I was pumped I had just started my first job in tech helping women learn to code
job in tech helping women learn to code
job in tech helping women learn to code to get high-paying jobs I was in one of
to get high-paying jobs I was in one of
to get high-paying jobs I was in one of my first conversations and we were
my first conversations and we were
my first conversations and we were talking about a class launch and trying
talking about a class launch and trying
talking about a class launch and trying to figure out the best ways to teach
to figure out the best ways to teach
to figure out the best ways to teach starting coding concepts and I was
starting coding concepts and I was
starting coding concepts and I was really excited because I thought this is
really excited because I thought this is
really excited because I thought this is the perfect marriage between my skills I
the perfect marriage between my skills I
the perfect marriage between my skills I really have something to offer here I
really have something to offer here I
really have something to offer here I had struggled my way through this course
had struggled my way through this course
had struggled my way through this course most of it I was a former educator and I
most of it I was a former educator and I
most of it I was a former educator and I was new to tech so let’s go so the
was new to tech so let’s go so the
was new to tech so let’s go so the conversation continues and it gets stuck
conversation continues and it gets stuck
conversation continues and it gets stuck at this point we’re trying to figure out
at this point we’re trying to figure out
at this point we’re trying to figure out should we keep a certain problem set in
should we keep a certain problem set in
should we keep a certain problem set in the class or not and I was I felt really
the class or not and I was I felt really
the class or not and I was I felt really strong about keeping it and so I thought
strong about keeping it and so I thought
strong about keeping it and so I thought here’s my moment I’m gonna let them know
here’s my moment I’m gonna let them know
here’s my moment I’m gonna let them know that I you know I’ve added value to this
that I you know I’ve added value to this
that I you know I’ve added value to this team so I said you know I think we
team so I said you know I think we
team so I said you know I think we should keep this problem set it really
should keep this problem set it really
should keep this problem set it really helped me understand foundational coding
helped me understand foundational coding
helped me understand foundational coding concepts yeah they’re gonna be so
concepts yeah they’re gonna be so
concepts yeah they’re gonna be so excited that I’m on their team Chris
excited that I’m on their team Chris
excited that I’m on their team Chris Christmas here it’s awesome I look
Christmas here it’s awesome I look
Christmas here it’s awesome I look around the room and everyone is silent
around the room and everyone is silent
around the room and everyone is silent no one says anything okay moments later
no one says anything okay moments later
no one says anything okay moments later a dude basically says the exact same
a dude basically says the exact same
a dude basically says the exact same thing I said and he gets a standing
thing I said and he gets a standing
thing I said and he gets a standing ovation dude that’s a great idea I’m
ovation dude that’s a great idea I’m
ovation dude that’s a great idea I’m like so we continue talking and this
like so we continue talking and this
like so we continue talking and this dynamic continues I raise a point it
dynamic continues I raise a point it
dynamic continues I raise a point it gets shot down I raise another point
gets shot down I raise another point
gets shot down I raise another point it’s ignored and after a while I shut
it’s ignored and after a while I shut
it’s ignored and after a while I shut down
down
down I was drew from the conversation
I was drew from the conversation
I was drew from the conversation entirely and I said forget it you see as
entirely and I said forget it you see as
entirely and I said forget it you see as a woman and especially a woman of color
a woman and especially a woman of color
a woman and especially a woman of color and in my case a black woman society
and in my case a black woman society
and in my case a black woman society teaches you to keep your head down don’t
teaches you to keep your head down don’t
teaches you to keep your head down don’t take up too much sake space sorry don’t
take up too much sake space sorry don’t
take up too much sake space sorry don’t ruffle any feathers don’t piss anyone
ruffle any feathers don’t piss anyone
ruffle any feathers don’t piss anyone off just do the work and it will get
off just do the work and it will get
off just do the work and it will get noticed and may you see messages like
noticed and may you see messages like
noticed and may you see messages like work hard and silence let your success
work hard and silence let your success
work hard and silence let your success fear noise
fear noise
fear noise I saw this as I was scrolling through my
I saw this as I was scrolling through my
I saw this as I was scrolling through my Instagram feed mindlessly on a women and
Instagram feed mindlessly on a women and
Instagram feed mindlessly on a women and tech advocacy page and my first thought
tech advocacy page and my first thought
tech advocacy page and my first thought was no no that is not how this works
