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“We all deserve a seat at the table, we all have something important and unique, our own skills and perspectives are important to the development of our communities.”
This is the message from Data Platform MVP Mico Yuk and Developer Technologies MVP Diana Rodriguez as they each mentor women around the world about equality in tech. Here are their stories.
Mico is an accomplished public speaker and mentors analytics leaders from Fortune 1000 companies like Alimed, Mobile Mini and Intel through her BI Data Storytelling Mastery Accelerator Workshop VIP program. Unfortunately, it remains a sad truth that women and other underrepresented folks continue to face barriers to progressing in their tech careers, Mico says.
“Whether or not it’s apparent, there are many Fortune 1000 companies (especially the older ones) that still suffer from old-school, non-female-friendly male leadership,” Mico says.
“In addition, there are biases that exist. If you’re a black or brown female, you must come from a good school who got here because we need ‘diversity’. There is more of a tolerance than an acceptance, and it is felt.”
“It’s disgusting and I’ve seen it in and out of board rooms for the last 10 years. I’ve concluded that until this generation of decision-makers retires, this dominant underlying attitude will not be eliminated.”
Until that time comes, Mico believes the fastest and most effective solution will be to push for an agenda that focuses on more leadership that “looks and thinks like us.” Mentorship is vital to supporting women until then, Mico says.
“Mentorship is very much like therapy where it provides a ‘non-judgmental’ avenue to talk … with someone who has been there, done that, and is still thriving,” she says.
Likewise, Diana is inspired to encourage women that there is “room for everybody in the tech ecosystem.” With mentorship efforts ranging from Uruguay to Malaysia, Diana wants to inspire her students to achieve their potential and beyond.
“Sadly, there’s still so much ignorance to combat,” Diana says. “But it can be combated with knowledge, access to tools, learning resources, mentoring, job opportunities, and a welcoming environment.
“And, finally, getting rid of these toxic behaviours that reward unhealthy practices like working unreasonable hours, toxic masculinity, gender bias, and more.”
Diana is the education director of frontendfoxes, a charity that creates and hosts workshops to teach front-end technologies to women in an engaging way. The group – which is made for women, by women – is preparing to begin three cohorts of a free bootcamp in April.
Access to education, platforms and content help women to overcome the current barriers of tech, Diana says. “As a mentor, I like to pave the road for my mentees to succeed. I’m not the oracle and I may not have all answers, but I give my very best!
“It’s a learning experience for me, too. I like to see it as a win-win because I am sharing knowledge from a collection of personal experiences as a way to pave their success. At the same time, I gain new perspectives and insight, different and innovative ways to approach problems and think of solutions through code.”
For more on both mentoring efforts, visit Mico’s Twitter @MicoYuk and Diana’s GitHub.
Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.
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