Female Leadership in a Data-Driven World
Interview with Three Powerful Women on their thoughts and Experiences on being Female Leaders in Tech: Jana Marlé – Žižková, Co-Founder of She Loves Data; Michaela Lhotkova, CIO ČSOB; and Tania Le Moigne
What inspired you to create the non-profit organization ‘She Loves Data‘ and why did you choose this name?
Jana Marlé – Žižková
In the very beginning, we did not plan to establish such an organization.
When launching another data organization 6 years ago, together with my co-founder Pavel Bulowski, we travelled across Asia and found that there seemed to be a common problem everywhere. We realised that organizations do not have enough data and technology professionals. Whenever we spoke to our clients, they told us they were looking for capable data analysts. We knew from statistics that only 26% of women work in the Data & Tech field, which made it clear to us that this was an obvious target group. That’s why we came up with the idea to organize an event in Singapore, to attract more people to the IT industry and, specifically, to inspire women in particular.
We know that about 50% of women study science and technology, but still choose careers more traditionally viewed as ‘female-centric‘. So we organized a one-day course targeted at women where previous technical or data experience was not a requirement and explained to them from the ground up that data and technology was not something to be afraid of. In a few days, we had 500 women who had registered for the course- we had found an incredible problem to solve!
After this event, we received positive feedback, and thanks to that, we knew right away that we could not stop training and we must continue to focus on educating women.
When our partners in Australia found out about us, they wanted to help us build on our success and there was no looking back. We have grown organically to this day, as the situation and demand for education is more or less similar everywhere. Thanks to this, 4 years after that first event, you can find us in 16 countries around the world, and we are proud to have trained more than 15,000 women globally to date. It’s also nice to watch a community of women and men form around the SLD who support and work with each other wherever they are.
What is it like being a female senior manager in a currently male-dominated environment? What roadblocks have you had to overcome in your career and which of those are still obstacles you face today?
Michaela Lhotková
I joined the banking sector at a time when the bank was still far from being a data-centric organization. Today it is 100% true, banking has become a technological field, so it has undergone an incredible transformation and I, of course, had to adapt my skills and develop my knowledge in IT.
To give you an idea, I will share with you the key situations I had to go through at the beginning of my career. I never considered myself a technology-oriented person. I focused more on soft skills and believed in qualities such as networking, insight, communication, the ability to connect with people and organize projects. I originally studied international trade and politics and did not want to hear anything about working with data, this field went beyond me, although paradoxically I didn’t have a single problem with quantitative subjects when I was studying. It was more about my self-confidence. I had created a stereotype in my mind that data and technology are not intended for women. However, my personal insight and ability to make logical decisions helped me navigate unexpected challenges in my career.
All my superiors were men and I believe they always thought well of me. That said, there was still an expectation that to grow into leadership roles, one needed to take a more masculine approach. This, as a woman, I did not always understand and appreciate.
However, it is fair to say that I was given the opportunity to work in management relatively early. Since 2004. I have managed my team and I will not hide the fact that there must have been some personal ambition in me that got me there. I am convinced that I had to work harder than my male colleagues throughout my career due to social stereotypes. I am grateful to those who were able to understand me, who were aware of the importance of diversity in teams, and although I, at times, did it in my own way, they were not afraid of my “otherness” in dealing with various situations and were able to support me.
I am very happy and grateful that you have brought SLD across from Asia. I really appreciate it, because it is very important to be able to help women not only with education but also with their self-confidence. I see it as a necessity to create diversity in intellectual fields, making the field of data and technology more diverse. That is the reason why I decided to start working with SLD and support this non-profit organization on the Czech market, I really believe in it and its ambition.
Tania Le Moigne :
Jana and I have known each other for more than 40 years, and 40 years ago I wouldn’t have imagined that Jana would run her own business in Singapore and I would run a Google office! It is unbelievable that this is happening but it is also beautiful to be a part of today’s reality, where we are all able to meet here at the same time, in different parts of the world, in a different space, in a different time zone.
When I first listened to the She Loves Data story, I was fascinated by the thought of an individual who was not afraid to step out of the crowd and try something big. It’s amazing what is possible today – one person with a good idea is willing to go against the crowd and has the courage to start such a movement – for me, it is literally breathtaking. This is something we could not have imagined about 10 years ago.
First of all, I would like to thank and congratulate She Loves Data, because it’s unbelievable what you do and I love your story, how it all started. The best things are the ones we don’t plan, which can sometimes be intuitive and not always data-based. In fact, it is the sixth sense that commands us and if we listen to our inner voice, we make the best decisions of our lives.
I have prepared 7 key moments from my 30 years of professional life, which I would like to share with you:
- Choice of IT in 1985
I was certainly inspired by my father, who already worked in IT during the time of deep communism and we used to talk about these things at home. One day, when I went to work with my dad, I was looking at all the huge screens in the workplace, I was helping him exchange disks and it was very interesting to watch the people around me. It is true that there were mostly men in the teams, which I didn’t mind so much because they were very interesting, smart people. It led me to become more interested in the whole environment.
When I had a discussion with my parents about what I would like to do in the future, I found it difficult to decide. I was the kind of student who had no issues following the curriculum at school, but I also played a lot of sports. I can vividly remember how my dad said one memorable sentence to me: “Look, IT will one day be a key industry. And today, if you want to work with computers you have to graduate from college, then imagine that in 2000 everyone will be doing it.” It fascinated me, because at that time I couldn’t imagine how we would all work with those huge computers. So this was my first important decision I made – to go into an industry I didn’t really know much about. In fact, I knew very little about it, but it attracted me because it was new and it meant working with smart people.
- My first year of University
I suffered a lot at the University. I started my first year of University after the humanities high school which comparatively put me in a position where my classmates were a lot better at mathematics than me.
My first year was really about great humility and great inner strength when I had to overcome a lot of my shortcomings. It took a lot of conviction, and courage to complete my first year of studies. This period was a huge learning experience for me and I am happy that I managed it. It never occurred to me for a moment that I would not graduate from University.
- My first job after University
In 1989, I was given the opportunity to start a start-up company together with other colleagues. The company was called ‘Atacus‘ and it was one of the first IT companies in the Czech Republic. We started in a former dormitory in Nové Butovice, we had one computer on the ground and I, a girl with a fresh diploma, was part of a real team, real business and I didn’t know anything about it. But a young person has no inhibitions and has the right courage, so I did not admit that I could not do this job.
- Foreign experience
I left the Czech Republic relatively late. I went abroad with my boyfriend who is today my husband. I was 30 years old when I left for Germany, spent a total of 6 years abroad and then returned to Prague. If I could tell all young people one piece of my advice – it would be to go abroad as soon as possible to study or for a job opportunity, because I have undoubtedly returned to the Czech Republic as a different person.
The Czech Republic is a beautiful country where we live well, but we are a small country, we need to open our eyes, change our thinking and look at things in a much larger context. Only then will you see how big the world is and we need to understand how it works, and this is not entirely possible just from the Czech Republic. So my advice –- explore the world, travel!
- Maternity
At the age of 35, my son was born and that made me reconsider my priorities in life. I left the corporation after 13 years and launched my own business and started doing consulting. My goal was to do my best and not to return to a corporation. You see, never say never.
- My overall experiences
While on maternity leave, I also founded my own company “4 Bambini”, which was dedicated to children aged 4 to 7 years. I realised the importance of teaching young kids good behaviour when everyone was focused on teaching them capitals cities and counting. It was a wonderful period of my life, when I released 4 titles and games for children and these games are actually the 7th milestone in my life that led me to join Google.
After 5 years on my maternity leave, they called me from Google and asked me if I would like to join the team. They looked at my profile, where all the corporations I worked for were listed but my “4 Bambini” was not there. When they asked me what I am proud of in my career, I mentioned these games for children. They were impressed and we started talking about them and one thing led to another and you see, it’s now been 14 years since i joined Google.
In conclusion, I would like to say that things don’t always happen as we plan, but the 7 life milestones have one common denominator, and that is I gave my 100% to everything I have done in my life. Because I enjoyed it, because I was interested, and because I was interested in people, and I wanted to learn more about the things I enjoyed.
Jana Marlé Žižková
I would just like to add briefly that my career was very disorganized, always evolving in the same way as She Loves Data. I never planned anything. I studied Computer Science in Sweden and America. At that time, I emigrated from Czechoslovakia, and what probably helped me in my career was not to be afraid to enter into something new.
I think that mentors, with whom I had the opportunity to work with during my career, also played a very crucial role for me. As Míša mentioned here, I had a boss who let me run the whole company and I was responsible for the PnL at the age of about 27. He simply said, “Jana, we need you to drive it until we find someone else, but we don’t have anyone here right now.” I really appreciated the trust he had placed in me. The great thing was that I could always ask him for advice when I didn’t know what to do. But when I messed up and I felt like resigning, he told me, “Jana, it’s not going to be easy. Spin it, Jana! ”.
He explained to me that this is not how business works. It is simply not possible to just leave the work in progress, and that was a very valuable experience for me. When something tempting came up, I always gave it a test and if I didn’t succeed at least I knew it wasn’t the right direction for me. Today, after a corporate career in large software companies, I have a technology startup in Singapore with my colleagues and I really enjoy it. I have to agree with Táňa that we need to listen to our inner voice, not be afraid to get out of the comfort zone, and go for what we enjoy.
From your point of view, what is the current situation regarding diversity in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or abroad? Do you think this is just a current trend or is diversity really important from your point of view?
