Hi, I'm Christine...
I develop resources and toolkits to ensure women thrive in their first five years in tech.
I develop resources and toolkits to ensure women thrive in their first five years in tech.
You can download the free resource by joining my mailing list to receive updates on changing the story of the tech industry. Read on to hear my story and share yours.
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My first few years in tech were hard. A few early moments convinced me that I didn’t belong and I struggled to move past that and recover. I was told I was too emotional and not technical enough. I was afraid to ask questions, scared of breaking the build, and hard on myself for every mistake. Coworkers compared me to their girlfriends and I felt pressured to attend happy hours or participate in ping pong tournaments in order to fit in. In reaction to that, I cared passionately about diversity and recruiting issues, convinced I could change my team that way, but soon that became all I was known for. When I pushed for change, some listened, but more didn't. Burdened with microaggressions and workplace challenges, I felt alone.
Community came in many forms: an early mentor who inspired me to take action, a woman who joined my team, a listserv of people around the world dedicated to change, and a women in engineering group. Six years later, I've achieved something I never believed was possible in the early days. I stayed in tech. In the last 6 years, the industry has changed and my teams have changed. But most importantly, I have changed with the help of my community. Things are far from perfect and there are still hard days, but I'm here.
I believe everyone in the industry has an important story. Whether you've stayed for years or are just starting out, your story matters. Tech industry stories shine a light on challenges affecting underrepresented minorities in the industry. We can use those stories to create community and drive lasting change.