What made you decide to go into IT? Was it the attraction to technology, innovation, the quick-paced environment, or perhaps customer service?

In this episode, I’ll share personal experiences and pivotal moments that transformed me during 30 years as a woman leader in IT. My challenges in IT sparked my passion for empowering other women. From navigating a male-dominated field to standing in my power, these stories are just the beginning.

Are you a woman in IT who strives to be a leader but fear is holding you back? Or perhaps you’re already a leader struggling to find your way?

Consider how the path that led me here might also hold insights to inspire your own journey. 

An IT Career is An Excellent Challenge for Women

When I started my career in IT, my primary focus was to secure a challenging position that paid well. I had outgrown the learning curve from my former positions and knew I needed something intellectually stimulating.

My first position was working as an intern doing software development while attending college classes at night. I was a single Mom with a 5-year old daughter and I was eager to provide a better life for us.

I loved developing code, mastering syntax, and solving real customer problems, which I found meaningful. After ten years as a software developer, I was ready to transition into leadership.

Women leaders in IT were few and far between.

Often I was one of the only women in the room. I yearned to make my mark and demonstrate my capabilities and working under these conditions became my norm.

I learned early on in my career that as a woman in IT, you had to be able to deliver and meet your commitments no matter what. Sometimes that meant working uncompensated late hours or weekends. This pattern of integrity served me well and paved the pathway for many of my subsequent positions.

I encountered skepticism and sarcasm from team members plenty of times who questioned my leadership simply because I was a woman.

Determination and persistence got me through those difficult times and I grew stronger resilience because of it. These traits can also become your strengths if you persevere.

The best manager I ever had was a woman with a similar career path. She believed in me and encouraged my pursuit of desired positions while understanding the challenges involved. She was authentic in her leadership style, valued and appreciated her people, and became one of my greatest role models.

Those were the early years of my career and over the next two decades, I continued to grow professionally serving in many leadership and management positions. These roles came with challenges and setbacks, as is common with most growth opportunities – has that been your experience too?

IT is a field rich with talent but still largely male-dominated, where competition can be fierce. Many women stay quiet in such environments even though they have something valuable to share.

Confidence grows and fear diminishes when you learn to speak up.

Here are 5 valuable lessons I Learned as a Woman Leader in IT:

  1. People are your most valuable asset, not technology. Without them, the work simply doesn’t get accomplished.
  2. Always treat people with kindness and dignity – you never know what personal challenges they are facing in their lives.
  3. You earn respect and credibility by consistently delivering. True value comes from implementing ideas.
  4. Find ways to lift and support the women leaders in your organization. Volunteer as a mentor or ally and offer job shadowing opportunities. Encourage application of leadership positions and provide training and other resources to guide them.
  5. Be your authentic self and lead your team in a way that feels right to you. Utilize your intuition and logic for decision-making. It’s one of our greatest super powers!

As I think back on my career in IT, I’m incredibly grateful I chose that field. It was a great fit for me.

I had incredible opportunities and accomplished amazing feats in my career all leading to my success. Managing top talent taught me invaluable lessons.

I wonder – what has your experience been as a woman leader in IT?

I still love IT, but I’m even more passionate about helping women leaders in IT become more assertive and develop allies so they can confidently deliver on their best ideas. That is why I created this podcast, Empowered Women in IT. You can also check out my website at EmpoweredWomeninIT.com for more details. 

Stay empowered and lead assertively!

TOPIC: Thrive in a Male Field