Women in Tech – Lindsie Rowe

This blog is a contribution from JeffreyM employee Lindsie Rowe, Marketing Program Manager, Microsoft

Call it aging or call it quarantine-induced nostalgia, but I found myself quite sentimental as we entered Women’s History Month this year. While reflecting, I realized that nearly all my managers have been women. While this may seem unremarkable, when put into context, it becomes not only surprising but downright rare.

See, in my eight-year career, I have worked solely in tech where only 25% of the positions are held by women. So, how did I get so lucky?

Maybe it’s coincidence, but here’s the thing – women lift other women up. Not only have I learned a plethora from my female managers, but I owe large steps in my career to a couple that took a chance on me. And now, with 2.3 million women having left the workforce since the start of the pandemic, we need to lift other women up more than ever.

So, here are a few tips from my #girlbosses that I’d like to pass along to you:

1. Stop saying ‘Sorry’

I know, we’ve all heard it before, but I’ll say it again because it is important, and I am NOT sorry to remind you (and myself!) to STOP SAYING SORRY. I, like many women I know, have been conditioned to apologize whenever I might have put someone else in the slightest inconvenience. Running a couple minutes late to a meeting? ‘Sorry!’ Grabbing a bundle of carrots from the produce aisle while someone indecisively stares at the organic produce 1 foot away? ‘Sorry!’

We must stop apologizing for being human and taking up space. If you actually make a mistake and need to apologize, by all means! Again, we are human, but people mirror the respect you emit into the world so, hold your head high, walk with confidence, and wear a broad-shouldered 80s blazer if you want to make a point.

Just take up the space you deserve, no apologies necessary.

2. Develop thick skin

Feedback is crucial. Harsh? Sometimes, but fundamental for growth. Unfortunately, antiquated workplace habits die hard.

I will never forget a meeting during where one man, let’s call him Jake, felt the need to express his distress about the recent tough quarter we had by standing up, walking around the room and yelling for 15 minutes straight. When questions emerged, my boss was only met by bravado each time she tried to answer.

There I was, sitting next to my manager, sweating from the heat of the barrage thinking, ‘Why is no one stopping him?’

I was so upset that someone would treat another coworker this way and kept wondering; if my boss were a man, would Jake have reacted the same way?

Later, when I got a chance to ask her how she was she just laughed and replied, ‘Oh, I don’t care what he thinks.’

My boss never let her emotions get the best of her while this man threw a tantrum. She just sat back, quietly and professionally, earning the respect of the rest of the room.

Oh, and she never apologized.

3. Lead with Empathy

You know which countries began leading the way in decreasing COVID-19 cases? Women-led countries! You know how? Empathy!

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern led New Zealand in being the first country to eradicate COVID-19 in June 2020. Sanna Marin of Finland, Angela Merkel of Germany and Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan have all also been internationally recognized for unifying their countries with clear, comprehensive plans and compassionate communication in response to the pandemic.

Women leaders are not only more empathetic to a variety of needs but are generally indicative of a more diverse and inclusive team. Empathetic leaders hold the humility to listen to outside voices and ensure representatives with diverse backgrounds and expertise have a seat at the table. In fact, having women as leaders is good for everyone. According to a Harvard Business School study, venture capital firms that hired more female partners showed increased profitability by up to 9.7% over those without.

The presence of empathetic leaders promotes equality, instills trust and improves the overall quality of work. When you ask people what they need and meet them where they’re at, you better understand how to help them. And when you help others, you help yourself.

A simple and sincere check-in on a project, skill development or their non-work life goes a lot further than you might know.

4. Ask for Help

As women, we are accustomed to serve everyone else around us before ourselves. This means we often take on too much while overlooking our own, basic needs but when you begin to ask for help and start to delegate a whole new world opens up to you. Not only can you learn new ways of doing things, but you also get a little time back for yourself.

I wouldn’t have learned anything if my managers hadn’t delegated to me, and our successes would not have been as large if they had tried to do it all themselves. For the sake of your team, your family and yourself, ask for help!

We’re nearing the end of March and my sentimentality continues. I am so grateful for all the strong women leaders in our world and in my life. It might be a while longer before social distancing is a thing of the past so, until then, I offer a sincere thank you and a virtual hug to each every one of my female bosses.

What lessons have the lady bosses in your life taught you?