was no no that is not how this works
was no no that is not how this works that is not how any of this works what
that is not how any of this works what
that is not how any of this works what CEO top contributor leader of an
CEO top contributor leader of an
CEO top contributor leader of an organization just toils and silence and
organization just toils and silence and
organization just toils and silence and hopes somebody notices none you don’t
hopes somebody notices none you don’t
hopes somebody notices none you don’t know any you know you enter the text on
know any you know you enter the text on
know any you know you enter the text on your toe work hard putting your time
your toe work hard putting your time
your toe work hard putting your time earn your stripes focus have discipline
earn your stripes focus have discipline
earn your stripes focus have discipline get an internship learn new things build
get an internship learn new things build
get an internship learn new things build side projects take on more at work make
side projects take on more at work make
side projects take on more at work make open source contributions teach others
open source contributions teach others
open source contributions teach others you hear and then you hear this this
you hear and then you hear this this
you hear and then you hear this this word meritocracy Tech is a meritocracy
word meritocracy Tech is a meritocracy
word meritocracy Tech is a meritocracy it’s a system in which the talented
it’s a system in which the talented
it’s a system in which the talented advanced based on their achievement it’s
advanced based on their achievement it’s
advanced based on their achievement it’s all about what you can do so I go all
all about what you can do so I go all
all about what you can do so I go all right I’m gonna hustle women say we’re
right I’m gonna hustle women say we’re
right I’m gonna hustle women say we’re gonna have some real learn all this
gonna have some real learn all this
gonna have some real learn all this stuff learn all the code and then you
stuff learn all the code and then you
stuff learn all the code and then you asked me where are the women
asked me where are the women
asked me where are the women where are the women attack why is it
where are the women attack why is it
where are the women attack why is it that 41% of women leave the tech field
that 41% of women leave the tech field
that 41% of women leave the tech field in their 10th year as opposed to just
in their 10th year as opposed to just
in their 10th year as opposed to just 17% of men in my opinion it’s because of
17% of men in my opinion it’s because of
17% of men in my opinion it’s because of messages like this keep your head down
messages like this keep your head down
messages like this keep your head down do all the work stay signed I’ll say
do all the work stay signed I’ll say
do all the work stay signed I’ll say nothing and then when you realize that
nothing and then when you realize that
nothing and then when you realize that is not the approach it’s not the path to
is not the approach it’s not the path to
is not the approach it’s not the path to success it’s too late you’re burned out
success it’s too late you’re burned out
success it’s too late you’re burned out you’ve been disrespected drags looked
you’ve been disrespected drags looked
you’ve been disrespected drags looked over for far too long
so in my experience what I have found is
so in my experience what I have found is that the only way you can advance in
that the only way you can advance in
that the only way you can advance in your career in any career is to have
your career in any career is to have
your career in any career is to have someone in a position of influence or
someone in a position of influence or
someone in a position of influence or power acknowledge advocate for and
power acknowledge advocate for and
power acknowledge advocate for and advance your ideas the mark of a true
advance your ideas the mark of a true
advance your ideas the mark of a true leader is not someone that has the best
leader is not someone that has the best
leader is not someone that has the best hair the best dress has the best ideas
hair the best dress has the best ideas
hair the best dress has the best ideas knows how to do all the things the most
knows how to do all the things the most
knows how to do all the things the most charismatic it is someone who can look
charismatic it is someone who can look
charismatic it is someone who can look at and acknowledge the source of good
at and acknowledge the source of good
at and acknowledge the source of good ideas it’s someone that can look outside
ideas it’s someone that can look outside
ideas it’s someone that can look outside of their constructs of what talent and
of their constructs of what talent and
of their constructs of what talent and leadership is to look at the
leadership is to look at the
leadership is to look at the contributions and value of others that
contributions and value of others that
contributions and value of others that may or may not look think or act like
may or may not look think or act like
may or may not look think or act like them so after that first conversation I
them so after that first conversation I
them so after that first conversation I needed to say something and so we had
needed to say something and so we had
needed to say something and so we had another conversation and I thought so I
another conversation and I thought so I
another conversation and I thought so I talked to my boss and I said did you
