“Now, more than ever, there's a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. There's a strong call to #PressforProgress motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive,” IWD.
We, the women at Accelo, heard this call for action and banded together to develop a few strategies for our sisters in tech. Why? Because we know - just like you - how hard it is to break through gender barriers in the workplace.
We hope these Top Tips for Women in Tech inspire you to press for progress, but more importantly, motivate the men around you to do the same! Here goes:
Speak your mind and learn to ask for things. Don’t let preconceived notions of how women are supposed to behave or get treated cloud your judgment and hold you back. You might not see immediate results, but over time, you’ll see the impact. Who knows - you might just have inspired another woman to follow in your footsteps.
Surround yourself with accomplished, stylish, witty, and beautiful women - befriend them, engage them, restate things your female colleague has said, and give them credit. Look for ways to lift each other up, and praise the accomplishments of those around you!
Speak up! Ask questions! Push boundaries! Be the Hermione Granger in a sea of Harry Potters.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When I first started in tech, I caught myself holding back for fear of looking like a “dumb girl” to all of my male coworkers. I never wanted to appear unintelligent. In reality, no one was thinking that, and I was really just stunting my own personal growth.
Always negotiate salary and not just accept whatever an employer sends you initially. Find a mentor within your field or in your company whom you can talk to about their experiences and get their much needed outside perspective. These are things that men do, but women don't because they feel like their wasting other people's time.
Stay positive! Your attitude affects the people around you, and it’s always great to bring each other up.
Take a moment and remember who you are and what you stand for. Don’t be sucked into fulfilling a certain role or stereotype just because someone says so. Say ‘no’ when you’re uncomfortable, recite a mantra when you’re unbearable, and always tell yourself that you are unstoppable.
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. You won’t be given what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.
Be assertive. Women often feel like they need to let other people talk, be respectful, and “ladylike”, but too often that’s taken as a sign of weakness. Don’t be afraid to talk first, don’t be afraid to cut in and tell people off for interrupting you, and let your opinion be known. Some people will call you “bossy” or a less polite version of the word, but you know the worth of your words - make sure others know too.
Always speak up and make sure you are heard. If you weren't heard, speak up again and again.
If you found these tips helpful, please share them with your friends and colleagues. The more noise we make together, the closer we get to change.
