Learning to be a Leading Lady in Tech...

Poornima VijayashankerSheCodes Conference

August 9, 2013poornima@femgineer.com

@poornima

1

2

WoMAN.

3

What does being a leader mean?

4

To me.

5

Why is leadership in TECH important?

6

By 2020 US businesses will need1.4M

computer scientists

Credit: She++7

Based on today’s graduation rate only 30%

will be filled by American graduates

Credit: She++8

Only 19Fortune 500 Companies are run by Women

Credit: She++9

Why is it important to have ladies who LEAD?

10

• More capital efficient

• 35% higher ROI

• 12% higher revenue than male-owned tech companies

11

Where AND how do you START?

12

TECHBusiness Engineering

13

Transition.

14

• ROLE: requirements

• Clarity & PRECISION

• PORTFOLIO: papers, projects, products

• STREET CRED: Stories

15

What is standing in our way?

16

IMPOSTER SYNDROME.

17

COMPARISON

18

19

ENVIRONMENT

20

21

Leadership

MentorsSupport

Environment Experience

Network

MenteesChanging Landscape

22

Support.

23

Find a BIG brother or sister.

24

1. No INVITATION? Learn to crash!

2. BE informal.

3. ASK FOR help!

25

BAD experience?

26

BAD environment?

27

Needs and GOALS.

28

Workplace Flexibility

Drawing Credit:

NYTimes29

Review.

30

GROUP MENTORING

Femgineer Friends

Visit femgineer.com/mentoring

31

KEY OBJECTIVE(S) AGENDA

DELIVERABLE

BREAK OUT SESSION

Get comfortable telling stories that demonstrate leadership abilities.

30 minutes Get into groups of ~5 people.

1. Introduce yourself to the group.

2. Describe the role you’re interested in.

3. Tell the group a story that demonstrates why you are a capable leader.

4. Refine story.

5. Present.

Short presentation

32