Tag Archive for: Women in tech

Shani Hatcher, Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors

Shani Hatcher“The best thing about my job is helping people. It is humbling that I can be there for my clients during difficult times, I don’t want them to feel alone. I, too, am an individual and a mother dealing with the pandemic, so I tell them we can get through this together,” said Shani Hatcher, a San Francisco-based financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors.

“I want my clients to make informed investment decisions and to let them know it’s okay to feel helpless or angry. This is a time to be compassionate regarding the expectations we have for ourselves.”

Hatcher loves her job and sharing her knowledge to educate others. She began her career in financial services immediately after she graduated from Duke University in 2001 and took the Series 7 exam, also known as the General Securities Representative Exam shortly afterwards. In 2005, she joined Wells Fargo Advisors as a client associate to a team of financial advisors. Shani reveals that her path to where she is today consisted of choices that gave her good work-life balance in order to raise her children as a single mother.

“Spending time with my kids was as important as financial success,” she added. “I loved my assistant job because I was well compensated and it was relatively stress-free. I had the ability to be active in my children’s lives.”

Her approach to wellbeing and family time, particularly during the current pandemic has become extremely useful.

“I think that we need to try to treat ourselves and others with compassion,” Hatcher said. “I believe, despite the pandemic, we should expect the same level of motivation and productivity to occur. That said, it’s advisable to adjust our expectations and to be open about our feelings, particularly with our kids.”

Relationships, both personal and professional dominate thematically for her, as she truly enjoys getting to know people.

“The old paradigm that a financial advisor is merely a stock picker is far from what we do. We utilize a more collaborative approach. It is about knowing your clients—really listening to them articulate their goals and fears in order to propose the right investment plan,” she added.

Hatcher also sees the value in mentorship. She believes mentoring relationships can be practical and cites her mentor as helping her to get a pay raise while inspiring her to make the leap from client associate to financial advisor. Interacting with other female financial advisors who are successful gave her the confidence she needed to leave her salaried role for a commission-based position.

Timing is Everything

Born in the San Francisco Bay area, Hatcher was selected to attend a private boarding school in Pebble Beach for high school. She then attended Duke University and started interning at Merrill Lynch during her junior year. During her first post- graduate job, she obtained the licenses needed to become a financial advisor. Due to the dot-com bubble and September 11th terrorist attack and resulting market decline, she pivoted to become an administrative assistant to a team of investment managers at RBC. That role led to another administrative role at Citibank and in 2005, she launched her career at Wells Fargo Advisors.

Hatcher knew when the time was right to take her career up a notch.
“I always looked at my career development from the perspective of whether I was content or being complacent. I trusted that it would become clear when the time was right to become a financial advisor. I knew that there was a demand for more representation of not only women but also African Americans in the industry,” she said.

When her children were a little older and she found herself not feeling challenged in her role, she knew it was the right time. This coincided with the Women’s’ March in Washington in 2016, which made her feel empowered and confident in the timing.

She added that she is a member of a multi-generational household, like many of her clients. She knew the importance of planning towards the future and understood the dueling financial goals of the Sandwich Generation, as was managing her mother’s retirement plan while still funding her own retirement and saving for children’s college education.

Changing Role of the Corporation

Hatcher believes that Wells Fargo Advisors tries to mindfully ‘walk the walk’ on diversity and that she is proud to work there.

“I’ve been lucky to have both female and African American managers,” she said. She believes that the firm is working hard to have more diversity at every level of management.

She added, “People tend to discount how corporations can impact change, yet in the past few years, we have seen how companies can stand up for important issues and support their communities through donations and partnerships with great non-profit organizations.”

On Black Lives Matter, Shani comments:

“It is an emotional issue for me as a mother of a black son. For me, it is very real–it’s not a concept or a theory. I had to have ‘the talk’ about how to interact with the police when my son started walking home across town when he was only 11-years-old.

“For me, there is a real sense of helplessness that I can’t protect my son 24/7,” she said. However, Hatcher is hopeful that change is happening and will continue to gain momentum as attention to racial inequity and social justice increase. She noted that Wells Fargo has worked to provide resources to address the issues and providing safe spaces for people to talk about their experiences and feelings about race.

She added, “I am thankful that the difficult conversations are being had. I believe that the only way progress can be made is by raising awareness and all of us uniting together in the fight against injustice.”

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Cathy Yoon, Special Counsel, Financial Markets and Funds, Katten

Cathy Yoon“Keep an open mind. Just because you start your practice one way doesn’t mean you’re wedded to that,” says Katten’s Cathy Yoon.

“When I mentor college and law students as they start their careers, they always ask how I ended up where I am today, and I tell them it’s ok if you have no idea what you want to do because you’ll figure it out.”