Tania Le Moigne
Diversity is a necessity. Not just gender diversity. Diversity is primarily, in my opinion, about the quality of our thinking. The world is very complex, and by being able to connect with people, we enrich our perspective on whether we really understand the reality and are able to ensure that everyone feels as good as possible. I generally believe in balance and common sense in my life. If we are talking about diversity in the professional environment, specifically for me at Google, it has been an ongoing topic that is not necessarily something we have only been discussing as of recent We don’t just talk about gender, we talk a lot about diversity in education, background / where those people come from, we talk about generational diversity, we talk about people and their way of thinking – there are people who have more cognitive thinking and then we have people who have strong emotional intelligence, ie. diverse skill set. Diversity is the value we cultivate in the environment in which we live. It forces us to look at things differently, from different perspectives, it forces us to ask ourselves questions that we would not normally ask ourselves, and it forces us to learn and build relationships with people. Because in the past we might not even have a chance to establish such a relationship because we were not allowed to travel. And now, when we can travel, it can benefit everyone.
I think we still have a long way to go in diversity, if I can speak for Google, for which I work, I would say that we are not at the very beginning of our journey, but we still have a long way to go. I would like to give an example from practice – in the hiring process we have a simple rule – I want to see 2 candidates for every open position – one man and one woman. Men tend to apply for certain jobs, but the moment we take the job and find a solid opponent, we know we have made an informed choice and that way we can offer the position to the one who is really the best.
If I speak for myself, someone from the Czech Republic living in the Czech society, we still have a lot of work to do. We still see very few women in management roles in the Czech Republic or in business. It is a topic that we need to focus on. About 13 years ago I introduced a children’s book on diversity to the Czech market. It all starts with the children. We can start within our own families by leading children to respect diversity.
Michaela Lhotková
I fully agree that it all starts with the children. I can see it myself in my daughter, who is 9 years old. I see how IT is a completely natural part of her life and that is why there is seriously no reason for both men and women to equally participate in this field.
I also confirm that as a Czech living in the Czech Republic, it amazes me that whatever I participate in, for example, a more technical conference in the role of a speaker, I am usually the only or one of the few female representatives. These are some of the situations when male dominance is clearly visible. From this point of view, we still have a lot of work to do and I hope that She Loves Data will help women build self-confidence, because it is not as complicated as it may seem at first.
Jana Marlé Žižková
I firmly believe that She Loves Data can help with the topic of diversity. Here in Singapore, it’s such a mix of all cultures, nationalities, and races, people who come from different backgrounds and I think local life has taught me great humility and tolerance, to look at people not as they look and what they wear, but to listen how I can be inspired by the fact that they are different from me.
It’s mainly about accepting differences, and speaking of “men’s conferences”, I can’t help but mention that last year was crucial for the She Loves Data.
A huge Big Data World conference is held in Singapore every year and we as She Loves Data cooperate with the organizers. On average, up to 18,000 people come there, 90% of whom are men. The organizers wanted to change this, so they asked us to cooperate and we are helping them with the organization for the second year. We are talking about topics that may also be interesting to women. Thanks to this, we managed to double the number of women in individual workshops.
Last year I moderated a panel discussion on Cloud computing there and I got a list of 4 speakers – they were all men. I went back to the organizers, returned the list to them, and suggested that the women should be invited to the discussion as well. But they told me that they had trouble finding women whom they could invite to such a technological discussion. So I took the initiative, addressed several ladies I knew from the IT industry, and at the end the discussion was composed of 2 men and 2 women. It was a very enriching interview and I think it was interesting thanks to our suggestion that we organize the panel a little differently.
The Czech Republic is unfortunate in that it has not historically been exposed to similar cultural differences. I certainly have to agree with Tána that it is very important to have a view from the outside, try to live somewhere else, try to work with other cultures and nations, work with other generations, etc. This topic needs to be openly discussed and it is important to ask people what their opinions are and explain them to each other. We talk a lot about Artificial Intelligence, why we need to have diversity in the teams that create these algorithms. This is because the diversity of a given team creates a better product because there are different hypotheses, have different views on the problem they are trying to solve, and in fact, the result of a different team will be much better. I think this applies to all topics. If we have different people discussing different issues, the results will be better.
In terms of the previously mentioned HR recruitment processes, I am convinced that the whole system needs to be changed. I had the opportunity to talk to a large European bank with their Data Science Analytics team, where they had general job descriptions made and they used to ask people to mark on a scale 1-10, how the candidates see themselves on each point. And the result? Women underestimate themselves, although they knew much more than men, who, on the other hand, described themselves as complete professionals. The moment they changed this questionnaire, 20% more women applied for the positions, where only men originally applied. In fact, it was because they changed the system of communication with the candidates, and it is also because we women very often underestimate ourselves.
If you were to give the only advice women should take from today’s interview, what would it be?
Tania Le Moigne
My advice is simple – let women not be afraid, let them go for it, because one learns more by simply participating, even if they lose the test.
Michaela Lhotková
I’ve experienced many situations where I had to prove myself more than my male counterparts. Many situations, stupid remarks, unfair trials, or underestimation based on age, visage, gender? … These were (and are but with decreasing frequency) moments that sometimes stopped me from trying . So I agree with what has already been said here – not giving up, believing in yourself, taking the opportunity, and being able to make the right decision, which may not always be easy.
Jana Marlé Žižková
Ladies, I absolutely agree with you. I think women have more doubts about whether they can make mistakes. Mistakes are perfectly fine, mistakes are human, but it is necessary to learn from mistakes, go on and not be ashamed of it. A lot of things don’t work out, but that’s perfectly fine. We are definitely talking about curiosity, courage, it is important to broaden your horizons not only about technology but about anything that is happening in your industry and have the courage to raise your hand and go to new challenges. When you listen to your intuition and are not afraid of new things, raising your hand will definitely be the most difficult. Now is a great time to open up to new opportunities, new job challenges, such as Marketing Technologists, and this is an opportunity to go in a direction that will entertain you and you will continue to expand your horizons. Good luck.
Ženy ve světě dat a technologií
Jana Marlé Žižková, zakladatelka neziskové organizace She Loves Data; Michaela Lhotková, CIO ČSOB; and Tania Le Moigne
Sep 2020
Co Vás vedlo k založení neziskové organizace She Loves Data a proč She Loves Data?
Jana Marlé Žižková
My jsme na úplném začátku neplánovali takovou organizaci založit. Když jsem před 6 lety, společně s mým kolegou Pavlem Bulowskim, založila jinou datovou organizaci a s ní jsme následně vyjeli kamkoliv po Asii, tak jsme zjistili, že mají všude velmi podobné problémy. Zjistili jsme, že organizace nemají dostatek datových a technologických profesionálů. Pokaždé, když jsme se bavili s našimi klienty, sami se nás ptali, zda-li neznáme nějakého schopného datového analytika a tak jsme sami sobě řekli, že s tím něco zkusíme udělat. Ze statistik jsme věděli, že pouze 26% žen pracuje v oboru Data & Tech a nám bylo jasné, že toto je jasná cílová skupina. Proto jsme přišli s nápadem, uspořádat v Singapuru akci, abychom přilákali víc lidí do IT oboru a úplně nejlépe, abychom inspirovali především ženy, které by se nebály do tohoto oboru vstoupit zůstat v něm. Víme totiž, že cca 50% žen studuje vědecké a technické obory, ale stejně si následně volí tradiční ženské kariéry. Zorganizovali jsme tedy jednodenní kurz, zacílený na ženy, kde nebyla podmínka předchozí technické nebo datové zkušenosti, abychom jim od základu vysvětlili, že data a technologie není nic čeho by se měly obávat. Za pár dnů jsme zjistili, že je po tomto tématu neuvěřitelná poptávka, jelikož se nám zaregistrovalo více jak 500 žen.
Po tomto eventu jsme dostali neuvěřitelně kladnou zpětnou vazbu a díky tomu jsme hned věděli, že se školeními nemůžeme přestat a musíme se vzdělávání žen i nadále věnovat.
Poté se o nás dozvěděli naši partneři v Austrálii, kteří chtěli na náš úspěch navázat a tímto přirozeným způsobem se rozrůstáme dodnes, jelikož situace a poptávka po vzdělávání je všude více méně podobná. Díky tomu nás dnes, po 4 letech od zorganizování prvního eventu, můžete najít v 16 zemích světa a jsme pyšní, že jsme do dnešního dne proškolili více jak 15.000 žen z celého světa. Je také hezké sledovat, jak se nám kolem SLD vytváří komunita žen a mužů, kteří se navzájem podporují a spolupracují mezi sebou ať už se nachází kdekoliv.
Jaké to je být vysoce postavenou manažerkou v ještě stále typicky mužském prostředí? Jaké nástrahy jste musely ve svých kariérách překonávat nebo ještě stále překonáváte?
Michaela Lhotková:
Já jsem nastoupila do bankovního sektoru v době, kdy se banka ještě ani zdaleka nepodobala datové organizaci. Dnes tomu tak 100% je, bankovnictví se stalo technologickým oborem, tudíž si prošlo neuvěřitelnou proměnou a já tomu musela samozřejmě přizpůsobit své dovednosti a rozvinout své znalosti v IT.
