanded that I make a choice.
As technology grew and started taking over all our lives, a lot shifted. For example, marketing companies were required to become technology and media companies. They needed to understand online marketing, mobile platforms, analytics and know how to leverage new technology mediums. I found myself at the confluence of art and science. New innovations required the artist to think like the scientist, and the scientist to think like the artist. Suddenly, my kind wasn’t just wanted; we were in high demand. What had been a point of contention in the past became my calling card. I remember clearly when the shift started to occur.
At Boeing Digital Cinema, I had helped develop the technology to deliver movies digitally. One day, I was watching the movie Crush with other engineers – after we had encoded it but before the director previewed it. I took one look at the screen and noticed a very thin white film over it. When my colleagues said they couldn’t see the white film, I thought perhaps I needed to get my eyes checked and let it go. To my surprise, when the director walked in, he stopped in the middle of the theater and said, “The contrast ratio is off – the blacks are not as black as I need them to be.” referring to the pixels.
I have always enjoyed a good narrative, always paying attention to both the esoteric and the mundane. Working on digital Cinema was supremely rewarding for me because I realized then that I could see what the directors saw and understand what the engineers knew. I could work with engineers to create solutions without requiring directors to sit through hours of torture doing signal processing (a purely engineering function). I could also talk to directors in depth about the narrative to attain a beautiful balance between art and science. And I loved and enjoyed the process!
I had found my sweet spot. My whole brain was now in demand, to a point where I started my own business Next Galaxy – a technology and content solutions company have since done business with the likes of Microsoft XBOX, Coca Cola Company, Tribune News, Toyota and over 200 radio stations. I was even approached by producers of ABC’s highly popular show The Bachelor to help them in casting season seven, leveraging both Internet and traditional avenues. I thought of my whole-brain personality as not fitting in anywhere, yet it was that difference that allowed me to ultimately create the magic. Being uniquely me is what has proved to be invaluable in an unbelievable way.
It is only when we embrace our difference that we can unlock the door to the possibility of offering the world something new that doesn’t exist.
We recently had our 6th annual women in technology career event and several audience questions touched upon the issue of what it means to be a women in technology and even what to do when you fall into the “Imposter Syndrome”. There are stereotypes around how technologists are supposed to look for sure, and research shows that unconscious bias is still an issue from messaging women into the industry to promoting them all the way to the top. However, you are here, you are doing it and you can do two things. Firstly find good sponsors to give you the best of the projects and shepard you so that don’t just have have outstanding experiences but you get to fully appreciate the wins and failures without being judged for your every move. Secondly advocate for yourself fearlessly and believe in yourself because you belong here. Lastly, always know that there are good teams and companies out there so if you are not valued, go somewhere that supports your talent and growth.