Finding Her Niche

As the oldest child of first generation Korean immigrants, Yoon says she faced a lot of pressure from her parents to choose a “good,” well-paying career.

But after graduating from Swarthmore College as a history major, Yoon wasn’t sure what her career path would be. A friend was a legal assistant at a large law firm, and that prompted her to consider enrolling in law school. She attended New York Law School and after passing the bar went to a law firm as an associate handling corporate transactions and working primarily with private equity firms and hedge funds.

Her early legal training paid off. After three years, Yoon was recruited by one of the largest global financial services institutions in the world and became a managing director and senior counsel handling corporate legal matters, including acquisitions, divestitures, strategic initiatives, FinTech and other minority investments and other general corporate matters. During her seven-year tenure there, the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted, designed to prevent another financial crisis by implementing various reforms impacting how banks operated. This included restrictions on large financial institutions from growing by way of acquisitions or ventures and such restrictions started to impact Yoon’s practice.

At this point, Yoon pivoted and looked into what the smaller strategy groups were doing and started to move away from working on large corporate transactions and focused on more strategic initiatives such as representing the financial institution in several enterprise blockchain consortiums, where it joined other companies in the development of blockchain technology. This experience introduced Yoon to emerging technology in the financial services space, and the more she learned about blockchain and other forms of distributed ledger technology, the more interested she became.

She reached out to her network of colleagues and friends who were dabbling in it and eventually left the financial institution and joined a blockchain advisory start-up. “Until now I had gone the safe route, with a large law firm and financial institutions, and then I jumped headfirst into start-up life,” Yoon says. She wore many different hats—in consulting, business development, strategy and marketing, as well as acting as general counsel. “You pitch in where you need to,” she says, adding that she probably learned more about the intersection of business and law during this period of time than her entire career before this point.

Last year, Yoon joined the Financial Markets and Funds practice at Katten where she focuses her practice on assisting clients with navigating the legal, regulatory and operational aspects for their FinTech offerings and products.

Practicing law has been much more exciting for Yoon as many of her clients are on the cutting edge of technology and trying to operate in a space with a great deal of legal and regulatory uncertainty. “It’s a journey we are on together and it’s gratifying when my clients can articulate the value I bring. They say things like, ‘You really get it. You’re going beyond giving legal advice and thinking about the strategy. We enjoy working with you because you don’t just tell us no, but instead you help us understand the risks using the lens of our specific business model,’” Yoon says.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Yoon seizes any chance she can to serve as a mentor. One message she always tries to impart is that networking should be a thread that weaves throughout your career. “It’s never too early to start,” she tells younger professionals. Even today when most networking is virtual, there are numerous ways to reach out, including being visible on LinkedIn by sharing updates or chiming in with your opinions and experiences.

One of the places she is able to reach younger women is through her work on the advisory council of the GlamourGals Foundation, which fosters intergenerational connections between teen leaders and seniors to alleviate the issue of elder isolation, while offering networking sessions and leadership conferences to volunteers.

Yoon is part of many diverse groups and networks where the primary goal is to make sure there is proper diverse representation on boards, at conferences and in open positions. Since emerging tech is largely a male-dominated field, she likes to lead by example in the space, which is why she focuses on mentoring. “While I’ve always had terrific mentors and sponsors, I had always hoped there would be more opportunities to meet people from diverse backgrounds,” she says. “I appreciate I can be that person for others.”

by Cathie Ericson

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Thalia Chryssikou, Partner, Goldman Sachs, Securities Division

Thalia ChryssikouAfter graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a PhD, Thalia Chryssikou, now a partner in Goldman Sachs’ Securities Division, had initially expected to pursue a career in academia.

However, she wanted to explore other opportunities, and joined Goldman Sachs in 1998 following an internship in the firm’s Risk Department.

“While I love teaching and cherish opportunities to share learnings, I realized early on that working alongside smart, capable, energetic people is what motivates me the most,” she says. “After joining the firm, I appreciated the power and energy of a smart collective – ultimately, it’s not about an individual, it’s about what we all collectively are able to achieve.”

Discussing the switch from academia to financial services, Chryssikou also notes: “I fell in love with Goldman Sachs’ goal-oriented research culture the summer before completing my PhD. I had the opportunity to engage in innovative quantitative and analytical work, as well as experience the teamwork culture ingrained in the organization.”

Continuously Reinventing Oneself

“Over time, as the firm expanded into new businesses and grew its client footprint, my ability to keep reinventing myself kept me engaged at Goldman Sachs,” notes Chryssikou.

Today, Chryssikou is the global co-head of Sales Strats & Structuring across FICC and Equities, a 250-person team spanning different regions and client segments. She says of her team’s work: “Our focus is centered around three pillars: a) providing solutions for both institutional and corporate clients, either on the investing or financing side; b) curating market and industry specific content for our clients; and c) developing client-solution digital platforms to engage on both structuring and execution services.”