Pro představu se s vámi podělím s klíčovými situacemi, kterými jsem si musela na začátku své kariéry projít. Nikdy jsem se nepovažovala za technologicky orientovanou osobu, byla jsem spíše takový ten klasicky “softově” orientovaný člověk, který si věřil právě v typicky ženských vlastnostech jako je networking, nadhled / rozhled, komunikativnost, schopnost propojovat a organizovat projekty. Původně jsem vystudovala mezinárodní obchod a mezinárodní politiku a o práci s daty jsem nechtěla nic slyšet, tento obor šel mimo mě, byť jsem paradoxně na školách neměla jediný problém s předměty spojenými s čísly. Spíš se to týkalo mého sebevědomí, kdy jsem si i já jela ve stereotypu, že data a technologie nejsou určeny ženám. Nicméně můj osobní nadhled a schopnost logického rozhodování, mi pomohl i v pozicích, kam jsem původně neplánovala směřovat. Všichni mí nadřízení byli muži a věřím, že to se mnou vždycky mysleli dobře, ale je pravdou, že mě k výkonům, k tomu mít ambice být ve vedoucích rolích a dále růst, motivovali spíše klasickým mužským přístupem, který jsem jako žena ne vždy chápala a oceňovala.
Nicméně je fér říct, že příležitost pracovat v managementu jsem dostala poměrně brzy, od roku 2004 jsem řídila svůj team a nebudu zastírat, že ve mně musela nějaká osobní ambice být, ale mě upřímně práce především bavila. Jsem přesvědčená, že jsem si musela svou kariérní cestu odpracovat mnohem intenzivněji než by museli mí mužští kolegové v podobných situacích, kterým společenské stereotypy zvlášt před pár lety zcela jasně nahrávali. Jsem vděčná těm, kteří mě dokázali pochopit, uvědomovali si důležitost diverzity v teamech, a i když jsem si někdy šla spíše svou, ženskou cestou, nebáli se mé „jinosti“ při řešení různých situací a uměli mě podpořit. To bylo pro mě velmi důležité a přesvědčilo mě to o tom, že dělám správnou věc.
Jsem moc ráda a jsem vám vděčná za to, že jste SLD z Asie přivezly, opravdu to oceňuji, jelikož je velice
důležité umět pomoci ženám nejenom se vzděláváním, ale i s jejich sebevědomím a vidím jako nutnost
neustále pracovat na diverzitě v intelektuálních oborech, čímž oblast dat a technologií jednoznačně je. A
to je i důvod, proč jsem se rozhodla začít s SLD spolupracovat a podporovat tuto neziskovou organizaci
na českém trhu, opravdu v ní věřím.
Tania Le Moigne
My se s Janou známe více jak 40 let a před těmi 40 lety by mě nikdy nenapadlo, že Jana povede svůj vlastní byznys v Singapuru a já povedu pobočku Google. Je neskutečné, že se právě toto děje. Je krásné poslouchat a být součástí dnešní reality, kdy se tu sejdeme všichni pohromadě ve stejnou chvíli, a přitom jsme každá na jiném konci světa, v jiném prostoru, v jiné časové zóně. Když jsem poprvé poslouchala příběh SLD, tak mě osobně fascinuje role jednotlivce, který se nebojí vykročit z davu a zkusit něco velkého. Když si uvědomíme, co je dneska všechno možné, když se najde člověk s dobrým nápadem, když je dostatečně vnímavý k tomu, co dnešní svět potřebuje a je ochotný tomu jít naproti a má tu odvahu se do takových věcí pustit, to je pro mě doslova dechberoucí. To je něco, co jsme si ještě asi před 10 lety nedovedli představit. Úvodem bych chtěla SLD poděkovat a pogratulovat, protože je neskutečné, co děláte a miluji váš příběh, jak to všechno vzniklo. Nejlepší věci jsou ty, které si neplánujeme a vznikají z nějaké naší osobní reakce, která občas může být také intuitivní, a ne vždy daty podložená. Vlastně jde o takový ten vnitřní pocit a šestý smysl, který nám velí, a tak z mého pohledu vznikají ta nejlepší rozhodnutí.
Já jsem si pro vás připravila 7 zásadních momentů z mého 30ti letého profesionálního života, o které bych se s Vámi chtěla podělit.
- Volba oboru IT v roce 1985
Já jsem zcela jistě byla tímto oborem inspirována mým tatínkem, který v IT již v době hlubokého komunismu pracoval a u nás doma se o těchto věcech hodně mluvilo. Svého času jsem za tatínkem chodila do práce a tam jsem pozorovala všechny ty obrazovky, vyměňovala jsem tam obrovské disky a bylo velmi zajímavé pozorovat lidi kolem. Je pravda, že tam byli v teamech většinou muži, což mi zas až tak nevadilo, protože to byli lidé velmi zajímaví, chytří a celkově mě nesmírně zajímalo celé prostředí.
Když jsem měla s rodiči diskusi o tom, co bych si jednou v životě chtěla vybrat za svůj obor, tak já jsem byla vzor toho dítěte, kterému vždycky všechno ve škole šlo, do toho jsem hodně sportovala a vlastně výběr mé budoucí profesní cesty, byl pro mě osobně velmi těžký. Dodnes si pamatuji, že tatínek pronesl jednu památnou větu: “Podívej, IT bude jednou klíčové řemeslo. A jestli je to dneska o tom, že pokud chceš pracovat s počítačemi a musíš k tomu vystudovat vysokou školu, tak v roce 2000 to budou umět úplně všichni.” A mě to fascinovalo, protože jsem si v té době neuměla představit, jak jednou budeme všichni pracovat s těmi obrovskými počítačemi, když jsem tam ve stejnou chvíli děrovala na děrovacím stroji diplomovou práci. Takže toto bylo moje první rozhodnutí, jít do oboru, o kterém jsem toho vlastně moc nevěděla, velmi málo jsem toho uměla, ale lákalo mě to, protože to bylo nové a znamenalo to práci s chytrými lidmi.
- Můj první rok univerzity
Já jsem v prváku na vysoké škole velmi trpěla. Nastoupila jsem do prvního ročníku po humanitním gymplu, ostatní spolužáci se fantasticky orientovali v matematice a já jsem o tom nevěděla vůbec nic. Můj první ročník byl skutečně o velké pokoře a o velké vnitřní síle, kdy jsem musela překonat spoustu svých nedostatků. Bylo to o velkém přesvědčení, musela jsem se kousnout, nevzdat se a dotáhnout studium ke zdárnému konci. Toto období byla pro mě obrovská škola života a jsem šťastná, že jsem to zvládla a nikdy mě ani na chvíli nenapadlo, že bych školu nedokončila.
- Můj první job po vysoké škole
Psal se rok 1989 a já jsem dostala příležitost založit startup firmu společně s dalšími kolegy. Firma se jmenovala Atacus a byla to jedna z prvních IT firem v České republice. Začínali jsme v bývalém učňáku v Nových Butovicích na koberci, měli jsme jeden počítač na zemi a já, holka s čerstvým diplomem, jsem byla součástí reálného teamu, reálného byznysu a vůbec nic jsem o tom nevěděla. Ale mladý člověk nemá zábran a je zdravě drzý, proto jsem si nepřipouštěla, že bych tento job nezvládla.
- Zahraniční zkušenost
Já jsem z České republiky odcházela relativně pozdě. Šla jsem tehdy za svým přítelem, dnešním manželem. Bylo mi 30 let, když jsem odcházela do Německa, celkem jsem strávila v zahraničí 6 let a poté jsem se vrátila zpátky do Prahy. Kdybych mohla všem mladým lidem říct jednu svou radu – ať určitě odjedou co nejdříve za studijní nebo pracovní příležitostí, protože já jsem se bezpochyby do Čech vrátila jako jiný člověk. Česká republika je nádherná země, ve které se nám dobře žije, ale jsme malá země, je potřeba otevřít oči, změnit styl přemýšlení a dívat se na věci v daleko větším kontextu. Až pak uvidíte, jak je svět veliký a my potřebujeme pochopit, jak funguje, a to není zcela možné jen z ČR. Takže má rada zní jednoznačně – vycestovat.
- Mateřství
Ve 35 letech se mi narodil můj syn a to byl moment, kdy jsem věci ve svém životě přehodnotila, po 13 letech jsem odešla z korporace, založila jsem si vlastní živnost a začala jsem dělat Consulting. Představovala jsem si, jak budu dělat všechno na pohodu, že se do žádné korporace nevrátím. Vidíte, nikdy neříkej nikdy.
- Vlastní živnost
Na mateřské dovolené jsem také založila vlastní firmu “4 Bambini”, která se věnovala dětem ve věku od 4 do 7 let. Protože mě přišlo důležité naučit děti slušnosti. V té době všichni učili děti hlavní města států, vyjmenovaná slova a mě přišlo důležité je naučit slušnému chování. To byla nádherná etapa mého života, kdy jsem vydala 4 tituly a hry pro děti a právě tyto hry byly mým důležitým a vlastně 7. životním milníkem pro můj nástup do Google.
Po 5 letech na mateřské mi zavolali z Google, jestli bych k nim nechtěla jít pracovat, dívali se na můj životopis, kde byly vypsány všechny korporace, pro které jsem pracovala a moje “4 Bambini” tam nebyly. Když se mě zeptali, na co jsem ve své kariéře nejvíc pyšná, zmínila jsem právě tyto hry pro děti. Oni si se mnou o tom začali povídat a vidíte, teď už jsem 14. rok v Google.
Závěrem bych chtěla říct, že v životě je vždycky všechno jinak než si sami naplánujeme, těch 7 životních milníků má ale jeden společný jmenovatel a to ten, že jsem do všeho šla naplno. Protože mě bavily, protože mě zajímaly a protože mě zajímali lidé a já jsem se chtěla učit a poznávat věci, které mě baví.
Jana Marlé Žižková
Já bych k tomu jen krátce dodala, že má kariéra byla velmi nezorganizovaná, vždycky se vyvíjela stejně jako se She Loves Data. Já jsem nikdy nic neplánovala. Vystudovala jsem Computer Science ve Švédsku a v Americe. Tenkrát jsem emigrovala z Československa a co mi asi pomohlo na cestách v klíčových momentech, bylo nebát se vstoupit do něčeho nového.
