Our Lead(H)er series features impressive women leaders in the tech industry. In this Q&A, we are featuring Holly Knights, VP, Digital Marketing & Analytics at SmartBear. 

Where did you grow up and how would you describe yourself as a child? 

I was born and raised in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Growing up, I was very interested in space and jets and always thought I would be a pilot or astronaut. To this day, I still love going to airshows! I was always curious, an avid reader, and loved learning new things. My high school years were spent working hard both inside and outside of school. I was very active in school activities and sports, often taking leadership positions in clubs like drama, chorus, and yearbook.   

What did you study in college and what was your first job out of school? 

I studied Communications in college, focusing in on television production. I loved the coordination it took to put a show together, so many moving parts and the creativity of it all. My senior year, I interned with Hearst Media (parent company of WCVB), working at their Needham facility. While it was exciting being in the TV industry, I quickly learned that was not the career I wanted for myself. I ended up taking a job in the telecommunications sector right after graduation, in customer service. While there, learning the business, I moved up into project management, eventually coordinating large scale data networking projects nationally, keeping them on time and on budget. It was such a learning experience. I feel very lucky to have been able to understand the technical side of the business with IP addressing and the foundations of data networking, while also being able to build my business knowledge with understanding project costs and margin. I credit the people there, from my strong female boss to the engineers, with helping me round out those important skills. 

Can you share the details on your career path and what were the critical moments that got you to where you are today? 

A key moment in my career path came when the tech bubble burst in the early 2000’s. I was laid off from the telecommunications company I had been at for over five years. I ended up taking a job with a small startup called iProspect. It was a very small agency focused on a new concept at the time called search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM). That was a turning point for me. I was able to learn the inner workings of Google, which was in its early stages at that point, how to get websites ranked in the engine and how paid search worked. I managed a number of clients from B2C to B2B, and it was so exciting to see how much search marketing could do for a business. Looking back now, those years were the most impactful of my career and the start of my career in Digital Marketing. I’m still very close to those people I worked with then, and we’re scattered all over the world. What we didn’t know then is we were working in a part of marketing that would become one of the most important drivers for any business. 

After that, I worked in-house for a few companies doing Digital Marketing for both startups and enterprise companies alike. Each one afforded me the opportunity to keep my search engine marketing skills sharp while also taking on more responsibilities from Social Media Marketing to Analytics to Web Operations. I was also leading larger teams and having P&L responsibilities. My technical and business knowledge both came into play across all of those roles, helping to drive better business outcomes and reduce costs. 

What is your current role and responsibilities? 

Today, I am VP of Digital Marketing and Marketing Analytics at SmartBear. This was a net new team I was able to build from the ground up when I started over two years ago, and we continue to grow and evolve as the needs of the business change and mature. My team and I manage all of the digital marketing activities as well as the marketing reporting and tracking across all of the SmartBear product suites. That includes paid advertising, (our biggest channel being paid search), search engine optimization, conversion rate optimization, A/B and multivariate testing, and marketing analytics. We work cross functionally across the business, closely partnering with Growth Marketing, Product, Product Marketing, and Web Operations to ensure our sales team and ecommerce business are receiving the right amount of leads and trials, at the right cost, to achieve our business goals. 

Looking back, is this where you thought you’d be professionally?  Was it always your goal to be in this position? 

To be honest, I was always more opportunistic in my career path, versus deterministic. Saying yes to stretch my skills and learn new things as they came to me was a big factor in where I am today. As I said before, I am a very curious person by nature and love to acquire new skills, so that helped me move forward in every position I had. In a way, being rooted in search engine marketing helped me become an expert in any business I was in, because you have to put yourself in your customers’ shoes to understand their search behavior and intent. I credit that mindset to helping me get up to speed quickly and uncover new opportunities. 

For people who are looking to be in a similar position, what advice would you give to others in terms of helping them achieve their career goals? 