Describing how she expects the business might change in the future, Chryssikou references Apple’s transformative effect on day-to-day business: “At Goldman Sachs, we’re trying to bring financial professionals into the digital world by allowing them to simplify and scale their business services utilizing our content and risk management expertise.”

Chryssikou acknowledges the anxiety that technology and automation could disrupt existing industries and replace jobs, but says she believes it is an “opportunity, not a threat.” She goes on to note: “When I began my career, providing internal analytics to clients was viewed as disruptive – however, we learned that offering analytics was a significant value-add for clients. My team continues to embody that philosophy, allowing us to serve clients more effectively and spend more time developing value-add services.”

Working to “Support, Attract and Retain” Women in Technology

Working alongside another female co-head, Chryssikou has remained focused throughout her career on ensuring greater female representation within her team.

“When I began my career, there were very few women on the trading desk, especially in leadership positions – it was a male-dominated environment,” Chryssikou says.

“When I reflect on the journey we’ve made, and the current gender breakdown on our team, I am proud of the evolution my co-head and I have overseen,” she adds. “We’ve made a real effort to support, attract and retain female hires.”

Chryssikou acknowledges the need for ongoing focus – by both Goldman Sachs and society at large – to improve female representation in technology roles.

“We all need to invest in and encourage more women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in order to deepen the pool of female talent,” she notes. “Technology is creating a level playing field where women can engage and excel.”

Have Clarity on The Mark You Want to Leave

Chryssikou recommends that others identify the mark they want to leave on their organization.

“Have clarity on the mark you want to leave and reflect upon how you want others to perceive you – do you want to be viewed as an innovator, business leader, detailed-oriented? Understanding how you are perceived by others – combined with tenacity and grit – will allow you to build on your strengths and continue to evolve in your professional career.”

Chryssikou also acknowledges the importance of actively managing your career in order to develop skills and work on projects that will help you succeed, as well as your team.

“Embracing your role with passion and commitment is important,” she says. “Diversity of thought and skillset is an imperative ingredient to a team’s long-term success, complementing the collaborative nature we seek across the firm.”

Combining Work and Family

When she’s not on the trading floor, Chryssikou is a mom to two sons – a 17-year old and a 14-year old. Reflecting upon her experience taking maternity leave, she says: “Goldman Sachs was an extremely supportive place to have children and my managers helped create an environment where I could balance my professional aspirations with our family needs.”

Outside of work, Chryssikou has continued to travel extensively with her family, collect contemporary art, and give back to her academic and cultural community.

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7 Reasons why a Career in Technology is Great For Women

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women in technology
The IT industry is made up of many sectors, with data privacy and protection being one of these.

Experts indicate that the data protection industry has grown by more than 450% in 2017 alone and is expected to increase into 2020. With the potential for the number of jobs in the area to skyrocket, it is a good opportunity for women to look for jobs in cybersecurity. It remains a male-dominated sector, much like the other sectors of IT and unfortunately, statistics suggest that women aren’t selecting computer science majors.

Here are seven reasons why opportunity is now.

1. There’s a Tremendous Worker Shortage

As organizations of all sizes become increasingly aware of how important privacy and cybersecurity are, they are looking for qualified professionals to take on responsible positions. Unfortunately, they often find a lack of candidates, even when offering excellent pay and great benefits.

Estimates suggest that more than 200,000 cybersecurity jobs were never filled in 2015. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also says that job postings in this sector are up a staggering 74 percent in the past five years. If you’re looking for a career path with good employment opportunities, then cybersecurity is the place for you.

Despite massive growth in the sector the general consensus is that the security sector job market will explode in 2020+. One of the fastest growing areas of that will be MSS (managed security solutions). These are automated solutions that look for system vulnerabilities in small businesses or corporate entities. As the education gap closes some expert expect cyber to become a mandatory insured category for most companies.

2. Incredible Mentors Are Everywhere

The women who entered the cybersecurity field in the early days are undoubted pioneers and trailblazers. Many of them are incredibly successful and willing to help young professionals who are interested in a similar career path. In fact, the industry is known for its supportive professionals who especially want to see other women succeed. This means that you can easily get the guidance and advice you need as you develop a career.

3. You Don’t Have to be a “Geek”

Are you worried that a job in cybersecurity will require you to understand endless reams of technical jargon? Maybe you feel intimidated by all of the technology that you’ll encounter. The reality is that if you can operate a computer, then you are likely capable of learning the skills that you’ll need to work in cybersecurity.