Myslím si, že velmi zásadní roli pro mě hráli take mentoři, se kterými jsem měla možnost spolupracovat v průběhu mé kariéry. Jak už tady zmiňovala Míša, měla jsem šéfa, který mě nechal řídit v mých asi 27 letech celou firmu, jednu zemi a celou PNL. Zkrátka řekl “Teď to tu řiď, my časem najdeme někoho jiného, ale v tuto chvíli tady zrovna nikoho nemáme.” Velmi jsem oceňovala důvěru, kterou do mě kdysi vložil. Ve chvíli, kdy jsem si nevěděla rady, jsem za ním mohla kdykoliv přijít a požádat ho o radu. Když jsem ale něco zkazila, měla jsem pocit, že bych měla dát výpověď, ale on mi na to řekl “Jano, to nebude tak jednoduché. Spin it, Jana!” A já si říkala, jak já to mám vlastně přetočit?
Vysvětlil mi, že takhle byznys nefunguje. Jen tak odejít od rozpracované práce zkrátka nejde, a to pro mě byly velice cenné zkušenosti. Když se objevilo něco lákavého, sama sobě jsem si řekla, že za zkoušku člověk nic nedá. A když mi to nepůjde, tak aspoň vím, že toto není moje cesta a správný směr. Dnes, po korporátní kariéře ve velkých softwarových firmách, mám spolu se svými kolegy technologický startup v Singapuru a nesmírně mě to baví. Musím souhlasit s Táňou, že je třeba poslouchat svůj vnitřní hlas, nebát se vystoupit z komfortní zóny a jít si za tím, co nás baví.
Jaká je z vašeho pohledu v současné chvíli situace týkající se diverzity v ČR, na Slovensku nebo v zahraničí? Myslíte si, že jde jen o současný trend nebo je diverzita z vašeho pohledu skutečně důležitá?
Tania Le Moigne
Diverzita je jednoznačně nutnost. Nejen genderová diverzita. Diverzita je primárně dle mého názoru o kvalitě našeho přemýšlení. Svět je velmi komplexní a my tím, že se v něm dokážeme propojit, tak tím obohacujeme svou perspektivu o tom, zdali se skutečně chápeme realitu a jsme schopni zajistit, aby se v ní všichni cítili, pokud možno dobře. Já obecně v životě věřím na zdravou rovnováhu a zdravý rozum. Pokud se bavíme o diverzitě v profesním prostředí, konkrétně pro mě v Google, je to dlouhodobé téma, které interně nediskutujeme pouze posledních pár let. My se tu nebavíme pouze o genderu, ale bavíme se tu hodně o diverzitě ve vzdělání, backgroundu / odkud ti lidé pocházejí, bavíme se o diverzitě generační, bavíme se o lidech a jejich způsobu myšlení – jsou lidé, kteří mají větší kognitivní myšlení a pak máme lidi, kteří mají silnou emoční inteligenci, tzn. diverzitní skill set. Diverzita je hodnota, kterou kultivujeme v prostředí, ve kterém žijeme. Nutí nás se dívat na věci jinak, z různých perspektiv, nutí nás pokládat si otázky, které bychom si normálně nepoložili a nutí nás to učit se a budovat vztahy s lidmi, protože jenom proto, že jsou jiní, v minulosti bychom s nimi třeba ani vztahy nenavázali. A teď, když to uděláme, může to být pro všechny ku prospěchu. Myslím, že nás v diverzitě čeká ještě dlouhá cesta, pokud mohu mluvit za Google, pro který pracuji, tak bych řekla, že už nejsme úplně na začátku, ale máme před sebou ještě stále dlouhou cestu. Ráda bych zde uvedla příklad z praxe – v rámci hiring procesu máme jednoduché pravidlo a to, že chci vidět na obsazovanou pozici 2 kandidáty – jednoho muže a jednu ženu. Na určité joby se hlásí spíš muži, ale ve chvíli, kdy si dáme tu práci a najdeme solidní protikandidátku, jsme rádi, že máme vyváženou možnost volby a ve finále můžeme nabídnout spolupráci tomu, kdo je skutečně nejlepší.
Pokud budu mluvit za sebe, jako za Češku v České společnosti, tam vidím bohužel spoustu intenzivní práce a osobně si myslím, že speciálně v řídících rolích v ČR nebo v byznysu, jsou ženy stále velmi málo vidět a je to na společnosti pochopitelně znát. Je to téma, o které bychom měli pečovat a tady bych ještě doplnila, že jsem před 13 lety na český trh uvedla dětskou knížku o diverzitě. Všechno začíná u dětí a i v rodině můžeme děti vést k respektu k diverzitě.
Michaela Lhotková
Já plně potvrzuji, že vše začíná u dětí. Sama to vidím na své dceři, které je 9 let. Vidím, jak je pro ni IT svět naprosto přirozenou součástí života a jejího vývoje, a proto je že vážně není důvod, aby se na těchto oborech budoucnosti rovnocenně nepodíleli muži i ženy.
Potvrzuji také, že jako Češku žijící v České republice, mě udivuje, že ať se zúčastním jakékoliv techničtější konference v roli speakera, většinou jsem na ní jako jediný či jeden z mála ženských zástupců. To jsou chvíle, kdy je převaha mužů až extrémně vidět. Z tohoto pohledu máme před sebou ještě spoustu práce a já doufám, že SLD pomůže ženám budovat sebevědomí, protože pokud ke svému cíli dáte energii sobě vlastní, tak ono to nakonec zas tak složité není, jako se na začátku může zdát.
Jana Marlé Žižková
Já pevně věřím, že SLD může s tématem diverzita pomoci. Tady v Singapuru to je takový mix všech kultur, národností a ras, lidí, kteří přicházejí z různých prostředí a myslím si, že mě místní život naučil velké pokoře a toleranci, dívat se na lidi ne jak vypadají a co mají na sobě, ale poslechnout si, jak já se můžu obohatit tím, že oni jsou jiní než jsem já.
Je to především o přijmutí rozdílů a když už se tu bavíme o mužských konferencích, tak nemohu nezmínit, že loňský rok byl pro SLD zásadní.
Každý rok se v Singapuru pořádá obrovská konference Big Data World a my jako SLD spolupracujeme s organizátory. Průměrně tam přijde až 18 tisíc lidí, z čehož jsou z 90% muži. Pořadatelé chtěli toto změnit, a tak nás požádali o spolupráci a my jim tam druhým rokem s organizací pomáháme. Mluvíme o tématech, které mohou zajímat také ženy. Díky tomu se nám podařilo zdvojnásobit počet žen na jednotlivých přednáškách.
V loňském roce jsem tam moderovala panelovou diskusi o Cloud computingu a do ruky se mi dostal seznam 4 speakerů – všichni to byli muži. Šla jsem zpátky k organizátorům, vrátila jsem jim seznam a navrhla jsem, ať na diskusi přizvou také ženy. Oni mi ale odpověděli, že mají problém sehnat ženy, které by na tak technologickou diskusi mohli pozvat. Převzala jsem tedy iniciativu, oslovila jsem několik dam, které jsem z oboru znala, a nakonec diskuse proběhla ve složení 2 muži a 2 ženy. Byl to velmi obohacující rozhovor a já myslím, že byl zajímavý právě díky našemu návrhu, ať panel zorganizujeme trochu jinak.
Česká republika má smůlu v tom, že nebyla historicky vystavena podobným kulturním rozdílům. Určitě musím také souhlasit s Táňou, je že velmi důležitý pohled z venku, kdy si člověk vyzkouší žít někde jinde, zkusí fungovat s jinou kulturou a národy, spolupracovat s jinými generacemi atd. Je třeba toto téma otevřeně diskutovat a je důležité ptát se lidí, jaké mají názory a vzájemně si je vysvětlovat. My se tu hodně bavíme o Artificial Intelligence, proč potřebujeme mít diverzitní týmy, které tyto algoritmy vytvářejí. Je to z toho důvodu, že právě rozdílnost daného týmu vytváří lepší produkt, protože se v nich nachází různé hypotézy, různé pohledy na daný problém, který se snaží vyřešit a vlastně výsledek rozdílného týmu bude lepší. Myslím si, že toto platí pro všechna témata. Pokud budeme mít různé lidi diskutující různé problémy, výsledky budou kvalitnější a lepší.
Co se týká již zmíněných náborových HR procesů, jsem přesvědčená, že je zapotřebí celý systém změnit. Měla jsem možnost bavit se s jednou velkou evropskou bankou s jejich Data Science Analytics teamem, kde měli k dispozici obecné popisy práce udělané tak, aby se lidé označili na škále 1-10, jak se sami kandidáti vidí v jednotlivých bodech jsou. A výsledek? Ženy se podcenily, ikdyž ve výsledku věděly mnohem více než muži, kteří se naopak označili za naprosté profesionály. Ve chvíli, kdy v bance změnili tento dotazník, se jim najednou přihlásilo o 20 % víc kandidátek na pozice, kam se původně hlásili pouze muži. Vlastně to bylo tím, že změnili systém komunikace s kandidáty a také je samozřejmě na vině fakt, že se my ženy velmi často podceňujeme.
Pokud byste měly říct jedinou radu, kterou by si ženy z dnešního rozhovoru měly odnést, jaká by byla?
Tania Le Moigne
Moje rada zní jednoduše – ať se ženy nebojí, ať do toho jdou, protože už jen samotnou zkouškou se člověk učí a víc získá než ztratí.