talked to my boss and I said did you
talked to my boss and I said did you notice what happened there
I said they talked over me the entire
I said they talked over me the entire time
time
time It was as if I was not even there I need
It was as if I was not even there I need
It was as if I was not even there I need you to advocate for me when that happens
you to advocate for me when that happens
you to advocate for me when that happens I need you to say something so the next
I need you to say something so the next
I need you to say something so the next meeting we had I shut it down I stopped
meeting we had I shut it down I stopped
meeting we had I shut it down I stopped a cold when it started happening and I
a cold when it started happening and I
a cold when it started happening and I said okay here’s the thing on you all
said okay here’s the thing on you all
said okay here’s the thing on you all you all are expert programmers that’s
you all are expert programmers that’s
you all are expert programmers that’s true you know what you’re talking about
true you know what you’re talking about
true you know what you’re talking about but I’m an expert educator that’s the
but I’m an expert educator that’s the
but I’m an expert educator that’s the reason I’m here right now I’m an expert
reason I’m here right now I’m an expert
reason I’m here right now I’m an expert too you have to respect what I say now I
too you have to respect what I say now I
too you have to respect what I say now I recognize that everyone does not have
recognize that everyone does not have
recognize that everyone does not have the confidence or even agency to do this
the confidence or even agency to do this
the confidence or even agency to do this right
right
right let me get penalized for doing this kind
let me get penalized for doing this kind
let me get penalized for doing this kind of thing and that is why it was so
of thing and that is why it was so
of thing and that is why it was so important to have my manager there he
important to have my manager there he
important to have my manager there he backed me up he said how can we build an
backed me up he said how can we build an
backed me up he said how can we build an inclusive safe environment for people to
inclusive safe environment for people to
inclusive safe environment for people to learn if we can’t even do it on our
learn if we can’t even do it on our
learn if we can’t even do it on our teams it starts with us we need to do
teams it starts with us we need to do
teams it starts with us we need to do better so after that everything was
better so after that everything was
better so after that everything was amazing it was great no
amazing it was great no
amazing it was great no it wasn’t it wasn’t but it was a work in
it wasn’t it wasn’t but it was a work in
it wasn’t it wasn’t but it was a work in progress
progress
progress and over time things got better and my
and over time things got better and my
and over time things got better and my manager really bus was shaped and formed
manager really bus was shaped and formed
manager really bus was shaped and formed by this when this venes things kind of
by this when this venes things kind of
by this when this venes things kind of arose again
arose again
arose again he was one of my biggest advocates and
he was one of my biggest advocates and
he was one of my biggest advocates and an advocate for the other women in our
an advocate for the other women in our
an advocate for the other women in our organization and as time went on the the
organization and as time went on the the
organization and as time went on the the value and contributions of women were
value and contributions of women were
value and contributions of women were valued in a different way for the better
because you see at the end of the day
because you see at the end of the day Tec is for people you have to have
Tec is for people you have to have
Tec is for people you have to have diverse teams and diverse leadership and
diverse teams and diverse leadership and
diverse teams and diverse leadership and people at that table when you have
people at that table when you have
people at that table when you have diversity of thought ideas identity and
diversity of thought ideas identity and
diversity of thought ideas identity and experiences you have new insights better
experiences you have new insights better
experiences you have new insights better software innovation and money in a study
software innovation and money in a study
software innovation and money in a study done in 2015 by McKinsey they looked at
done in 2015 by McKinsey they looked at
done in 2015 by McKinsey they looked at 366 public companies and they found
366 public companies and they found
366 public companies and they found those in the top quartile for gender
those in the top quartile for gender
those in the top quartile for gender diversity where 15% more likely to have
diversity where 15% more likely to have
diversity where 15% more likely to have returns above the industry average for
returns above the industry average for
returns above the industry average for racial and ethnic diversity it was 35
racial and ethnic diversity it was 35
racial and ethnic diversity it was 35 percent more likely companies benefit
percent more likely companies benefit
percent more likely companies benefit financially by having teams that are not
financially by having teams that are not
financially by having teams that are not primarily male and pale
and they’re great mail until people are
