Women in Tech: Five Crucial Lessons from Successful Women in Technology
This post was written by Shivani York, COO of InRhythm.
This past Thursday, we hosted an amazing group of women leaders here at InRhythm HQ for a panel discussion on how they have built their careers in an industry that is still overwhelmingly dominated by men, and how to overcome that imbalance and succeed regardless. I was delighted to see a full house across the room; this topic impacts both men and women, and there is much to be learned from our collective experiences.
Statistics show that a lack of diversity in the workplace stymies innovation and company valuation across the board, making it an issue that affects everyone. The discussion throughout the panel was honest and inspiring. All five women had taken different courses and focused on different roles and sectors of our industry, but there were some great takeaways that can guide and inspire us all toward a more open, diverse, and strong workplace.
I wanted to outline five key takeaways from our discussion:
1. Take Risks
Studies suggest that men are willing to take far more risks in their career — and different steps within their professional life — compared to their female counterparts. Women across the panel agreed that one of the keys to their success was taking bold steps, even when they didn’t feel ready. It’s about taking those risks that take us out of our comfort zone, where the most learning and growth occurs. One woman on the panel summed it all up: “be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Raise your hand and go for that position; do something that pushes you out of being comfortable and really drives your career forward, even if you’re only 50% sure if it will pay off.
2. Let Passion Drive your Career (and Be Okay with Failing)
Some of the greatest lessons and best opportunities for our panelists came from failing but continuing to follow their passions. Whether it was a missed opportunity that led to something better down the road or a slip up that served as an important career lesson, failure plays an important role in career success. Multiple panelists recounted stories where it took multiple tries to get a promotion. By remaining steadfast — knowing that their passion was the driving force — they had their career-defining opportunities.
3. Be The Purple Cow
You are your best advocate, and you need to make sure you are not just working hard but also showing what you bring to the table. Resist the urge to let your qualifications and resume speak for themselves; speak up on your own behalf! Being good at your job is not enough to stand out or get ahead. By speaking about your passions and raising your hand to take on challenging projects, you can continue to put yourself in front of decision-makers as someone worth paying attention to. Our panel had entrepreneurs, CEOs, CIOs, and leaders of global diversity initiatives — the list of accomplishments in one room was incredible. What took all their careers to the next level was learning to speak up, and making themselves visible by being their own advocate.
4. You Don’t Have to Go It Alone — Get a Mentor
Ask for help! Building on the expectation of perfection is the idea that we need to figure everything out on our own. All our panelists agreed that having a mentor to help and guide them really made a difference. A mentor doesn’t necessarily need to be someone in your field but should have qualities you admire and aspire to (as well as the bandwidth to be a mentor in the first place).
A good mentor pays dividends throughout your career — both as a resource for growth and as a crucial networking contact for new opportunities. When you find a mentor that helps you with your professional goals, it’s just as important to pay it forward; share your successes and tips with a younger woman in the field and be a mentor yourself!
5. Always Keep Networking
While there have been many articles written about the impact of networking, these powerful women echoed that working hard was just the foundation — not the entirety — of getting ahead. Being able to advocate yourself and increasing your circle of influence both play key roles. Network, get yourself out there and make sure you are continuing to learn from others as you network with them.
Here at InRhythm, we’re all in on the power of diversity. We’ve seen the impact of a diverse workforce first hand and through the stories of these amazing women. Diversity takes work, and real representation is challenging, but the numbers speak for themselves. I’m inspired by the open conversation about diversity and the impact of women in tech, and I look forward to having more of these discussions in order to close the gender gap in technology — not just within fintech, but beyond.