Michaela Lhotková
Zažila jsem více situací, kdy jsem musela víc dokazovat – než jsem kolem sebe v mužském světě běžně vídala -, že na něco mám. Řada situací, hloupých poznámek, nefér soudů či podceňování na základě věku, vizáže, gendru?… To byly (a jsou, i když se snižující se frekvencí) okamžiky, které mě vnitřně zastaví a říkám si, jestli to mám zapotřebí. Připojuji se tedy k tomu, co zde bylo již řečeno – nevzdávat se, věřit si, využít příležitosti a umět udělat správné rozhodnutí, které nemusí být pokaždé jednoduché.
Jana Marlé Žižková
Dámy, já s vámi absolutně souhlasím. Myslím si, že ženy mají větší pochybnosti o tom, jestli mohou chybovat. Chybování je úplně v pořádku, chybovat je lidské, ale je nutné se z chyb poučit, jít dál a nestydět se za to. Spousta věcí se nepovede, ale to je úplně v pořádku. Určitě se tu bavíme o zvídavosti, odvaze, je důležité si rozšiřovat své obzory nejenom o technologiích, ale o čemkoliv, co se děje ve vašem oboru a mít odvahu zvednout ruku a jít do nových výzev. Když budete poslouchat svou intuici a nebudete se nových věcí bát, určitě bude nejtěžší právě to odvážné zvednutí ruky. Teď je skvělá doba na to, kdy se otevírají nové příležitosti, jsou nové pracovní výzvy, např. Marketing technologists a toto je příležitost vydat se směrem, který vás bude bavit a budete si i nadále rozšiřovat své obzory. Přeji hodně štěstí.
Interview: Sophie Guerin, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Dell Inc.
Written by: Soo Sien Tay, She Loves Data Writer
Sophie Guerin is the Head of Diversity & Inclusion for Asia Pacific, Greater China, and Japan (APJC) at Dell Inc. She is co-author of “Examining Diversity & Inclusion from an Asian Perspective” and “Developing Dependency” which explores special economic zones in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
She Loves Data spoke to Guerin, who is widely recognised for her expertise in the field. This interview is a deep dive on making Diversity and Inclusion an integral part of any business, especially those with scale, touching on India and China.
She Loves Data: How does one ensure the success of D&I when the company is spread across such a wide expanse of geographical and cultural terrain?
Generally, it’s about what you’re trying to achieve in the context that you’re operating in. I think it’s really important that D&I professionals or anyone who is really passionate about this topic spends the time to truly understand their business, the industry and the economy in which they operate. Because ultimately, I see my job as someone who is driving better business performance through the lens of D&I. That helps to drive more sustainable economic growth in the communities that we operate in and for our own organisation. So when it becomes a business imperative rather than a moral imperative, that message resonates across all countries in Asia.
Each country has different nuances, different cultural priorities, different government priorities and so we have to be respectful and mindful of that and allow for localisation because that’s ultimately what’s going to address systemic barriers to equality …So I think as long as we keep it positioned as a business issue, that allows people to really look at how are we creating greater economic opportunities through meritocracy, through equality, through our programming, our go to market strategy, and not become a question of do I believe this or not because the business case is already well proven- that’s not up for debate.
She Loves Data: We agree that it is more than a positioning or education issue. How does this play into the Asian workplace?
Historically, when you look at D&I it has been positioned as a moral debate or an ethical debate, and there’s a time and place for that but I don’t think that in Asia (because of the complexity of the market) that’s really the most relevant position. You have economies where people have moved out of poverty in a generation. That’s an enormous transition for an individual, for a country, and for corporations that operate in that space.
Ultimately, what we really want to do is empower economic opportunities and if that’s what we’re really wanting to achieve then that’s what we need to keep it grounded in. That is what is going to make sense. At least it also means you make use of your resources effectively, you invest your time effectively, you invest your leaders’ time effectively because then you’re really solving for the problems in the market rather than trying to impose ideas or behaviours that may not necessarily be culturally appropriate.
She Loves Data: Yes. Resistance is common. Can you elaborate on your ideas about difficulties in convincing for change?
One of the challenges we often have in the D&I space is when it is positioned as a moral or ethical issue, or a nice to have. It is often one of the first things that gets cut in the company if there’s any financial uncertainty. When you’re caught in that space that leads to higher attrition, it decreases your competitiveness in the market. It underfunds greater economic growth in the community.
So we know that the long term ripple effects, the medium ripple effects of de-investing in D&I are significant but with companies’ ROIs (Return on Investment), that’s not the timeline they’re looking at. So if you can reframe it as not a nice to have, but a business imperative, that one needs to continue to invest and to capitalise on those opportunities, either within the broader communities which operate for your own organisation, that’s not likely to happen. That really prevents that debate of “is this the right thing to do, should we do this, should we not?”
She Loves Data: What do you have to say about this with regards to India and China?
When you look at larger economies like India and China, you still have these vast wealth disparities. What we’re trying to do in D&I is not to give people opportunities that they don’t deserve because there is often that misperception that D&I is at odds with meritocracy. It’s not.
It’s the recognition that within organisations there are systemic biases that could be through policies, processes or behaviour. When we embed D&I within an organisation, we seek to mitigate those inherent biases which ultimately drives greater meritocracy because then you’re actually considering a wider pool of individuals. You’re looking at who really is the best person for the job rather than oh, I just happen to like them. That’s the message that resonates well in this market. It also helps people to understand that that’s what we’re trying to do with D&I. It’s not to give people opportunities they don’t deserve simply because they don’t tick a box.
She Loves Data: Can you share some of your findings from your research for Examining D&I from An Asian Perspective, which you co-authored?
One of the things we did was we surveyed people. In countries across Asia, we said, “is your company inclusive?” By and large, upwards of 80-90% of people said yes. But when you then drill down, you unpack the language- basically, do you think there are biases that exist in your company that prevent you from being successful? Overwhelmingly, people said yes. Do you think there are policies that prevent you from moving forward? Overwhelmingly, people say yes.
The problem often I think, is the language which I think is perceived to be western- which it can be. I mean D&I, it comes with a lot of I think, western legacy. And when you dismantle those words, and you look at what are the issues we are trying to address in that D&I portfolio, that resonates very strongly here. People understand that. And they do see it and those barriers do exist. So I think that kind of initial defensiveness that say, oh I don’t have that or my organisation doesn’t have that. In fact, it isn’t necessarily accurate.
It’s just a hard conversation to have, it’s a hard thing to talk about, it’s a hard thing to acknowledge. And then once you’ve done that, what are you going to do about that?
She Loves Data: There’s such a lot of honesty about it- and it certainly affects how people show up at work. How do you ensure this is well communicated at all levels?
Guerin: That’s how you talk about it from a strategic perspective but when you talk about it from actually execution, what you have to be very careful. Especially as an individual who is as an influencer at the regional level, you also have to be balanced between giving people that perspective so they know what they are working for or towards.
You give them that messaging, you give them that big picture, that vision and then you let them ultimately come up with, “ok how am I actually going to do this locally?” You can’t just give lip service to localisation.
She Loves Data: Lastly, D&I is no longer a separate business prerogative. What should business leaders of especially multinationals bear in mind when incorporating D&I here?
I think it can often be hard for leaders who may be very personally tied to strategies or programmes that they’ve used in other markets to let that go in the asian market and to trust that leaders know their markets best.
If you really want to tackle the issues in meaningful ways, you have to trust your teams and the people within your organisation decides what’s the best way. Then you use goals, metrics or whatever it is to drive accountability because it doesn’t mean there’s no accountability. You still have to have that but the way you get there may look different than the way you might have gone in expecting.
It’s a work in progress. You kind of have to see what works and what doesn’t.
The one thing that I find so exciting about working in this market is the fact that it changes so rapidly. So you always have to reevaluate, assess and challenge your assumptions about what works and what doesn’t. I would argue that with the market changing and the economic dynamics changing, that’s going to impact your strategy. You have a younger generation coming up that has a very different point of view on how things should be done. So you have to be able to incorporate all those things.
It shouldn’t be the place where you get cut. It should be where you start.
She Loves Data Announces Partnership with WORK180
Sydney, Australia – She Loves Data is proud to be partnering with WORK180 in order to bring about greater diversity, inclusion and equality at the workplace even before candidates start their job searches.
Together, they offer Australia a one-stop career search platform which builds on the strength of She Loves Data’s growing international community while offering women greater control and decision making in the process.
Headquartered in Singapore, with chapters worldwide including Sydney and Melbourne, She Loves Data is a non-profit organisation which aims to reduce the gender gap in Technology. As Diversity Initiative of the Year at the 2019 inaugural Women in IT Asia Awards, it offers women from all walks
of life and abilities its signature data literacy workshops, supported by strong partners aligned with its vision.
Eva Taase, She Loves Data’s Sydney Chapter Lead says, “We love working with WORK180 because their focus on equality and inclusion is very important for our community. The partnership between She Loves Data and WORK180 is an important milestone. Over 30% of our members are looking for
a career change. With WORK180 our community will be able to directly look for jobs in companies where diversity, equality, and inclusion is practiced.”
WORK180 provides female job applicants with a transparent directory of Endorsed Employers who must meet a minimum set of benchmarks to advertise job opportunities on their site. This means information around pay equity, flexible working hours, paid parental leave and equal opportunities are made known to job seekers to better inform their decisions on which companies can better suit need their needs.
Valeria Ignatieva, WORK180 CEO and Co-founder says, “She Loves Data is a supportive community of over 15,000 women in data and we´re excited about collaborating with the group and our community of WORK180 Endorsed Employers to open up more opportunities for women in STEM.”
For more information, please contact:
eva@shelovesdata.com
valeria@work180.co
How to break into the tech industry and create a rewarding career
WORK180 asked leading women in IT about their top tips and advice for anyone interested in growing a career in technology.
