Women in Tech – Sharon Berg

How long have you worked in the tech industry and what drew you to the field?

I’ve worked in tech events since 2006. Having grown up in Silicon Valley during the late 1980s and early 1990’s, I’ve always been an early adopter of productivity tools and technology in general. I didn’t realize until much later on how fortunate and special it was that each class at my elementary school had a computer lab of Apple 2Es to practice Reader Rabbit and Math Blaster on. Fairly soon after graduating from USC with a degree in Public Relations intending to work in professional sports, I realized I have a knack for translating technical terms into everyday business concepts and turned this into a career.

Most exciting project you’ve worked on?

I’ve been lucky enough to work on lots of exciting and unique events, from the HoloLens2 launch event to a 40,000-person post conference party at the Las Vegas International Motor Speedway but I think one of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on was the challenge of taking an in-person conference to a virtual, digital environment in just under six weeks while the world started locking down amid a global pandemic. Not only did I have to translate my skill set into a completely new format, we were also creating a new event type, on a very short runway all while navigating multiple unknowns and many of our staff and speakers living in the US COVID-19 epicenter.

Your perspective on the challenges and opportunities women face in the tech industry?

One of the biggest challenges I see for women in tech is the elusive notion of balance– something that is especially tricky for working moms. Like so many other working parents, my day starts up to three hours before I even get to my desk and continues long after I step away for the evening – though I’ll likely check my email and Teams chat right up until I call it for the night. All this said, the tech industry offers so many more opportunities and flexibility than other industries with all the productivity tools we have at our disposal and have embraced.

Are you involved/passionate about any non-profits or organizations?

As a road-warrior (during non-pandemic times), I’m passionate about helping my kids’ teachers and our synagogue embrace technology to make communication smoother and easier for all.