Being the Only Man on the Team: Intimidating or Inspiring?
Industries have made great strides in promoting gender equality in the workplace and the term “women in tech” is quite frequently used in the tech world today. So, why do we still need to make more efforts to empower women in tech? In some cases, gender inequality remains a major issue in the corporate world. Despite abundant research conducted on the importance of diversity in the workplace and why women need to be given equal opportunities, the gender gap is still a prominent issue in many workplaces.
Diversity and inclusion are important, including in the world of product development and technology, as it enables organizations to integrate wider perspectives when brainstorming, problem-solving, and developing new products. So, it’s not only important for an organization to hire people from diverse cultural backgrounds, but to also hire both women and men in product development, tech, business, and other similar fields.
As someone who recently joined the field of product management, it is quite rare to find a room that’s filled with women. I quickly realized that the industry is still very much male-dominated. However, the scenario was quite the opposite when I joined Tokopedia. To my surprise, I was the only man in my team, which has five women teammates. I didn’t feel discouraged at all. Instead, I felt inspired by these bold, strong, confident, and independent women. Since day one, I’ve felt this indescribable feeling of positive energy while sitting in the same room with my teammates. This may not be something everyone is going to agree with unless they’ve experienced it for themselves. But I guess this brings us to the question: Why do organizations need to hire women?
As we may know already, women create value through their diversity of thought. Men and women see things differently and they both have the ability to bring unique perspectives to the table. When they are put together in the same room, problem-solving becomes equivalent to a magic trick and innovative ideas don’t stop flowing. From my personal experience, every time I am surrounded by a group of men and women working on a project together, the output is truly more creative and the entire process becomes more efficient.
In addition, women can bring a like-minded approach to product development. The product industry needs women to be able to represent women consumers and thus, influence the design of consumer products. More than a man would admit, products intended for women would be so much easier and simpler to build with women in product or tech roles, as men would certainly find it difficult to create products that are geared toward women’s needs without support. Hence, women in tech roles not only add positive value to the organization but also lead to overall better outcomes.
That’s not all! Women can be great leaders and steer the organization to success with their unique ways. Women have proven to be great communicators and are also capable of multitasking without creating any burden for themselves. If these strengths are utilized correctly, the value women can add to an organization is truly mind-boggling.
From our very own COO Melissa Siska Juminto, who was recently named one of Fortune Indonesia’s 40 Under 40 for her accomplishment as a great leader and her impactful innovations for Tokopedia, to Sanna Marin from Finland as the youngest Prime Minister in the world, we have seen women revolutionize the world with their hard work, talent, and ambitions.
In order to encourage more women to join this industry, it is highly encouraged for organizations to ensure equal roles for men and women within the work environment. If women’s roles are spread across divisions, they can inspire more women to do the same. When gender roles are equal, we will definitely see more creativity, innovation, and game-changing projects being delivered.
Being surrounded by strong female co-workers has been inspiring for me. My experience has taught me that women in the workforce are good listeners and they are always willing to give me the opportunity to learn how to best utilize my strengths.
Being a strong supporter of women’s empowerment, I certainly feel privileged to be working in an organization whose culture encompasses gender diversity and inclusivity. Women here are truly empowered and given the foundation to become great future leaders and revolutionize the world of technology.
I hope my experience gives you a glimpse of what great collaboration with every member — regardless of who they are — can do to the team’s dynamic. All in all, I feel so privileged to have received the opportunity to work with such amazing and strong women teammates. In the words of Howard Schultz, former Chairman and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company: “Success is best when it’s shared.”
