How Animoto Empowers Women in Tech
It’s not news that women are underrepresented in the tech industry. When I speak to other female engineers, we exchange similar stories: Many lack role models that are women or feel like an imposter in a male-dominated industry. At Animoto, I’ve been lucky enough to have equal opportunities and a strong network of engineers, both male and female, but this hasn’t always been the case. Many companies focus on improving diversity in their hiring process, but it’s just as important to create an environment that empowers women within their roles. Here’s how Animoto does it:
Provide them with Mentors
At Animoto, we have a Women in Engineering group that meets weekly to work on side projects, have discussions, etc. Our VP of Engineering, Sandeep Chouksey, recently took the initiative to connect the group with female mentors. He used his professional network to organize breakfasts where we meet with women in leadership positions, ranging from managers to CTOs, from other companies. Every place I’ve worked at or interviewed at has had a heavily (if not entirely) male engineering management team, so it’s refreshing to have some face time with women in powerful positions. If women don’t see representations of themselves in leadership roles, it’s hard for them to imagine themselves becoming leaders. If you’re lacking mentors for your employees internally, find ways to provide them elsewhere.
Give them Mentees
This summer, Animoto teamed up with ScriptEd, a program that teaches students in under-resourced schools how to code and connects them with internships. We brought on two female interns about to go into their freshman year of college. My freshman year of college, I took a computer science class and seriously considered it for a major. In the end, I felt outnumbered and chose a different path. I ended up in the field eventually, but I wish I had a role model back then to give me insight and a push in the right direction. Animoto gave me the opportunity to do what I wish someone had done for me, and it was rewarding to see women excited about tech at such a young age. When we expose the next generation of women to opportunities in the tech field sooner, we help close the gender gap for the future.
Host Events
We recently hosted a public Women in Tech event at Animoto where we invited female engineering managers from other companies to sit on a panel and answer questions. It allowed us to have a look into their day-to-day, learn how they went from being an individual contributor to a manager, and hear them speak candidly about their experiences. We also pair up with the Flatiron School, a coding bootcamp, to host workshops for women who have recently graduated from the program. I hosted a workshop on ways to improve a site’s performance, but a shocking number of questions were surrounding gender and what it’s like to be a woman in the field. Some of them had not yet met another female developer. Their questions were similar to mine when I first started out: Will they be the only woman in the room? Will they be taken seriously? I was happy to give them advice, but it was another reminder that everyone needs a mentor. Hopefully, by hosting these events, we’re connecting people and creating a network of support.
Animoto’s efforts are not limited to providing mentors, hiring interns and hosting events. We provide bias training to our employees, have a Women in Engineering group that meets regularly, and emphasize diversity in the hiring process, among other initiatives. I give major props to Animoto for recognizing the lack of women in tech and creating an inclusive environment, and I hope we can be an example for other companies to follow suit.
On that note, Animoto is always looking for talented developers and I encourage you to check out our open roles below. If my experience is resonating with you, feel free to reach out or leave a comment!
Like Lauren said, we’re hiring! Click here to check out our open roles.
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