Additionally, technical skills aren’t all that you need in the industry. Professionals considering these jobs need critical thinking skills and should be adept at written and verbal communication. Certain positions may require negotiation or making presentations. Depending upon the precise position, you may find that only a small amount of your time is occupied by the “technical” stuff.

4. Diverse Perspectives Are Good for Business

Many organizations are seeking to hire female IT workers because they have realized a fundamental truth. When a variety of viewpoints and perspectives are considered, better decisions tend to be made. Employers are relying on diverse workforces more than ever before to help give them a leg up on the competition.

A varied workforce is especially helpful in cybersecurity because the profiles of hackers and cybercriminals are similarly diverse. Organizations need workers who think and reason in different ways in order to keep them ahead of potential threats.

5. The Pay and Benefits Can Be Excellent

More and more women are becoming the primary breadwinners in their households. Other women are seeking careers with better pay in two-income households so that they can provide a better life for their family. Whatever the specific reasons, one of the arguments for women entering the cybersecurity field is that the pay generally is incredibly competitive. This is especially true considering the gap between open positions and qualified workers. If you decide to go into cybersecurity, you’ll probably get an attractive raise and an enviable package of benefits.

6. It’s a Chance to Genuinely Help People

Working in cybersecurity isn’t just about looking for vulnerabilities in computer systems or trying to find new ways to foil hackers. At their core, these jobs are really about protecting the private information of thousands or even millions of individuals. When a hack or breach does occur, then the cybersecurity professional goes into a different mode, that of tracking down the bad actor. It’s a bit like a being a detective, figuring out who did the crime and how. Cybersecurity professionals have a definite opportunity to protect people from harm and to right some of the wrongs in the world.

7. It’s a Challenging Field that Constantly Evolves

Do you want to go to work and do the same old thing day after day? Some women just don’t find that appealing. For them, the fast-paced excitement and diversity of cybersecurity may be the ideal challenge.

People who already work in this field frequently talk about how much they love their jobs. They don’t always know what they’ll be doing on a day-to-day basis because unexpected events are always popping up. This keeps them on their toes and keeps their minds sharp. Moreover, technology and security are always evolving, so keeping up with education is a must in this field. If you like to constantly challenge yourself with new information, then a career in cybersecurity may be the perfect decision for you.

Employers are looking for IT professionals right now. Maybe you don’t have the specific education or experience that they are looking for at the present moment, but your abilities to work hard and learn are in your favor. A few classes may be all that you need to start yourself in the right direction toward a career in cybersecurity. With your basic skill set in place, you’ll be positioned to take on a challenging job that pays well and offers great employment security.

Author Bio: Laura Harvsey

I am a senior staff information officer and has practical experience in building community-oriented data platforms. I focus on sharing technology content with those working in innovation networks

Theglasshammer does not endorse views of guest contributors.

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Women in Technology: 4 Tips to Advance in your career in tech

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Guest contributed by Avery Phillips

Interestingly, despite the noise, the number of women in computer science jobs is actually lower than it was in 1995 — by 37 percent.

Research from Ohio University shows that organizations with greater levels of gender diversity can see sales revenue up to 1325 percent higher than those with the least amount of gender diversity. Still, the stereotypical Silicon Valley crowd remains predominantly male, despite the gains being documented on several levels.

Set Yourself Up for Success

It’s still an uphill climb, unfortunately — women are granted less than 2 percent of venture capital funding, despite accounting for 38 percent of small business ownership. Networking is incredibly valuable before you take the plunge and head to Silicon Valley. Arm yourself with great people, good ideas, and a lot of perseverance.

Here are 4 tips for setting yourself up for success:

  • Cultivate real-life positivity. According to Fortune 500, companies with three or more female executives see an incredible 66 percent increase in their return on investment. What you bring to the table is invaluable, and you shouldn’t let potential investors forget it.
  • Diversity breeds innovation, and innovation in tech means money — something an investor is happy to hear about. Build a team that you can count on and trust them. Pushing the tech sector outside of its current homogeny will benefit companies and consumers alike.
  • Embrace your strengths. Society will tell you that to be successful in tech and business, you must eschew traditionally female traits and conduct yourself as a man. Throw that idea out the window. Society sees men as the standard for business conduct because that’s what it’s always looked like. Interrupt that idea, embrace your differences, and use them to your advantage.
  • Believe in your work. Being a woman in tech is hard, and it will continue to be hard for quite some time. Change does not happen overnight, but the implicit biases that individuals bring to the table do not diminish your work. Have faith in your cause and hustle until it happens. The next generation of workers will thank you.
Taking Advantage of Current Opportunities

Advances in augmented reality, device connectivity, and remote monitoring are changing the way we look at education and personal health. Historically, these fields (sans technology) have been dominated by women, which makes a female tech-takeover more widely palatable although not a given.

