Ctrl+Alt+Lead: Women’s Journey in Tech Leadership
In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, staying ahead is vital. Participating in the ‘Women in Tech Panel’ at AWS Summit Amsterdam 2024 on April 9th, I found inspiration in the insights shared by industry leaders. Reflecting on my own journey, I’m sharing my six key insights for the first time. These learnings are especially relevant for women in technology, whether in leadership roles or aspiring to reach there. However, I don’t see why these insights wouldn’t be valuable for any woman seeking to navigate the tech industry with confidence and success. I’ll divide my insights into two parts: Empowering Self and Empowering Women in Leadership.
Empowering Self
Self-Awareness and Visualization
Reflecting on my journey, I realize that my path has always been fueled by passion for technology, yet I’ve learned that passion alone isn’t transformative. True transformation began when I delved into self-discovery and set meaningful goals for myself. Understanding my strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations was the pivotal first step towards success, despite the inevitable challenges along the way. This self-awareness granted me the courage to surmount obstacles. Believing in ourselves propels us towards success, and from there, it’s about confronting challenges head-on.
Embracing Failures and Seizing Opportunities
There were times when my sole focus was on winning and avoiding failure. Yet, upon reflection, I’ve realized that my greatest growth came from embracing failure, taking risks, and learning from mistakes. Don’t fear making mistakes; they’re opportunities for growth. And, for goodness’ sake, give yourself a break from self-criticism and guilt. [Confession this last part I am still working on ;) ]
Balancing Mental and Physical Well-being
Self-care and mental well-being are crucial for handling leadership roles. Women should make time for exercise and stress relief to stay strong and resilient. Personally, running and brisk walks have been my go-to to balance work, learning, and family. Find what works for your health and make it a priority, just like you do with your various other sometimes tons of responsibilities.
Start with ‘I’: Sparking Inclusion
As the world embraces women in leadership, it’s crucial to lead with empathy and stay humble. There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, so it’s important to remain grounded. Remember, our goal is to make a positive impact on the world, not to change who we are to fit into a certain mold. For me, in Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, Inclusion is most important and I have seen women stumble at this point. To keep myself grounded I always remind myself that Inclusion starts with I.
Empowering Women In Leadership
Mentorship vs. Sponsorship
I’ve learnt valuable insights from other women leaders regarding the distinction between mentorship and sponsorship. Mentors give advice, while sponsors advocate for women and open doors for career growth. Building sponsorship helps women progress faster and reach leadership roles. Having both is ideal, but if not, prioritize finding a sponsor over a mentor. I believe women excel as mentees because they also serve as mentors themselves. Engaging in both receiving and giving mentorship creates a reciprocal learning cycle that enriches everyone involved. Through reverse mentoring, women contribute their unique perspectives, fostering inclusivity and equity in workplaces.
Supportive Leadership and KPIs
Throughout my two-decade career, I’ve often witnessed leaders engaging in rhetoric efforts to promote women in technology and leadership roles, lacking genuine belief in the necessity for change. However, I hold great respect for my former employer, Accenture, for setting a bold example. Accenture’s commitment to achieving gender balance by aiming for equal representation of men and women by 2025 is commendable. Accenture took this pledge when most others were still contemplating a 30% representation. It’s crucial for organizations and leaders to work towards closing the gender gap.
In Summary
In sharing my journey as a woman in tech leadership, I hope to inspire and empower others on their path. If this article resonated with you, I encourage you to share your own learnings and experiences. Together, we can continue to empower women in technology and drive positive change.