So, you want to get into tech? Well, now’s the right time. With new innovations impacting just about every aspect of our lives, tech-based companies are experiencing massive growth, and that’s creating some really amazing opportunities. But there’s another reason to be thinking about a career in tech. More than ever, smart organisations are recognising that a combination of transferable skills and life experience often delivers better outcomes than qualifications alone. WORK180 asked women in the industry to share their advice on entering the tech sector and succeeding when you get there. They come from some of the most progressive organisations in the WORK180 network, so make sure you check out their workplace initiatives and job opportunities.
SO, YOU WANT TO GET INTO TECH? WELL, NOW’S THE RIGHT TIME.
With new innovations impacting just about every aspect of our lives, tech-based companies are experiencing massive growth, and that’s creating some really amazing opportunities.
But there’s another reason to be thinking about a career in tech. More than ever, smart organisations are recognising that a combination of transferable skills and life experience often delivers better outcomes than qualifications alone.
Ask yourself … Are you a great problem solver? Do you have high emotional intelligence? Maybe your strength is communication or time management.
WORK180 is a jobs board with a difference! We pre-screen employers on paid-parent leave, pay equity, flexible working arrangements and more. Find your dream job here.
Whatever it is, companies are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, and to attract great people, they’re offering employee benefits that go above and beyond industry standards.
So where to start? First you need to identify the companies that know how to look after employees and their careers. You can find this information in our Endorsed Employer pages.
Next, it’s worth listening to what women who work in tech have to say.
To facilitate this, we asked some inspiring women to share their advice on entering the tech sector and succeeding when you get there. They come from some of the most progressive organisations in our network, so make sure you check out their workplace initiatives and job opportunities.
And lastly, just go for it. Who knows what opportunities are waiting for someone just like you!
ind a sponsor – Sponsoring is very personal. Build relationships with leaders that you respect and are influential, ideally in your direct team who know your ambition and can support your development.
Ask for feedback – It may feel awkward at first, but once you’re in the habit, you can take it for the constructive development it is.
Trust your intuition – Don’t be afraid to challenge (respectfully) things you believe in or disagree on, hold yourself accountable too and don’t dwell on outcomes. A supportive team is one that collaborates and nurtures each other. And at a more senior point in your career, make it your mission to curate great culture in your teams!
Noel Williams, Partner – Technology Risk & Cyber Security, KPMG
If you find that you have to pretend to be someone that you are not, in order to fit in at an organisation – then walk away and find a better place to work! Be your own authentic self, and don’t apologise for it. We are all different and bring different skills and experience to the table. However, there is nothing wrong with selectively adopting successful behaviours, habits or traits from people you admire – constantly adapting to a changing environment means we are growing each and every day.
Ila Lessing, Director – Technology Business Management (acting), NSW Roads & Maritime Services (RMS)
Find a number of mentors. I’m fortunate to have trusted mentors, some managers and some peers. While no two career paths are going to be the same, a great mentor will give you opportunities to learn. It’s up to you to be willing to accept these opportunities and step outside of your comfort zone. There will be others around to help you, make sure you utilise the help!
Fleur Wiley, Senior Manager in Technology Consulting, PwC
Understand your strengths and challenges, both from a technical and interpersonal skills – do I like coding more than designing? Do I like selling more than solving? Once you have identified your strengths, pursue it, as you are more likely to be successful in the area that you are already good at.
Set a 1-3-5-10 year plan, remember it’s a plan to set the goal post, not a mandate. Don’t forget to take calculated risks, take on challenges, learn new technology, and change architecture if you feel that it’s right for you and that trends have shifted.
Sora Cho, Manager Customer Success Specialist, Customer Experience, Cisco
The tech industry can offer an incredibly rewarding career, and it’s important for women to get involved and put themselves out there. A great first step is to present your work on a public platform like GitHub and show the world what you’re capable of. Technology is constantly evolving, and by remaining hungry to learn new languages and technology stacks, there is no limit to what you can achieve.
Lavanya Gowri, Software Developer, Liberty Financial
Don’t listen to the word “no”. Throughout my career, I’ve had countless people tell me I wasn’t suited to work in IT, saying things like, “Why would you want to do that? That’s not the role for you.” Don’t listen to it. Follow your passions.
You don’t need every qualification to apply for a role in IT, it’s more about having the right attitude, mindset, and willingness to learn to succeed in this industry.
Get rid of the imposter syndrome, the psychological experience of feeling like you don’t deserve your success. By overcoming these fears and doubts, you’ll be able to pursue opportunities outside your comfort zone – and that’s where the magic happens.
Don’t try to be one of the boys – be yourself.
Estelle Ivory, Client Delivery Director, Optus
You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. I wish someone had told me that earlier in my career. At high school and university, I spent a lot of energy on competing with the crowd and being hard on myself because of challenges with dyslexia. But it didn’t take me too long to realise and play to my strengths of data and coding in SQL. I found that with these skills as my foundations, I can work through any changes faced in this scary fast technology changing world. Foundations are FUNdamental!
Tamzyn Bielecka, Information and Data Manager, BP
My advice is to grasp opportunities as they arise and be flexible in the roles you take. Technology is extremely broad and there are many roles that don’t require deep technical expertise. Key skills are stakeholder management, the ability to communicate technical solutions to non-technical people and being able to influence and negotiate well. Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and problem solving are equally as important as technical skills. Key skills that are transferable across any technology area include business analysis, project management and change management, which covers training and communications.
Sara Braund, VP Digital Operations, South32
What can folks do to be successful in tech? The secret to success is to learn how to learn, to develop empathy, and to learn how to communicate. Mastering these skills is a lifelong pursuit; at every stage of your career, you’ll revisit these core abilities and adapt them to your new role.
Mentorship is critical to growth. No one is born ready to be a Product Manager or Designer or Engineer. We all need role models, people who trust us, give us the feedback we need, and push us, sometimes even before we feel we are ready. And then we need to remember to honor the generosity of our mentors by stepping up to coach others.
Sadie Stoumen, VP, Product, Redbubble
It was a big decision for me to move from professional services into tech, but it has been one that I’ve never regretted! Three things were key for me, firstly asking myself “why tech”? I could see the increasing role that tech was playing in driving business strategy and I wanted to get involved. Next, having the opportunity to “do the doing” on the client side, I knew this would add to my learning and experience for the future. Lastly, by being able to leverage my consulting network, I was able to find the right opportunity for me. That was 4 years ago now, I’m so pleased I had the courage then, because I’ve never looked back.
Aimee Lindfield, IT Business Delivery Partner, Lion
Be brave! In my experience, women tend to shy away from asking specifically what they want or need. Ask! Don’t expect that things will just happen – they won’t.
Tech is a fun space. At Infosys we’re doing it all — from transforming enterprises with 5G technology to reimagining the game of Tennis — who knows what’s next.
Surround yourself with inspiring people every day – mentors, role models – it helps a lot. And remember, you are only limited by your own barriers.
Semra Barutchu, Vice-President Infosys & Head, Engineering Services Asia, Infosys
My first piece of advice is to connect with someone who works in tech and watch what they do. If you can find a mentor, even better. This will give you insights into how IT roles work and what opportunities are available to you. I’d also suggest doing your homework before applying for jobs. I’m lucky to enjoy flexible working arrangements with a really supportive organisation, and that has allowed me to juggle my career and the demands of a growing family. I started out as a developer, but now lead a team of 30 developers, analysts and project managers. The opportunity to solve problems, both creatively and analytically is really rewarding.
An interview with Jana Marle-Zizkova, Co-founder and MD of ‘She Loves Data’
Our world is a completely data and tech-driven world. Global experts say the Fourth Industrial Revolution is already here – a complete technological revolution that will influence and impact all aspects of our societies and communities. Women need to be ready and start investing in the technological skills they need for the future – today.
There are women throughout Asia who are hungry to have their voices on tech and data heard. But many of them feel nervous or hesitant to jump ‘all in’ and pursue a career in the industry. Many women hide their passions and skills for analytics, data science and data visualization, without the support necessary to flourish and fully realize their career aspirations.
Wire19 recently interviewed Jana Marle-Zizkova, Co-founder and MD of She Loves Data, to learn how her organization is getting more women interested in data, and inspiring them to pursue careers in data and tech.
1. To begin with, give us a brief about She Loves Data. Where did this all started and how the idea popped up in your mind?
The tech and data industry is one I have personally been involved with for more than 20+ years – and over those two decades, as the popularity of the industry has grown, so too has my revelation that not enough women are seated at the ‘tech’ table. In 2016, I experienced a defining career moment. We were running a data hackathon event – and again, had an almost all-male turnout. I turned around to see Czechitas, a company setting up courses in Europe for women to learn about data and tech and that was a lightbulb moment.
We should start something similar in Singapore. When we posted information about our first data workshop for women in Singapore – the results completely blew us away. Within a few days, we had almost 500 ladies registered. And the response wasn’t a one-off. The situation was the same wherever we took the idea – Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and beyond.
Two years on, and our global not-for-profit organization She Loves Data has grown into an online community of more than 5,000 women located not only in Asia, but in many other parts of the world – and it’s only the beginning.
2. You strongly debate the role of women in technology. Please elaborate in context of data, technology and analytics.
Our world is a completely data and tech-driven world. Global experts say the Fourth Industrial Revolution is already here – a complete technological revolution that will influence and impact all aspects of our societies and communities. As women, we need to be ready and start investing in the technological skills we need for the future – today. Data is everywhere – not just in the tech industry – and we can maximize it for our advantage. There are women throughout Asia who are hungry to have their voices on tech and data heard.