Though it may unfairly gendered, investors perceive women as having more authority in these fields based on previous career trends, making investment in female-founded startups more likely in the health and education sector.

Classrooms are quickly becoming highly digital, requiring students to use laptops and tablets proficiently for many activities. Education requires applications designed to be understood by a variety of learning styles, applicable across subjects, and available at a cost reasonable to educational institutes. Unfortunately, the lack of a consumer market makes it less appealing to existing tech companies; there simply isn’t as much money to be made, despite the long-term benefits of a more educated population.

Healthcare is becoming increasingly digitized, with individual health data being collected and used to make treatment decisions from afar or to monitor patient adherence to treatment plans. While this presents an incredible advancement in the accessibility of care, it places patient data at high risk. The tech sector is charged with responding to the risk and protecting patient information — whatever that may look like.

Currently, solutions in both markets lack efficacy and practicality, creating huge opportunity for innovative thinkers to disrupt the industry. With women being more welcome in these sectors, it’s the perfect bridge to a Silicon Valley C-Suite.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views of guest contributors are not necessarily those of theglasshammer.com

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Women in Tech- Just Do It

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By Nicki Gilmour, Executive Coach and Organizational PyschologistNicki Gilmour

We know that there are barriers for women in technology, from hiring and promotional bias to pretty awful cultural issues, making the day to day environment hard going. I could go on and on about the ugly underbelly and about the fact the system is stacked but I am not going to do that because it isn’t going to help you at your desk today.  Firms must fix the systemic elements but in the meantime, and whether you like it or not women have to pioneer and keep going.
But, we can reward the good firms by going to work for them. Give your business and your talent to people who deserve it.
Get out if your firm’s culture is totally toxic. If that seems like not the right choice for you, realise nothing is perfect and that you can find ways to be the change leader or work with the change agents if you can identify them. Easier said than done and this is dependent on three things that you need to look at.
Firstly, your desire to be the person who created the change (history tells us it is rarely at no personal or emotional cost). Dig deep and see if it’s in your personality to do this work. It will involve all sorts of things including smart power, conflict and conflict resolution. I was often the hammer in the the glass hammer and I have learned that there are other ways of tackling problems and the hammer is held for special occasions only as I am all too ready to pick it up and whack a mole (what rhymes with mole?). Look at what is natural for you and then do a 180 and look at what is not naturally within your skill set and understand you will need both for change leadership.
Secondly, on the context of the situation, how change ready is the environment? There are ways to test this and a simple question to a leader will tell you as much as you need to know. A question such as, “How would you explain how we do what we do here to a new person?”  Listen to their response carefully, as it is in their digestion of the ‘how’ and  ‘by whom’ work gets done and what gets rewarded behaviorally that you will know where they are at in their own diversity journey. Ask them, what do they think their vision is for the team?
Thirdly, what systems or policies and procedures are in place to make the culture a good place to work for all humans regardless of your biological status?
There are some amazing women in technology out there – some in big firms and some in firms that they have started. Women who code just announced their winners this past week.
We have held many career events for women in technology  round navigating the terrain. Like any career planning advice,  or in fact coaching advice i can give you, you need to know what you want, understand what is consciously and unconsciously stopping you, then go for it. Be the change you want to see in the world!
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Voice of Experience: Sheridan Ash, Technology and Investments Director, PwC UK; Women in Technology Leader for PwC UK

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By Cathie Ericson

It can be intimidating to be faced with a male-dominated culture, notes PwC’s Sheridan Ash. While she has learned to be resilient, she stresses she didn’t always feel that way, struggling with worry that was disproportionate. While she has since become proactive about managing her career, she believes she could have reached her potential sooner if she’d done that earlier. “I help myself by helping others,” she says, adding that her drive comes from helping other people avoid some of the road blocks she encountered.

From Model to Tech Leader

Ash is proud of the winding road her career has taken, from school dropout to a catwalk model to her current post as technology and investments director.

Schoolwork was a challenge, as she suffered from undiagnosed dyslexia, so she left at age 15 and launched a modeling career in London, with a specialty of catwalk modeling that allowed her to travel from Milan to Paris. After having a son at a young age, she realised she needed a more stable career path and went back to school while her son was a baby to earn her degree, landing a position in the pharmaceutical business.

Although she knew she wanted to pursue additional studying, she approached it with trepidation, since schoolwork wasn’t easy given her dyslexia: Nevertheless Ash found a way to compensate and overcame the challenge to earn her MBA at Imperial College. That’s where she began looking at technology from a health perspective, working with the National Health Service and private health care providers. Winning an award for having the best dissertation gave her an excellent boost of confidence, further augmented by her work as a research assistant for some professors writing a book on technology and innovation.

