Telling our Stories: A look into the power of Women in Tech at Box
March marks the start of Women’s History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. To celebrate this month, Box is dedicated to showcasing the crucial role of women in technology through various initiatives. Among these initiatives is a four-part series that focuses on the Women in Tech (WIT) Employee Resource Community (ERC) at Box.
This series highlights the inspiring work of the talented women leading this ERC and the impact they are making in shaping the future of work.
Let’s start from the beginning! What is Box’s Women in Tech (WIT) mission and key pillars that guides the work, programs, and initiatives that members participate in?
The focus of Box’s Women in Tech (WIT) ERC is to provide support to women working in technology roles at Box, particularly in Engineering and Technical Operations. However, the group is open to anyone who is interested in contributing to the group’s mission of promoting gender equality and diversity in the tech industry.
We aspire to make Box the best company for women working in technology!
The key pillars that guide the work, programs, and initiatives of Box’s Women in Tech are:
- Community building: The ERC aims to foster a sense of community and belonging among women in technology, both within Box and in the broader tech industry. This involves organizing networking events, mentorship programs, and other opportunities for women to connect and support each other.
- Career development: WIT is committed to helping women advance their careers in the tech industry by providing resources and support for skills development, leadership training, and career planning.
- Advocacy and awareness: The group works to raise awareness of the challenges faced by women in technology and advocates for policies and practices that promote gender equality and diversity in the workplace.
- Outreach and education: WIT emphasizes on inspiring and educating young women about technology careers, as well as implementing initiatives to recruit and retain women in technical positions at Box.
What events or activities is Box WIT doing throughout the year?
WIT ERC plans and hosts a diverse range of events and activities throughout the year to encourage and empower women in the tech industry.
WIT collaborates with other ERCs to promote inclusivity and unity. Each year in March, Box’s Women Network (BWN) and Women in Tech (WIT) come together to celebrate Women’s History Month. In 2022, one such noteworthy event was the Mindfulness Session conducted by Theresa Nguyen, a holistic practitioner who imparted her knowledge on “How to Cure Burnout among Women”.
Here are some of her suggested techniques (or “prescriptions” as she calls them) that anyone can integrate into their daily routine.
WIT is also dedicated to supporting women in tech conferences, including the Grace Hopper Celebrations Conference, Women Impact Tech and many more. In October 2022, WIT members represented Box at the Extraordinary Women In Tech Conference in San Francisco, CA, showcasing Box’s commitment to being an active part of the wider tech community.
Take a look at this snapshot of WIT members in action at the two-day eWIT conference.
In the past 2 years, Box has shifted to a hybrid working environment. How has the WIT efforts pivoted to help a hybrid landscape?
In response to the shift to a hybrid work environment, WIT has adapted its programs and initiatives to support the unique needs of women in tech who may be working remotely, in a hybrid model or in-office.
Since the onset of the pandemic, WIT prioritized virtual events and programming to ensure that all members can participate in networking, learning, and development opportunities - regardless of their location. This includes hosting virtual coffee chats, career panels and book clubs that are accessible to everyone.
WIT strives to be more inclusive of EMEA members by scheduling events at various times to accommodate different time zones. One such successful event was the Mother’s Day Tea Party held in collaboration with our Family at Box (FAB) group.
Furthermore, WIT also helps new hires (aka boxers) get familiar with Box’s culture through the “WIT Spotlight Series”. Members get to know each other better by watching a short video about a fellow member’s career journey, with photographs highlighting their experiences both inside as well as outside of Box.
Get a sneak-peek into one of our spotlights featuring Tamar Bercovici, the VP of Engineering and backbone of Women in Tech ERC at Box.
What are your hopes for the Women in tech in the future?
By having the support of Box’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team, I am optimistic that Women in Tech ERC will contribute to an increase in the number of women and underrepresented groups who enter and excel in leadership roles within the tech industry.
In addition, I envision WIT expanding its reach across the world to serve as a secure and empowering community for its members, enabling them to feel valued and supported as they strive to fulfill their potential. In February 2023, Box’s WIT has already made progress towards this objective by establishing Regional Leads in Poland for the Women in Tech EMEA Chapter.
In my view, a tech industry that is more diverse and inclusive will ultimately foster greater innovation, creativity, and success for all, not just within Box, but also beyond.
I would like to express my gratitude to the amazing individuals who have been a tremendous source of support throughout my WIT journey. Tamar Bercovici, for always being a strong advocate for WIT ERC and the pillar of its foundation at Box. Erin Ruvalcaba Grogan and Lucy Tran for providing constant guidance throughout the blog writing process. Riley Pirinelli, for being an exceptional partner-in-crime in leading the global co-chair responsibilities. And last but not least, thank you to the entire WIT Community at Box for showing so much love.