I also know that many of us may feel nervous or hesitant to jump ‘all in’ and pursue a career in the industry. Many women hide their passions and skills for analytics, data science and data visualization, without the support necessary to flourish and fully realize their career aspirations. Now, more than ever before, I am convinced we need more women in tech and data in Asia – industries that can be, for the most part, dominated by males worldwide.
Women have skills and abilities to bring to the industry that don’t currently exist. Diversity is important to excel and drive better results. In fact, data and digital literacy are one of the foremost skills we as women need in our ever-growing, globalized world.
3. How do you help women who want to make it big in data analytics and learn its specifics? Do you have any workshops or similar training sessions?
There is a shortage of data analytics and data scientists and by building up the community, we hope to help bridge this shortage by getting more women interested in data. She Loves Data is all about empowering women to take their place at the tech table. Our organization inspires women to pursue careers in data & tech, and helps them be bold in their pursuit of a new career.
We provide education and events across Australia and Asia for women to get their bearing, learn the foundations of data analytics & business intelligence and find their #DataTribe. The one-day free workshops we started with were incredibly popular, and we soon realized we had so many women from so many different walks of life joining. It gave me the revelation that our movement was not only about data-related knowledge, it was also about breaking industry-related barriers that different cultures placed on women. We worked hard to inspire all women, by introducing teaching to help women succeed in business, and as people.
Women should be empowered to pursue their dreams and get the careers they want. Our workshops now start to help women step out of defined boundaries, develop a growth mindset, define their personal brands and build resilience. These skills are applicable in all careers. So, when you invest in a global community of women in tech by joining She Loves Data and attending our events, you’re also investing in yourself.
4. Do you have branches in any other countries too?
She Loves Data is a regional movement covering Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Jakarta and Hong Kong. In 2019, we will be expanding into Malaysia and the Philippines. We plan to start activities outside of Asia in 6-9 months.
5. How is the data and analytics industry evolving and why it’s good for women to enter into this field?
By all accounts, the international landscape has become a completely data and tech-driven world. There will be unprecedented technological breakthroughs in the very near future that all of us (both male and female) need to be equipped to manage and support.
Global research shows that teams with more diversity perform better. We know that males and females bring different ideas, backgrounds, perspectives, learnings, skills and innovation to the table – which can broaden horizons, expand effectiveness and improve our industries and societies.
A future guided by tech and data is inevitable. We need men and women to steer the world forward and continue to create, innovate and establish. But in order to achieve that, we need to start supporting women to develop tech and data skills – in a variety of different ways from workplace culture to accessibility to education, growing tech communities, ensuring collaboration, developing inclusivity and helping more women access the opportunity to play a key role in our global future.
6. You also conduct several women-oriented events based on the theme of data. Please let us know about few of those upcoming events.
All our upcoming events across Asia and Australia are posted online at shelovesdata.com, and our Facebook page – facebook.com/shelovesdata. We partner with many organizations globally to deliver a variety of tech and data workshops, bootcamps, business workshops and more. Check our pages online for the latest events coming in 2019! As we speak we are working on plans for exciting 2019.
7. What do you think Is the importance of data in digital marketing. Elaborate in context of your Asia’s First & Only Digital Bootcamp in Malaysia.
The two-day Bootcamp empowered more than 40 female entrepreneurs in Malaysia, focusing on upskilling attendees on critical aspects of business success: good branding and digital marketing. She Loves Data was proud to be one of three tech partners supporting the event. I presented a session on the importance of data and marketing at the Bootcamp.
The event was organized by FEM (Female Entrepreneurs Movement) – we were thrilled to join forces, supporting women in the region to boost or change their careers. My session was focused on embracing data in marketing – helping female entrepreneurs build and harness a single-customer-view in business.
Regarding data in digital marketing – many professionals in marketing have been trained in traditional marketing. Our global future will ensure that data is not just an important factor in digital marketing – but in fact it will be the centerpiece.
Data is the ‘new black’ in business. Businesses need to harness data to maximize their digital marketing activities for real success. Consumers expect organizations to speak to them in a targeted way – and businesses need to interpret their data correctly in order to enhance their decision making and relationships with consumers.
8. Why did you chose to be a non-profit organization?
I started She Loves Data to help women worldwide, with the firm belief that more women are needed across the tech and data industries globally. Our non-profit gives women access to the skills, support and opportunities necessary for great careers in tech and data.
We are proud to be an international not-for-profit – She Loves Data is all about empowering women to take their place at the tech table. She Loves Data is proudly supported by tech startup Meiro. Meiro is a Customer Data Platform, available globally, working to revolutionize how companies manage and activate one of their most valuable assets: first-party data.
9. Any plans for expansion in the upcoming year?
Yes, She Loves Data will be expanding to Malaysia and the Philippines in 2019 – get ready, girls!
Suggested reading: “By 2022, carriers that do not transform will be stuck with an outdated operating model and legacy mindset.”— Philippe Millet, i3forum
10. Please share a message for the female readers who aspire to make it big in the big data world out there.
Getting involved with She Loves Data is more than signing up for the latest business advice for data and tech – it’s about joining a #DataTribe, a community of other like-minded women to help grow and advance your interest and careers in the tech and data industry.
Joining the She Loves Data #datatribe is about joining an international community – a community that is inclusive, supportive, strong, non-judgmental and provides a space for women to truly invest in, and develop, their gifts and skills in tech and data. Together, we can break barriers and build relationships and friendships to last a lifetime.
My message for female readers is to embrace the unknown! Always be curious to learn and open yourself to learn new things in the tech and data industries. If you aspire to make it big in the big data world, look for mentors and ask people for help – don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for advice – women who have built careers in this industry are eager to share their knowledge and give back. Remember, it is never too late to learn!
Sisters are hacking it for themselves
Networking events that are organised exclusively for women in the technology industry are on the rise, dispelling the prevailing view that women are unempowered in this male-dominated industry.
For Ms Jana Marle-Zizkova, the co-founder of non-profit group She Loves Data, such events go beyond swopping business cards and names.
As a facilitator for Ladies Night at Kilo, a regular networking event organised by digital retraining firm General Assembly Singapore and nightclub Kilo Lounge, Mrs Marle-Zizkova observed that many attendees were in the midst of switching industries. Touching base with other women in similar situations allows them to “support each other, create mentoring circles and attend professional events together”, she said.
At the ladies’ night event she facilitated last November, Mrs Marle-Zizkova met about 10 to 15 women who later took part in She Loves Data workshops and meet-ups.
Apart from its regular ladies’ night events, General Assembly Singapore also hosted a breakfast event commemorating International Women’s Day on March 8, in partnership with SGInnovate and artificial intelligence firm Appier. On the agenda was a discussion on how companies could nurture a culture of inclusivity at the workplace.
Not only do women-only networking events provide a launch pad for women venturing into tech-related industries, they may also give a lift to those who are building their own tech start-ups.
To this end, the Singapore chapter of global non-profit group Girls in Tech launched a boot camp in April. Designed for women looking to grow their own start-ups, the boot camp focused on developing business skills such as crafting pitches and winning over angel investors.
Ms Antoinette Patterson, founder of counselling app Safe Space, was one of 30 participants at the boot camp. With a background in digital advertising, she is no stranger to the ad tech start-up scene.
Joining the boot camp helped her take her app past the prototype stage. The camp also gave her an insight into the business models that worked best for her app, as well as the revenue streams she could tap.
On the need for women-only networking events, Ms Patterson said: “At mixed-gender networking events, some women may feel insecure about their credentials compared with their male counterparts, even if they are highly qualified.”
This sense of belonging – or lack of – was also the driving force behind Ms Nurul Jihadah Hussain’s decision to start Singapore’s first women-only hackathon last year with her team at volunteer-run organisation The Codette Project.
“Traditionally, during a hackathon, you could be drinking beer at 2am while hacking your idea. It’s not welcoming for people of different age groups and with families,” she said.
The project’s youngest participant last year was just nine years old and its oldest was 45.
The second edition of the hackathon will take place this weekend during family-friendly hours, with the event ending no later than 9pm. A designated area will be set aside for child-minding, although participants of the hackathon have yet to request for this service.
Ms Salina Ibrahim, a product lead in the mobile communications and technology industry, clocks two to three hours every week volunteering at The Codette Project. “Women have been significantly under-represented in the tech industry. Men, on the other hand, benefit from the legacy of the ‘boys’ club,” she said.
Women-only groups “help empower women to get to a level playing ground”, given how the lack of women in most boardrooms means they have to always work harder to prove themselves or get themselves heard, she added.
Not so Clueless, thanks to data
Rinat Perry doesn’t smile, she beams. Beneath that head of generous brown curls is someone who knows what she wants and has been working hard at it. As a former fashion designer and stylist, the Israeli businesswoman chats enthusiastically about how attending a She Loves Data workshop has helped with her start-up StyleClueless.
A few years ago, while watching the American coming-of-age romantic comedy, Clueless, Perry had an epiphany. She realised no one was yet offering a comprehensive tool which fashion brands can use to help their customers understand their collections. For example, if they had bought an item or two, they may not necessarily know how best to maximise their purchase by creating different combinations of outfits they liked based on their styling preferences. More often than not, the case was that someone saw their favourite Instagram influencer wearing an incredible outfit and loved it but it just did not match her body type. As Perry explained, “You hear this all the time: I love the jacket, so how do I wear that?”
Rinat Perry, Founder of StyleClueless and a fan of machine learning.
