Today, August 26th, 2020 we will be observing Women’s Equality Day. In an effort to show off the talented and diverse women that we have working at Juice, we invited several of our employees to talk about equality and what it means to be a woman in tech.
We asked for these women to answer the following questions:
What does equality mean to you?
What is your experience in being a woman in tech?
How does Juice Analytics make you feel supported as a woman?
What is the best advice you would give to other women in technology?
Here was what they had to say.
Amanda Banks - Account Executive
1. Equality to me means providing everyone with an equal opportunity and recognizing individuals for their unique selves regardless of what they look like on the outside.
2. My experience in tech has been incredible. I have been fortunate to have mentors and support systems that have aided in my success.
3. Juice Analytics ensures that everyone feels supported and has the ability to lead with their whole selves.
Susan Brake - Application Delivery Manager
Equality to me means similar relevant circumstances receive similar treatment. Relevant circumstances would almost never include race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender.
My experience generally has been good. But my path to a career in tech was unusual. (I changed to a career in tech after a career in law.) I wonder if I would have had the same success had I taken a more traditional path. The prevailing assumption among many in the tech industry is that the industry is a meritocracy, that the best ideas and the highest performers naturally rise to the top. This assumption does not hold up under scrutiny.
Juice Analytics is the first company I've worked for that acknowledges that children are not just logistical problems to be solved. As a working mom, I am engaged in a constant balancing act, weighing the interests of my children against those of my employer and career. Rather than ignore this reality, Juice provides me the flexibility to do right by everyone's interests.
Providing general advice to "women in tech" is tricky, because we are not a monolith. But here it goes. :)
People sometimes confuse confidence with competence. Strive to have both.
The time you invest in developing negotiation and persuasion skills will be worth it. I recommend the book Getting to Yes as a starting point.
Examine your own implicit biases. Harvard's implicit association tests can be revealing.
Be on the look out for talented women in tech and raise them up when you have the opportunity. As Secretary Albright said, "There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women."
Tabitha Liburd - HR Manager
When being a woman does not affect my identity, opportunities and access to resources.
I am an H.R. Manager in the tech industry and thrilled to represent women occupying non-technical roles in the tech space.
I feel very supported at Juice Analytics. We are an equal opportunity employer with an outstanding culture of promoting diversity, inclusion, and non-discrimination.
Take a seat at the table when you’re offered one, and build your own table if no one offers you a seat at theirs.
Aida Martinez - Data Integration Developer
Equality for me means providing the same opportunities, responsibilities, and rights for all human beings. It means recognizing and embracing diversity.
My experience in being a "woman in tech" has been challenging at times, but one I've found pretty rewarding through the years. I have experienced being the only woman in the room and being underrepresented both in academic and professional settings. However, I have been able to make my way into the field by working hard, learning from my mistakes, and keep a positive attitude.
My current experience at Juice Analytics has been extremely positive. Juice Analytics is a place where I have found peers I can identify with and share our common experiences. Moreover, is a place where you can get personal and professional support, and encouragement to create and try out new things, as well as a flexible environment where work-life balance is valued.
I would tell them not to give up on their careers in technology. Nowadays there are great women communities like Women Who Code, Women Techmakers, Women in Technology, etc. which are a great way to network, receive support, and look for mentorship from other women in the industry.
At Juice, we are insanely passionate about diversity & inclusion and we are grateful to the contributions to our company that all of our female employees bring. Happy Women’s Equality Day to you all!