“I was hooked,” she says, joining consulting firm Accenture in the health tech team and then moving to PwC first with the health team, but then ascending as she saw an opportunity to grow the business, ultimately working for the head of technology and investments across the entire firm.

Nurturing the Next Generation

Ash is particularly proud of the Women in Tech group she helped launch when she realized there was clearly a diversity issue in the technology team. Celebrating its fourth anniversary in November, it has been successful in attracting and retaining women as they address what she calls a societal problem with not enough young women choosing to pursue tech careers.

Her work with the group has also raised her own profile within the firm, in part leading to her current role where she is helping implement what she calls “massive change” within PwC. “We want to be the leading tech-enabled professional services firm, and while we already do a lot of great work in technology, I am proud to be leading the strategy work on developing our capabilities in technology innovation and how emerging technologies are converging to create new businesses utilising such advances as blockchain and drones.”

She sees the two goals intersecting, as they develop new businesses and ways of working while at the same time focusing on how to attract women into those types of jobs. One opportunity she sees is in demonstrating to women how tech has a positive impact on the world. “Women need to feel that what they do has a large impact,” she notes.

While there is considerable bias given the primarily male-dominated workplace, she says that 90 percent of the time it’s not intentional but inevitable that behaviors and cultures develop around specific types of people and what they like.

“Tackling that unconscious bias is one of the key challenges we need to overcome,” she says, and more role models is an important place to start.

On that note, she encourages women to be observant when they apply for a job about whether the company has a well-publicized and open program around diversity and gender. “Think about whether they put a female in front of you for an interview or had diversity represented at recruiting events,” she says, as that will tell you what their culture is truly like.

And women at her stage need to be actively involved in helping to develop the next generation, as more than mentors but as champions and proactive ambassadors for at least one person to help them develop and get promoted.

To that end, she has formed a group with some external partners and together they have developed a manifesto to work together as a group of companies to tackle the issue of women in technology.

Her passion for helping women has extended to small investments she has recently made to help women in developing countries become capable of running their own businesses, as part of a focus to help women in other countries become independent.

Even with her busy career and passion for supporting women, Ash takes time to travel. “Because I had my son young and didn’t get together with my partner until later in life, we have been making up for lost time over the past seven years,” she says.

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Perfection Might Be Our Biggest Enemy

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By Molly Connell

The call for a gender equal workplace is getting louder, but women are still significantly under-represented in certain fields. When it comes to STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering and Math), there is still a stereotype present that working within these fields is rather for men. As an example, currently, only 13% of practicing engineers are women in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

It is clear, that this under-representation is not because women are less capable. Countless female engineers have achieved something admirable in the past and became role models. Business Insider published an article with the “26 most powerful female engineers in 2016” listing women who are powerful and brave, like Diane Greene who is leading a new team at Google that combines all of the company’s cloud businesses or Peggy Johnson, the Executive Vice President of Business Development at Microsoft.

Bravery is a key component

“Perfection is the Enemy of Progress!” said Churchill, but the same concept has also been presented by Voltaire as well. The scientific explanation that supports this statement is called “nirvana fallacy” which is defined as “comparing a realistic solution with an idealized one, and dismissing or even discounting the realistic solution as a result of comparing to a “perfect world” or impossible standard.” (Logicallyfallacious.com)

Taking risks means having a chance to fail. But what is failure? Charly Haversat in her “Perfectionism holds us back. Here’s why” TED talk explains how perfectionism can blind us from seeing what we have accomplished. If we constantly compare our present situation to a perfect situation, dissatisfaction is bound to come. Should our children never participate in a soccer team if the chances of them becoming a professional football player is less than 1%? Can we not be proud of ourselves for being the 2nd best at something? While these questions are polarizing, perfectionists, when it comes to themselves, would answer “no!”, while this is a mistake can stand in the way of their happiness and also their success.

Girls are raised to be perfect

While the paradox caused by perfectionism can occur for anyone, in which while striving to do everything right and to be the best, one prevents itself from doing so at the same time, there is still a difference on what effects this phenomenon has on males and females.

A wave was created when Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls who Code introduced her theory in one of her speeches how girls in general are being raised in a way that is counteracting with the original intention: we forget to raise them to be brave.

A survey conducted by LinkedIn asked men and women about their childhood dream jobs and whether or not they are currently working in that position. It turns out that there is a clear split between men and women: men were far more likely to have of “one-in-a-million” type dream-jobs such as prime minister or astronaut than women. Ms. Saujani, as explained in her previously mentioned speech, thinks that women tend to choose careers they know they will be great in, because they are taught to avoid risk and failure, to be good in school and to be safe while boys are praised for their bravery.

This has an effect on us in many aspects: A Hewlett Packpard internal report that has been quoted in several articles such as in Harvard Business Review, Forbes and the Economist was shown that men apply for jobs when they meet only 60% of the requirements and women have to meet 100% to feel confident enough to apply. This results in missing out on countless opportunities only because the chance of rejection is higher.