1. Start at a marketing agency. I have spoken with many grads and always encourage them to start there. Being at an agency gives you the opportunity to work across many different clients and industries in a short period of time. It helps you understand what you like and don’t like - trial by fire. You are also able to try different marketing activities and learn the ins and outs of them all. Then, you can move “in-house” and focus on one industry, business type or discipline. I would not be where I am today without my hands-on agency experience. 
2. Be versatile. Be open to going outside your comfort zone and try new things, and learn about those new things. It sounds cliché, but you need to be flexible and willing to get uncomfortable to stretch and grow. Say yes, and don’t ever pass up those opportunities because you’re comfortable in where you are. 
3. Be yourself, be authentic. I think people are at their best when they are fully themselves in their work. You’ll want to think you need to be more like other people, but then you aren’t being true to yourself and that eventually will set you back.  
4. Take a presentation skills course of some kind. I was lucky to take a Dale Carnegie course early in my career (thank you, iProspect), and I still use those skills today. It was hands down one of the best courses I have ever taken. We all need to learn how to explain our thoughts coherently and with enthusiasm. It becomes more important as you speak with leaders who have limited time. 

What are the most important skills that you need to do your job well? 

Empathy. To be a good leader you need to start by being a good human, and caring is at the heart of it. I need to understand what’s going on with my team not just in work, but outside of work as well. I care about each of them and what they’re dealing with personally and professionally in order to keep us moving ahead. 

Adaptability. Both marketing and analytics are constantly changing. You have to be able to move, pivot, and adapt. That skill is a hard one for me, but I have gotten better at it over time. Practice not getting upset or troubled by change. I learned to take a breath, dig into what’s happening, and move ahead. 

Have a north star. A vision. A good team doesn’t need to be told how to get somewhere; they need guidance on the end point. Knowing what you want to accomplish is key, and communicating that vision to your team, involving them in the development of that vision, making them part of that vision, helps the team all be invested in the outcome. 

What do you find most interesting/rewarding about your work?  What’s the most challenging? 

Seeing the fruits of our labor. Achieving, or better yet, surpassing the goals we had set and knowing what we did to influence those achievements. I also love challenges, knowing we have an issue that needs to be solved and trying to solve it. I like to get my hands dirty and dig into the data to see what’s happening. 

On the flip side, the most challenging thing is lack of time. My team has so many things coming at them and things they want to work on that we’re always trying to prioritize and then reprioritize. They do a great job, it’s just a constant challenge of trying to be efficient. 

Q&A 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 

My husband and I have two small children, 7 and 5, and we love to spend time with them. Whether it’s playing outside, jumping on the trampoline, going to the park, riding bikes, or our annual beach trip to the Cape, we try to be present when we’re with them. 

How do you manage stress? 

Sounds funny, but I actually work better under stress. I tend to get hyper-focused and can block out the noise that way. 

How many cups of coffee do you have in a day? 

I usually have one large one every morning. 

Any book or podcast recommendations?

I don’t have a ton of time so I like The Pivot podcast. I also just started Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin. 

What advice do you have for recent college graduates? 

Don’t be too picky about finding a job. When you get one, use it as a learning experience and get as much as you can out of it. Learn the business, and always ask questions. If you start at a marketing agency, try and understand your clients’ businesses. It’s a unique opportunity to have a broad perspective across industries to see what works and why. 

And don’t forget to take a presentation skills course of some kind. You’ll learn skills that you’ll need throughout your career.  

Changing careers is a big deal. More and more people are considering it, and doing it in recent years. The pandemic created an opportunity for many employees to pause and re-evaluate their current careers and consider what they really wanted out of their work. 

Concurrently, job growth at startups has been outpacing the overall private job sector for years.  A recent study concluded that growth at VC-backed companies grew 960% over a 30 year period from 1990-2020 as compared to 40% in the total private sector overall. 

