On the heels of Women's History Month, we are spotlighting three women at the firm to learn about what inspires them and how we can better champion women in technology.
Renee Ismail
Head of Identity and Access Management, Commercial Banking
What inspires you most about women in technology?
I think our resilience throughout the history of technology is most inspiring to me. Women have made so many amazing and essential contributions to the industry as a whole; however, they often go unnoticed or uncredited. Still, in light of this, we persist forward, continuing to innovate and help each other be seen.
What more can be done to ensure greater inclusion and representation of women in the tech industry?
As women, we provide a different, important perspective, but also as a group we are not a monolith. For decades, the feminist movement only represented a specific class or group of women. However, to truly take advantage of the benefits diverse ideas bring, we must maintain an intentional focus on intersectionality. Women belong in the game!
Monique Forward
Executive Director, Employee Platforms
What inspires you most about women in technology?
What inspires me the most about women in technology is that they manage to get it all done.
Their ability to create and build complex technical solutions while uplifting their communities and supporting their families is amazing. I am in awe at how so many of our women leaders in tech manage to lead at home and professionally. They are great team players and provide us with roadmaps on how to move forward.
What more can be done to ensure greater inclusion and representation of women in the tech industry?
Empathy. I think so much of inclusion counts on the ability to be empathetic to people who have different experiences from yours. Being empathetic requires you to be aware and listen to someone’s life and decenter yourself. Being empathetic can be something as simple as being mindful not to place a daily meeting after the school drop-off time for working parents. These decisions can have a profound impact on whether someone feels included and part of the team. I would like to see more empathy and consideration of women and their roles outside of work.
Tatiana Badaracco
Senior Associate, Chief Technology Office
What inspires you most about women in technology?
What inspires me most about women in technology is their resilience and determination to break barriers in a field traditionally dominated by men. Their innovative thinking, leadership, and the unique perspectives they bring are invaluable in driving technological advancements. I am particularly inspired by the way many women in tech advocate for diversity and inclusion, understanding that diverse teams foster innovation and create better solutions. Seeing women excel in technology roles sends a powerful message to younger generations that they too can aspire to be part of this exciting field, regardless of their gender.
What more can be done to ensure greater inclusion and representation of women in the tech industry?
One of the key steps towards ensuring greater inclusion and representation of women in the tech industry is to enhance our tools for addressing questions such as, "Why should there be more women in tech?" We need to help society understand that a gender gap exists not due to a lack of capability or interest, but largely because of societal biases. Even when people believe they are unbiased, subtle actions can reveal that decisions are often skewed. To combat this, we need to promote awareness and education about these unconscious biases, and how they can impact decision-making.