Equality

The term “gender gap” can be interpreted in many ways. Probably the most common concepts are the wage gap and the ratio of women and men in certain jobs. It is argued that one way to resolve these issues is to help women to overcome the gender-confidence gap first. External support can help but it is advised that women should focus on eliminating their own self-consciousness to really be confident. The systemic issues in the gender gap of course are another topic and confidence is only one part of the bigger puzzle.

To illustrate the issue, here’s an infographic from TradeMachines summarizing the main reasons why the gender-gap in engineering is still present.

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Women in Tech: Climbing the Ladder

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Woman-on-a-ladder-searchingGuest Contributed by Evan Fraser

Working in the tech industry can be incredibly exciting. It is a fast-paced industry with seemingly unlimited potential. Technology also has one of the smallest income gender gaps, high work schedule flexibility and generous pay in many positions. While that draws many women down this career path it is still a male dominated industry which makes climbing the corporate ladder a challenging task. These 6 tips will help you navigate your way to the top.

1. Be Assertive.

The best way to learn in the tech field is to jump in and build things. As a woman you will often have to fight for that right. Moving up the ranks will not come naturally, you need to be assertive and make your own place within the company. Being a dominant and assertive woman in technology can be a struggle as it is often interpreted as bossy or aggressive by male colleagues. Don’t let that deter you from taking the lead. Sheryl Sandberg has had incredible success in her life and has dealt with this issue throughout her career. She addressed this issue in a interview by saying “Every woman I know, particularly the senior ones, has been called too aggressive at work. We know in gender blind studies that men are more aggressive in their offices than women. We know that. Yet we’re busy telling all the women that they’re too aggressive. That’s the issue.”

2. Don’t be intimidated.

There will always be people that know more than you. This is a good thing as it will help you learn and grow. Don’t be intimidated by those with more experience or lots of technical know-how. It’s very easy to feel out of place in a boardroom, especially within a big technology company. Never be afraid to ask questions if you have problems understanding, you will not be the only one in the room.

3. Choose your employers well.

Lots of companies in Silicone Valley are progressive and forward thinking. Many aim to create environments that encourage creativity and efficiency but there are still major differences in how these companies are run. Be sure to do your research on the companies you apply to. Your environment will be a big factor to your personal success so look for progressive and diverse leadership teams with a product that you are passionate about. This will allow your career to flourish and grow.

4. Don’t create your own glass ceiling.

The term ‘glass ceiling’ is often used in regards to outside factors creating boundaries for women in business. This is a difficult issue women have had to deal with for generations. Therefore, it is important to avoid constructing any additional, self-restricting boundaries. Sometimes the boundaries we create for ourselves are easily overlooked and often more harmful than external factors. Believe in your talents and skills. Avoid creating your own boundaries by limited thinking and be sure to set smart goals. Do not consider yourself ineligible for any role within a company, think big and make your strengths work for you.

5. Learn to negotiate.

Negotiating is a part of business. Women and men in management positions expect it when dealing with employees, clients or partners. You need to go in ready to negotiate and prepared to articulate what you want. Avoiding a negotiation will leave you with less than you deserve. Be assertive, but also listen to understand. Being able to listen to the wants and ideas of the person you are negotiating with will make them more willing to meet your needs. Be concise and reasonable in your negotiation but do not be afraid to ask.

Also, keep in mind that negotiation is a skill that needs to be learned. It will help you in many aspects of your life so make the effort to learn about the subject as much as you can. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher is a great read on the skill of negotiating.

6. Find a mentor.

This piece of advice will apply to you whether you are 20 years old starting out your career or 55 and looking to retire. Mentorship is something anybody can benefit from. People that have gone down a path you wish to follow can give you valuable advice and help nudge you in the right direction when you reach a crossroads. Finding an experienced woman in technology would be ideal as they will be able to share tips on how to deal with the struggles women face in the industry. Once you have gained experience, help out younger women by sharing your knowledge. Being a mentor can teach you as much as having a mentor.