In the last few years, working for a startup has become more attractive for many, as pandemic-related work shifts have led to an increase in remote work and flexible schedules. The demand for talent at startups has been on the rise, resulting in a stronger market with more options for job seekers. Among many benefits, startups tend to be progressive, more open to remote work, and the opportunities for growth and exposure to a variety of inner-workings of the business are plentiful. 

For many, working for startups is a dream they haven’t felt they could realize because they built their career in other fields and the move doesn’t seem to make sense. And others may have never realized the opportunities and benefits of working for a startup. Knowing this, and having worked inside startups and with them over most of my career, I created an offering inside of my 1:1 coaching container called Transition to Tech. 

Coaching support helps to expedite the transition to a new industry, and helps job seekers realize their perceived leap is within reach. What a lot of job changers don’t realize is how big a role mindset plays in making the transition. When we believe something is possible, can get clear on what we want, and visualize it, amazing opportunities open that we didn’t even realize were possible before.  I’ve witnessed this time and time again in my own life as well as in my clients’ experiences. Through a process that also involves honing transferable skills, mastering influence in the interview process, and effectively leveraging personal networks, transitioning into a new role is not just possible, but an amazing opportunity for personal and professional growth. 

Curious to learn what it’s like to transition into a tech startup career from another career outside of tech? I sat down with former coaching client Eliza Rafferty, now a Customer Success Manager at Toast, to discuss the process of transitioning away from her 12-year catering management career into the Boston startup scene. 

Here’s a bit of our conversation:

Christine: What were the factors that prompted you to consider a career in startup tech? 

Eliza: After many years in the same industry I began feeling stagnated and drained rather than energized at work. I knew something had to change, and I had the urge to do something different, where I could still use my most valuable skills.

I was always curious about the tech field and culture, I love to learn and enjoy fast paced work - but it seemed so outside my wheelhouse. At the same time I learned that tech companies were starting to hire candidates like me that could bring organizational and soft skills to their customers and industry. Also, on a personal level, at this point in my life I knew that a remote work environment with a more steady schedule was what I craved for myself and my family.

Christine: You made a big change! What did you do to get ready to make the transition and apply for jobs like the one you have now at Toast? 

Eliza: The best thing I did was hire a career coach, so many things had changed since I had last started a job search, making that investment was crucial in my success. I had no idea where to begin, how to organize my thoughts or what roles I was qualified for (or was interested in). Having support and an outside perspective was invaluable in that process.

After we really narrowed down what types of roles that might be interesting to me in the tech field, I started researching the types of companies that I wanted to work for. I was making a really big change and wanted to make sure it was going to be a good fit both for me, and the company I ended up working for. 

I wanted to work for a company with a culture that resonated with me, that really lived the values they stood for. Also, since I knew because I was transitioning into a different industry where I was probably going to be making a lateral, if not lower than lateral move, I wanted to know there were going to be opportunities to grow.

The other thing that really helped was talking to anyone I could who was either working for a company I was interested in, working in a position that I was interested in, or had made a similar career change. I tried to talk with people at a variety of levels and people who had been in the industry for a while or just starting. Those conversations were invaluable, and are ultimately what lead to me being hired at Toast. 

Christine: How did your mindset play into the process?

Eliza: I went through a lot of stages - but when I finally made the decision to move on, it was freeing and exciting. I kept my main goals in mind and approached everything as being curious.

I also wrapped my head around the fact that I was probably going to be “uncomfortable” and frustrated for a bit but that this wasn’t a bad thing. I was going from a position where I was the expert, to not knowing anything - I mean everything is new. I vowed to not be afraid to ask even the smallest questions and to be as open and honest with my managers and colleagues as possible.

I found it really reassuring that Toast understands that their product is constantly growing and changing. I could quickly see that they are putting so much time and effort into how departments are enabled and structured, always putting their employees and customers first. I can see the roadmap and it is exciting to be here at this moment in time. I always think of it like this - I am learning how to fix a car, while driving it, while that car is simultaneously turning into a plane that I will eventually need to learn how to fly. Knowing that change is a constant, helps me to manage the day to day and my personal expectations.

