Women@SheLovesData
Ocea Garriock
Chapter Lead, South Africa
Reprinted with permission. Edited by Rasyida Paddy
I strongly believe that it is our attitude to life more than our skills that leads to our success. And I live by the Serenity Prayer: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
My name is Ocea Garriock and I am the Chapter Lead for South Africa. In addition to my work for the local chapter, I have been assisting in the Leadership program for SLD volunteers. This involves coaching the Senior Leadership team, and running leadership courses on a regular basis for the leaders and team of volunteers.
I raised my hand to be part of this community as I have a passion for data and for assisting women in finding their voice and developing to their full potential. She Loves Data is the perfect platform for me to follow both passions. It has helped me to build a global network of like-minded people and to expand the impact I can have.
As many volunteers would have claimed, it is a challenge to remain motivated as a volunteer, as other areas of life place demands on our time and often take precedence over our volunteer work. It is also hard to lead a team of volunteers as they often have demanding day jobs and can’t always give enough time and focus to their volunteer work.
That said, as a community, we have to keep reminding ourselves of the reason we volunteered and the purpose we are driving towards – and in this case, the ability to lift other women in the technology space.
I often found it to be challenging as a women in the IT and data analytics industry. As women, we tend to suffer from imposter syndrome and have these negative voices in our heads that question our success and progress. I learnt how it takes self-awareness and self-confidence to overcome these challenges. We need to believe in ourselves and have an “I can” attitude. Then we need to build a network of other women, as well as men, that can support us and encourage us on our journey.
So what would my advice be to other women looking to break into the space and break the glass ceiling? Believe in yourself. Be brave and courageous. Then ask for help where you need it. Having a coach or mentor can help. Build and expand your network.
Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoy what I do and there is something to be gained from volunteering – and that is personal growth and a sense of purpose. I love working with a team of people that share my passion for developing more women into data careers. She Loves Data has connected me to many inspiring and dedicated women. I also love how it gives me a global platform to expand my contribution and impact.