and they’re great mail until people are amazing I’m in love with one so so
amazing I’m in love with one so so
amazing I’m in love with one so so you’re probably wondering what can I do
you’re probably wondering what can I do
you’re probably wondering what can I do as a leader as a peer a co-worker how
as a leader as a peer a co-worker how
as a leader as a peer a co-worker how can I do this and if I want to give you
can I do this and if I want to give you
can I do this and if I want to give you some scenarios that I have found myself
some scenarios that I have found myself
some scenarios that I have found myself in that many of you maybe have found
in that many of you maybe have found
in that many of you maybe have found yourself in and think about redirects
yourself in and think about redirects
yourself in and think about redirects ways to bring the attention back to the
ways to bring the attention back to the
ways to bring the attention back to the original source of ideas and in this
original source of ideas and in this
original source of ideas and in this case women so much like the situation I
case women so much like the situation I
case women so much like the situation I was in that I shared a woman sure has an
was in that I shared a woman sure has an
was in that I shared a woman sure has an idea it gets ignored summary States to
idea it gets ignored summary States to
idea it gets ignored summary States to this fact that it was theirs it would
this fact that it was theirs it would
this fact that it was theirs it would have been really nice to have someone in
have been really nice to have someone in
have been really nice to have someone in the room say actually crystal just
the room say actually crystal just
the room say actually crystal just mentioned that you know crystal could
mentioned that you know crystal could
mentioned that you know crystal could you say that again I think it’s really
you say that again I think it’s really
you say that again I think it’s really important you hear that point in the
important you hear that point in the
important you hear that point in the moment you are bringing the attention
moment you are bringing the attention
moment you are bringing the attention back to her so everyone in that room
back to her so everyone in that room
back to her so everyone in that room knows that she has good ideas she has
knows that she has good ideas she has
knows that she has good ideas she has something to say another situation is a
something to say another situation is a
something to say another situation is a little bit 2-fold you may find yourself
little bit 2-fold you may find yourself
little bit 2-fold you may find yourself um you know I found myself in a
um you know I found myself in a
um you know I found myself in a situation where I have a peer who shares
situation where I have a peer who shares
situation where I have a peer who shares with me share something with me and
with me share something with me and
with me share something with me and confident she says I have a really great
confident she says I have a really great
confident she says I have a really great idea and I think we should do this I’m
idea and I think we should do this I’m
idea and I think we should do this I’m too afraid to say something they’re not
too afraid to say something they’re not
too afraid to say something they’re not gonna listen to me anyway or you’re
gonna listen to me anyway or you’re
gonna listen to me anyway or you’re sitting in a meeting this has happened
sitting in a meeting this has happened
sitting in a meeting this has happened to me someone mentions a really awesome
to me someone mentions a really awesome
to me someone mentions a really awesome idea for data analysts and analysis
idea for data analysts and analysis
idea for data analysts and analysis excuse me and it’s awesome and I realize
excuse me and it’s awesome and I realize
excuse me and it’s awesome and I realize it is the original idea of a woman
it is the original idea of a woman
it is the original idea of a woman someone that I know and that is not
someone that I know and that is not
someone that I know and that is not mentioned at all so you give her a stage
mentioned at all so you give her a stage
mentioned at all so you give her a stage in that moment you bring it you say that
in that moment you bring it you say that
in that moment you bring it you say that that original idea was this person but
that original idea was this person but
that original idea was this person but the way you do it you may say yeah I was
the way you do it you may say yeah I was
the way you do it you may say yeah I was actually at lunch with Priya the other
actually at lunch with Priya the other
actually at lunch with Priya the other day she mentioned that I think she’s
day she mentioned that I think she’s
day she mentioned that I think she’s really close to the problem so I think
really close to the problem so I think
really close to the problem so I think the next time we have a conversation
the next time we have a conversation
the next time we have a conversation about this we should have her come in
about this we should have her come in
about this we should have her come in and present about it I think she can
and present about it I think she can
and present about it I think she can really articulate it well think of how
really articulate it well think of how
really articulate it well think of how huge this could be for her career
huge this could be for her career
huge this could be for her career having the opportunity to have a stage
