A Non-Traditional Journey Into Tech
How Monalisa Chati Transformed Business Smarts Into STEM Success
As a Project Manager at IBM, Monalisa often found herself speaking to stakeholders about Python, Java and SaaS in what she terms a ‘very sales-y’ manner. “I realized I had no firm understanding of what these programming languages and concepts really meant,” she recollects. “I wanted to change that.” She was interested in pursuing a career in STEM, so obtaining her Master’s degree in Management of Information Systems seemed like the perfect fit since it combined business with technology. And what better place to further her education than right in the heart of Silicon Valley, at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business.
While a deeper technical understanding strengthened Monalisa’s skill set, there were still some challenges which technology alone could not solve. When she began her internship at ServiceNow in 2013, she found that she was the only female intern in her department and realized afresh the gender imbalance in her chosen field.
“I’ve consistently found that a support network is helpful to me during challenging times,” Monalisa states. She participated in a workshop with Emily Chang, author of ‘Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley.’ Monalisa increased her community involvement by joining Anita|Bees and becoming a co-chair for their Speed Mentoring Sessions at the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (GHC).
“I was eager for the connections formed at GHC to continue flourishing after the conference closed.”
Monalisa speaks highly of the multi-national conference that brings together technology enthusiasts from across the globe to participate in three high-powered days of seminars, workshops, career fairs and networking opportunities
“I encourage every new graduate who is starting a career in STEM — even non-technical careers, such as HR or Sales — to participate in GHC. It is the one event you simply have to experience. Every event proved to be eye-opening and enlightening. At the career fair, several of my friends received multiple job offers on the same day. That never happens in your ordinary day-to-day life. GHC is a tremendous opportunity.”
Monalisa is looking forward to attending the new virtual GHC 2020 (Registration is now open!) in the fall and has already mobilized efforts as the chair of Anita|Bees to organize programs such as Speed Mentoring, Blogging and Note-Taking. As a Conference Track Committee Member, she also reviews and selects session submissions for the Career Track, which is the largest track at GHC.
Monalisa’s passion is observing and cultivating the potential for growth in others. In 2019, she created the Intern Program for Information Technology at ServiceNow.
“I wanted to provide students with a low-risk opportunity to get their feet wet with technology in the workplace. Interning is the perfect opportunity to get a feel for whether a particular career seems right for you. Students are already anxious about creating a successful transition into the workplace. Interning is a way to ease their path into a full-time technical role.”
When recalling her experience as the only female intern at ServiceNow, Monalisa also became cognizant of a need to ‘give equal importance to colleagues from other parts of the globe, thus promoting diversity and inclusion.’ She re-emphasizes the importance of having a strong network.
“I found my internship at ServiceNow through my network. When I sent out ‘cold’ applications to postings on job boards, most of them went unacknowledged. However, when I applied to positions through an internal referral, I consistently received a response. This experience demonstrated how critical it is to have a solid network and support system.”
Monalisa has the following advice for our community members looking to pursue a career in STEM:
“Continue to believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to take risks. Apply for internships, attend conferences and reach out to the people you meet. One aspect of GHC that delighted me was how approachable the panelists were. They demonstrated a willingness to engage one-on-one with members of the audience, giving generously of their time and experience. Foster the connections you forge at GHC and elsewhere. The opportunities in technology are tremendous.”
This story was written by Saranya Murthy, Wogrammer Journalism Fellow. Register today for our virtual GHC 2020 #TogetherWeBuild!
