Every
time that I stood on the stage to deliver a talk
Ever
time when I was resolving my customers issues
Every
time when I was training geeks
Every
time when I was representing my company in a conference
Ever
time when I was signing a partnership deal
I was
proud of being a woman in this men dominated tech corporate world.
It no
more surprises me, when I find myself the only lady around the table in a
strategic meeting. There is this perception that woman are good in marketing,
testing, graphic designing, documentation. It’s time that we empower more woman
in programming, leadership, management domain.
There is
lots said, but let me share in my experience of being a woman in this tech
corporate world for 5+ years and working in different job profiles:
Corporate trainer: I have seen guys raising their eyebrows,
surprised & commenting when they saw me waking in the training room as a trainer.
Somewhere notorious, teasers, hard to handle and most importantly had huge egos.
In spite of all this, I knew I was there to impart my knowledge. I didn’t take
things personally; my passion towards teaching was high. I just didn’t teach
them to programme C, VBscript, Android & Java but make them feel coding as
a poetry.
Server Consultant: My US customers used to be so excited to
hear on the other side of the call a ladies voice & each time I got into a
call to resolve my customers live production server issue..they made me feel so
special & never failed to compliment and send me nice gifts. I guess a lady
can easily empathize and be patient with a customer whose app server is big
time screwed up and I just did that.
Programmer: Each piece of code that I wrote, each
module that I built, each APK/WAR/EAR that I created… they were like my babies.
I assured that they are well built, clean & had a long future and defect
free.
Evangelist/Presales: It’s a very glamorous profession, but for
a female at times a wrong act, message, move can lead her to no where. We are scanned
from top to bottom, offered drinks, smoke and long drives… but with time you
pick up the art to get away from all this & get your work done. There is lot
of assumptions about ladies being in this field, but I always found it a nice
challenge to clear these clouds.
Technology Writer: A woman is expressive & especially
when it comes to me let it be my blog or technology freelancing that I do, I always
write from heart. I get many offers for technology writing, like lately it
being Digit Magazine. I just wish I get more time for my writings.
Business Development: I face very few females in this field,
and I wonder each time WHY ? We talk finance, revenue share, branding,
strategy, business goals, vision, competitors move etc. When I get into these
meetings I feel like I am getting into boys club. Being a teetotaller & vegetarian
I have learnt to manage myself to talk business in pubs, parties and most of
the times deals getting finalized in the smoking zone.
Well throughout
this journey, I never felt bad, hated men or regretted for being a woman. My dirty
secret is that today wherever I am is majorly because I am a lady and I am
proud. I get lots of attention & compliments which I really enjoy it to the
core.
So
ladies my message to you’ll is “Technology
is a beautiful world, come in…we need more ladies. We have so much talent
within us to drive innovation, lead business & change the world for better.
I am enjoying myself here…. do join me, I am waiting….”