While the idea is to offer consumers the possibility of visualising themselves in a complete look by creating outfit suggestions, StyleClueless also helps brands be more sustainable as many are stuck in inventories -items that are not bought simply because people do not know how to wear them or combine them with what they already own. Most ordinary folks certainly do not have personal stylists. Ecologically, StyleClueless makes sense as well. Now, each purchase can be worn much more often and even more purposefully.
At the end of the day, Perry loves it that machine learning teaches the retail business so much more about the purchased item journey when what was offered not too long ago online were just basic shopper demographics. The potential for different fashion brands to cross promote is also endless.
The big challenge for Perry was learning to communicate with the data scientists she works with. She shares her experience after the free She Loves Data workshop on data analytics, “When you haven’t learnt Computer Science and you don’t come from that world, it’s very intimidating. Most of the time the people in this industry are not so keen about explaining and they are not patient at all. So when you come to this event and instructor Quinn Pham gives the right explanations and compares it to things we can relate to, it’s easier to understand. Suddenly, it makes sense.”
Whatever your background, wherever you are on your career journey, you too can reap the benefits of data and machine learning. Join us for our next She Loves Data event in Singapore on 30 July: Machine Learning and you.
Soo Sien Tay
Soo Sien gets a high talking to strangers and enjoys being exposed to new voices.
Her jet fuel includes spin, hot yoga and stand-up paddling.
At She Loves Data, she is doing what she loves with people she loves.
She Loves Data wins big at the Women in IT Awards
Singapore-based She Loves Data is the winner of this year’s Diversity Initiative of the Year at the inaugural Women in IT Asia Awards at Shangri-La Hotel on 29 May 2019.
She Loves Data is a non-profit movement that is making a real, quantifiable difference and gaining unprecedented momentum in Singapore and internationally. Says co-founder, Jana Marlé-Zizková, who was also a finalist under the Data Leader category:
“Winning the Diversity Initiative Award of the year in Asia means a lot to us. Not only to me, my co-founder and my closest volunteering supporters but to everyone that ever helped us out. Upskilling women is so important in Tech and in Data. We help them to find a meaningful way to make themselves relevant for the future. We thank Women in IT and the jury that supported us because I know there were other amazing initiatives that were shortlisted. I salute them. We will continue doing what we do with even more energy and more passion after this!”
Jana is also co-founder, CEO and Head of Professional Services at Meiro, a Customer Data Platform company. She has over twenty years of experience in managing country operations, teams and projects in digital and social intelligence, data warehousing and data mining. Jana is also equally experienced in customer relationship management, digital and social marketing and risk and fraud management.
Since its launch in 2015 the Women in IT Awards have showcased the achievements of women in Technology in London, New York, Dublin and San Francisco. It identifies new role models and aims to readdress gender imbalance within the sector.
The She Loves Data Team at the inaugural Women in IT Awards Asia, held at the Shangri-La Hotel last May 29 in Singapore.
Founded and headquartered in Singapore in 2016, She Loves Data has a growing global presence including the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Indonesia. To date, the initiative has trained more than 3700 women from all walks of life and backgrounds, including non-tech individuals and mid-career changers. Echoing Singapore’s high quality workshops, conferences and events, its enthusiastic overseas chapters continue to grow alongside an impressive online reach of over 13,500 members worldwide and counting.
As a community-based initiative which validates aspirations, changes mindsets and makes that shift happen, She Loves Data is also about networking and mentoring. It stands for lifelong learning, upskilling and future-proofing jobs. It is about holistically enhancing the professional journeys of women interested in joining an increasingly data-mediated world.
She Loves Data is about saying Yes! to possibilities by practising and celebrating inclusion and diversity, embracing all in terms of culture, ethnicity and age. Collaborating often with like-minded and exceptional companies, it pushes limits by jointly exploring and creating exciting opportunities for talent discovery and career advancement for women in the burgeoning world of Digital Technology.
Walking the Diversity Talk
Soo Sien Tay writes about insights from female corporate leaders in Singapore who shared about their journey in data and diversity, at the She Loves Data “Introduction to Data Analytics” Workshop in May 2019.
From outsider to #DataTribe member: my arrival at She Loves Data
I am so excited about writing this article I don’t even know how to begin. Really, I am a journalist by trade but the last time I wrote for a newspaper was in 2010. Since then I have had many other jobs, but I haven’t felt the pressure of a deadline in a long time.
So, why am I writing this article then?
Well, someone suggested I write about my experience with She Loves Data events. I couldn’t say no. It was an excellent chance to flex my muscles as a writer.
Who was that person?
It was Jana Marlé-Zizková – founder of Meiro and She Loves Data, and proud owner of not one but two pairs of Wonder Woman shoes.
Let me tell you more…
The first time I saw Jana was at the Data is the new black event, back in March. I have to say my expectations for the event weren’t that great. I had been to many events “for women” where a few successful ladies give pep talks to an audience of mostly expat women who are looking for inspiration, validation and a purpose. What usually happens in these talks is that I leave feeling less inspired and even more frustrated. Why can they do it but I can’t? How can they be so fit and successful? When did they learn how to create their own businesses? How can they run their own business when I can’t even find a job?
Singapore can be very harsh to women, especially when we don’t work. Employers tend to assume we are bored women looking for something to keep us entertained, and not smart women with skills and something to bring to the table. I was asked several times in interviews what my husband does. I was also asked who would take care of my daughter if I started working. I was even told that my salary expectations were too high and that “I didn’t really need the money”.
To be asked these questions and to have these sorts of assumptions made about me is infuriating.
So, what am I still doing in Singapore?
Jana has a lot to do with it. See, I was totally wrong about the content of the event. The all-female panel shared struggles, talked about difficulties, explained how difficult life was at moments. They didn’t rub their success in the audience’s face. These women overcame obstacles, jumped through hoops and over hurdles to get where they are. They all had things in common: being women, incredibly bright, humble and working in the data field, whether by chance or by choice. I still wasn’t sure what data was about, but I was truly inspired and I needed to learn more. I went home and started researching, I read articles and watched videos. I learned about data visualization tools and realised that it all tied in really neatly with my background.
And what background is that?
I am Portuguese and left my home country fresh out of university, in 2004, to pursue my dream of being a journalist. I moved to Spain where I worked for several newspapers and magazines. But the economic crisis hit hard and many papers went bankrupt, including my main clients.
It was time to pack my bags and go back home. Obviously, after making a living from chasing stories, asking uncomfortable questions and writing for hours… after years of arriving home late and eating cold pizza in the morning, how was I going to get my kick of adrenaline? PR and event management didn’t really work so I started teaching.
What? How do you even go from A to B?
With bills to pay and putting to good use something I already knew. In my case, Spanish and English. I taught children, teenagers, adults, corporate, public schools, one-to-one, large groups, you name it. The adrenaline was back! Standing in from of people, teaching them a new skill, listening to their questions, thinking on my feet. When preparing my classes I always tried to add some humour and make things light and fun.
A year went by and I had to decide whether to renew for another year or move again as life was getting quite claustrophobic. In a turn of events that included the start of a new relationship I packed my bags again and went to the UK. I was going to keep on teaching but ended up working in an International School where I quickly went from Receptionist to Deputy Director of Studies. Soon there would be a restructure and I applied for a job in a university. I got it and in under a year I went from Administrative Assistant to Senior Officer. It was a great job: I led a student support team with 7 amazing women and about 8.000 students.
What does this all have to do with data?
Great question, as the politicians would say. At the time I didn’t know, but I was dealing with raw data and trying to make sense of it every single day. I dealt with students, modules, schedules, classes, allocations. It would’ve been a lot easier to do that with some specific software and a data analyst in the team. As a journalist, I had to read reports and write articles. I was the one deciding what information to use and knowing what mattered to my readers. This is also data analysis. Who knew?!
What was my next step?
I kept a close eye on this She Loves Data thing and as soon as they announced another event I signed up. The event was called “Introduction to Data Analytics” and it was only for women. About a hundred of us attended this all-day masterclass on the basics of Data Analysis.
How did it go?
It was awesome! I saw Jana again and confirmed that she is set in helping women find the best in themselves: to develop new skills and to find or confirm their worth. Right at the start, she showed everyone how to connect with each other on LinkedIn. On that day this network became interesting to me.
Jana then introduced Quinn Pham, from Meiro, and Steve Remington from Minerra. They spent hours teaching new terminology, showing software, breaking down things that seemed very complicated. We discussed data visualization and context. This was definitely not an event for techies… I am not one and enjoyed every minute of it. I learned that interpreting data is no different from translating from one language to another. I also learned that pie charts make Steve’s cats sad. Trust me on this one, after hearing Steve talk about pie charts you will not see them in the same way again.
Who else was there?
Asides from the dozens of women from all sorts of backgrounds and industries, many of whom I had the pleasure of talking to during and after the event, the She Loves Data team brought some heavy-weights to share their professional journeys: Katrien Bollen from Google, Melissa Ries from Tibco, Stephanie Chin from HP. Down to earth women who have been where some of us are: suffering from imposter syndrome, feeling like we are not worthy of a seat at the table. Let me tell you that the seat at the table is not Thor’s hammer. You don’t have to be worthy… you just need to want it.
What happened after the workshop?
I approached Jana, Quinn and Steve. I told them how much I had enjoyed the event and how friendly the environment was. I also liked how the trainers were not patronising or condescending.
We shared contacts and I got in touch with Jana and asked if I could join her, Pavel, Quinn, Steve, Nelya, Patricia, Alex and many other volunteers who are making the world a better place by including and welcoming women into a field that traditionally is difficult for us to access.
And???
Well, now I finished writing my first article as Content Producer for SLD. Soon I’ll start co-managing the newsletter with the help and support of some incredibly bright and friendly people. I am proud to say I have found my #DataTribe.