having the opportunity to have a stage
having the opportunity to have a stage in an audience with some of the most
in an audience with some of the most
in an audience with some of the most influential people in your organization
influential people in your organization
influential people in your organization that’s huge
that’s huge
that’s huge and you lose nothing by doing that and
and you lose nothing by doing that and
and you lose nothing by doing that and in that situation I have found myself in
in that situation I have found myself in
in that situation I have found myself in is that I heard a good idea and I kind
is that I heard a good idea and I kind
is that I heard a good idea and I kind of want to share it and maybe anonymize
of want to share it and maybe anonymize
of want to share it and maybe anonymize the person who had it originally this
the person who had it originally this
the person who had it originally this will make me look good but I don’t do
will make me look good but I don’t do
will make me look good but I don’t do that I say her name I give her the
that I say her name I give her the
that I say her name I give her the credit and then that it’s a win-win
credit and then that it’s a win-win
credit and then that it’s a win-win situation you know this you have good
situation you know this you have good
situation you know this you have good ideas and the good ideas come from other
ideas and the good ideas come from other
ideas and the good ideas come from other people as well you so you have to burn
people as well you so you have to burn
people as well you so you have to burn the patriarchy together kidding but we
the patriarchy together kidding but we
the patriarchy together kidding but we must always attempt to lift as we climb
must always attempt to lift as we climb
must always attempt to lift as we climb every step in our career there is
every step in our career there is
every step in our career there is someone coming up behind us then we can
someone coming up behind us then we can
someone coming up behind us then we can help advocate for it’s not even just
help advocate for it’s not even just
help advocate for it’s not even just grooming these people have good ideas
grooming these people have good ideas
grooming these people have good ideas bring them up with you put them to the
bring them up with you put them to the
bring them up with you put them to the forefront so no hard work does not speak
forefront so no hard work does not speak
forefront so no hard work does not speak for itself you do and others do so I
for itself you do and others do so I
for itself you do and others do so I want to leave you with some names the
want to leave you with some names the
want to leave you with some names the women on stage here with me today
women on stage here with me today
women on stage here with me today they’re mothers grandmothers godmothers
they’re mothers grandmothers godmothers
they’re mothers grandmothers godmothers play mothers I’m teas teachers mentors
play mothers I’m teas teachers mentors
play mothers I’m teas teachers mentors sisters some of them I haven’t even seen
sisters some of them I haven’t even seen
sisters some of them I haven’t even seen in a long time they probably don’t even
in a long time they probably don’t even
in a long time they probably don’t even remember who I am
remember who I am
remember who I am but I have a very public way of
but I have a very public way of
but I have a very public way of acknowledging the love and life that
acknowledging the love and life that
acknowledging the love and life that they have breathed into me the work that
they have breathed into me the work that
they have breathed into me the work that they have done and sewn into me they are
they have done and sewn into me they are
they have done and sewn into me they are the reason why I’m standing here before
the reason why I’m standing here before
the reason why I’m standing here before you today so I want you to take a minute
you today so I want you to take a minute
you today so I want you to take a minute I want you to think of your names who
I want you to think of your names who
I want you to think of your names who are the women in your life who have
are the women in your life who have
are the women in your life who have picked you up and put you in places you
picked you up and put you in places you
picked you up and put you in places you were too afraid to go who are the women
were too afraid to go who are the women
were too afraid to go who are the women who put you in a position you were not
who put you in a position you were not
who put you in a position you were not qualified for instance you’ll figure it
qualified for instance you’ll figure it
qualified for instance you’ll figure it out
out
out who are the women who have moved
who are the women who have moved
who are the women who have moved mountains and raised hell for you to
mountains and raised hell for you to
mountains and raised hell for you to have a shot think of them maybe you have
have a shot think of them maybe you have
have a shot think of them maybe you have a Camila a Tamra a brandy a Margo a
a Camila a Tamra a brandy a Margo a
a Camila a Tamra a brandy a Margo a Helen maybe you have one think are their
Helen maybe you have one think are their
Helen maybe you have one think are their names give thanks and do what they did
names give thanks and do what they did
names give thanks and do what they did thank you
”
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