Technically speaking
By Ingrid Green
Hundreds of brilliant technological minds all gathered together under the same roof – and there was barely a male among them.
The Women in Technology Australia conference provided inspiration, personal accounts, eye-opening perspectives and empowering words from a variety of industries.
Chaired on day one by Symes Group’s founder and CEO, Jessica Symes, the summit was a great opportunity for women in the largely male-dominated technology sector to learn, network and share experiences. Bouyed by Jessica’s ability to make people feel comfortable and positive, attendees were keen to join in discussion.
Cecelia Herbert, diversity and inclusion manager (APAC) at Google spoke about building a diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem. Google’s sole organisational psychologist, Cecelia shared valuable insights into the organisation’s human resource philosophies.
Equality has not yet been achieved in our world, and Google’s efforts to address that lies in accepting it, and increasing the opportunities beyond the organisation, while enhancing the diversity within it. The latter, Cecelia said, relied on inclusion, through promoting both the uniqueness and belongingless of each staff member. Inclusion, she said, meant individuals felt respected, connected, involved, valued and able to succeed.
To achieve this, she believes cold hard facts are essential, so all people decisions within the company are supported by science and data.
Research undertaken within the extensive troops has proved that the most vital factor in any team’s effectiveness is not the contribution of any one – even the most outwardly valuable – individual, but the way in which members interact.
At Google managers matter, a lot. And management can be measured. Everyone’s opinion counts.
Jo Gaines, Salesforce DMP’s managing director (APAC) asserted that the future of women in technology was dependent on us. Jo gave an honest and vulnerable account of her early life and career, sharing her experience and interactions to urge females to step up to the plate.
As women we need to tackle the imposter syndrome – that destroyer of confidence and ambition. Are we waiting for someone to invite us? Mentorship can make or break you.
Great mentors should be strong, honest and open-minded. Find one, she said.
Vajira Weerasekera, CTO, Microsoft services Asia, explained leadership lessons he’s learned from ultra running. Confidence, attitude and recognition, he said, were the secret to high performing teams, and attitude really matters. Key to achieving this? Foster a growth mindset, believe in what you do, take on different perspectives and don’t hire people just like you.
Kendra Vant, principal data scientist at SEEK, made a point that resonated with many. As a young graduate, her younger self probably wouldn’t have believed that some years later, in 2017, there would still be the need to have conferences like this one, to empower women and promote gender equality – that this would simply be a given. Sadly, it’s not, and she stressed the importance of learning from the past so we’re not doomed to repeat it.
Role models were the hot topic for Deloitte’s Flavia D’Alo. She claimed they were vital in today’s culture of manufactured discontent, and it’s attributes, not individuals, we need to seek. Continued>>>
As women, we need to tackle the imposter syndrome. Are
we waiting for
someone to invite us?
49