Find a mentor in your area.

women in tech infographic

Evan Fraser is a writer and advertising expert with over 10 years of experience in Marketing. He is passionate about tech and loves traveling the world to taste international foods. When he is not writing you can catch him playing sports or listening to some 50’s Blues.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions of Guest Contributors are not necessarily those of theglasshammer

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Voice of Experience: Lisa Mitnick, Managing Director, Accenture Digital, Accenture North America

Lisa Mitnick

“A career is a journey. Things will change and you’ve got to be adaptable,” says Lisa Mitnick, Managing Director, Accenture Digital. “What you chose to do getting out of school doesn’t have to define you, but it is something that will ultimately shape you and help you grow. My advice to young women starting a career in tech is to always continue to learn – technology changes rapidly – and network like crazy to build strong relationships.”
A Career on the Forefront
 
Mitnick began her career in International Trade after receiving her undergrad in Asian Studies and Chinese from the University of Pennsylvania. After a few years, she returned to business school at Wharton, and from there, worked at what was then Coopers and Lybrand as a management consultant in the communications, media and entertainment practice for six years. Since then, she’s worked in several senior corporate development positions at Reed Elsevier, LexisNexis, Gartner and CEB.
Mitnick landed at Accenture 8 years ago into a new practice, where the mission was to incubate new businesses. Within a year of joining, she moved into Mobility which – although at the early stage of evolution – was on the verge of taking off, and held various roles, shaping initiatives, developing strategy and focusing on alliances. She later moved in to a leadership role in Digital Sales, aligned to the company’s Health and Public Service practice, and now is leading Sales specifically for North America IOT (Internet of Things).
Working on Projects That Matter
 
Describing the new opportunity, Mitnick comments,
“I’m really excited to help clients transform their businesses by leveraging improved insights, turning products into services, creating new experiences for consumers, helping improve operational efficiencies and achieving improved safety. In particular, I’m interested in how business models will shift with the advent of ‘connected everything’ and how that will transform how we engage with both customers and employees in the future.”
For Mitnick, it’s been important to work on projects that make a difference. “Over the years at Accenture I’ve been so proud of the work I’ve done on programs that I think make a really meaningful and measurable impact, whether that’s enabling a healthcare organization to improve health outcomes, a human services agency to provide citizen services or helping Federal Government clients in support of their mission across public safety and defense.”
Increasing the Number of Women in Tech
 
“Quite simply, women need to be at the table to drive innovation and be part of the revolution. We can’t afford a brain drain of women in technology.”
Noting that women represent half the population, Mitnick feels strongly about encouraging a focus on STEM education from an earlier age. Recently released research from Accenture and Girls Who Code warns of a decline in the share of women in the U.S computing workforce over the next 15 years (from 24 percent to 22 percent by 2025), but offers potential solutions to prevent this from occurring, for example, by encouraging girls to pursue a computer science education. The research says that this effort could help triple the number of women in computing, growing their share from 24 percent today to 39 percent in the same time frame.
Ensuring Women Feel Included, and Supported
 
In addition to her day job, Mitnick is an inclusion and diversity lead for Accenture Digital and is acutely aware of the challenges facing women across industries. “Bringing together a diverse group of women aligned to digital is so important for ensuring that all feel welcome, included and fulfilled.”
As the executive sponsor of Accenture’s Washington D.C. Metro Women’s Employee Resource Group (WERG), Mitnick focuses annually on two major events. The first is International Women’s Day, where the company celebrates women’s achievement and discusses the most pressing issues for women today. “I think this is one of the most inspiring, uplifting programs we run at Accenture. It really re-energizes us as working women, often trying to manage work life balance and many other challenges of daily life.”
The second is Accenture’s annual WERG golf scramble which is meant to dispel the myth of the golf course being just a place for men. Accenture women are encouraged to feel confident collaborating and networking in any environment.
In addition to professional events, Mitnick hosts informal social get-togethers like book night or painting over wine and cheese, which she says helps women network in a comfortable setting and perhaps figure out their next project or career move within Accenture.
Balancing it All
“Being a working mom is a juggling act,” says Mitnick, who acknowledges that women face certain challenges as they try to balance work with family life.
“You need to know your limits and be clear with your supervisors what you can and want to take on. But the company you work for should be there as a support system if needed.”
For example, Accenture offers its new parents the opportunity to work locally for one year following return from the birth or adoption of a child – a major initiative that helps improve the work life balance of a new mom or even a seasoned mom with lots of extracurricular activities.
Mitnick also is keen to point out that that “beyond the natural balancing act we must take on as parents, somehow when you love what you do, you can find the time you need at work and at home – and I find it increases your overall energy.
Outside of Work
 
Mitnick’s passion for technology spills outside of Accenture’s walls and into the Washington D.C. Metro region. She’s involved with the non-profit 501cTech (now merged with Tech Impact), working with them on their Technology Innovation Awards (TIA) which recognizes non-profits for technology innovation, increasingly with new digital technologies such as mobile and social, and typically on shoestring budget.  “I’ve been inspired by the work of these non-profits, and I’m working with other companies in the region to highlight their achievements through the TIA awards, helping drive up support for this critical mission-based work.”
As a hobby Mitnick loves to sing the blues and enjoys travelling for pleasure. At home she has two wonderful kids and a husband of 24 years that keep her busy with lots of activities.
By Cathie Ericson
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