Christine: How are you leveraging skills from your last industry now in your new role at Toast? 

Eliza: The mission statement of my department, Restaurant Success, is “creating raving fans and successful restaurants.” Once I understood that and started seeing everything I do through this lens, I knew this was going to be a great role for me.

I use the communication skills from my previous roles every day at work - making sure people feel heard and understood while at the same time providing information and resources to help them succeed in the clearest way possible.

Fast paced time management skills are really important and something I developed over the course of my career. How to determine what needs to get done first and how to not let a fire that comes up throw you off course for the day/week. I also know at what times of day I am the most productive and schedule projects accordingly.

I also believe I was hired because of my decision making skills - we will always do right by the customer. A lot of times, I let my manager know why I took a course of action, rather than asking what I should be doing. 

I would say that the last skill from my previous roles that I really use is knowing how to ask questions and then look for answers. That is a big learning curve just knowing what the question is and then there are lots of sources to look for solutions or answers - but we also approach many things as a team.

Christine: What do you love about your new role?

Eliza: I absolutely love all of the people I work with. Every single person I have met has been kind, genuine, and supportive. Being able to answer a question for a customer, and find a great solution for them is also really fulfilling. I also love the schedule and working from home, being able to walk my kids to school and pick them up in the afternoon has been life changing.

Christine Fiske is a mindful leadership coach to startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Her VIP methodology starts with Vision Casting and includes Inner Alignment and taking Purposeful Action. Prior to launching her coaching business, she ran her marketing consultancy working with startups and VC firms, and served as a startup executive at several Boston-based startups.

Episode #250 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Jonathan Bush, Founder & CEO of Zus Health.

This is an extra special episode of The VentureFizz Podcast as it is a milestone episode - welcome to Episode 250! This means we have over 10 days worth of entrepreneurial and investor interviews!

For Episode 250, I couldn’t think of a better guest than Jonathan Bush, Founder & CEO of Zus Health. Yes, his last name is Bush, as in the same Bush family where his uncle and cousin were both president of the United States. 

Jonathan has been following his own journey as a very successful healthcare entrepreneur. He co-founded and led athenahealth to a public offering with this early cloud based healthcare software provider.

His latest company, Zus Health, is an even larger swing, as the company is looking to build out the platform to disrupt the healthcare industry the same way Stripe disrupted payments by building the industry’s first shared development platform backed by a shared data record. 

The company is venture backed with financing led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). F-Prime Capital, Maverick Ventures, Rock Health, Martin Ventures and Oxeon Investments also participated in the round.

In this episode of our podcast, we cover:

• Trends across the healthcare and tech industry.
• His background growing up and how his time spent as an EMT and a combat medic gave him the inside look at the inefficiencies across the healthcare industry.
• The full lifecycle story of athenahealth in terms of the original business model and how the company evolved to being the leading provider of cloud based services for electronic medical records, revenue cycle management, medical billing, and more.
• All the details on Zus Health and how they are disrupting the healthcare industry, plus the details on their growth plans ahead.
• An overview of Firefly Health where Jonathan is the company’s Executive Chairman.
• Advice for first time founders on building startups in the healthcare industry.
• And so much more.

Here's your look at the latest hires and promotions across the tech community at ZoomInfo, Vestmark, EDB, Advisor360, and Seismic.

Did I miss your new employees? Send me an email with their name and details about their new role. I'll add them to next week's edition of Talent on the Move. 

ZoomInfo

Andrew DeNome

 

Customer Delivery Manager at ZoomInfo

Previously, Engagement Manager at Zilliant

Erin Gettings

 

Senior Account Manager, Enterprise at ZoomInfo

Previously, Sr. Enterprise Account Executive, Investment Practice at Upwork

Kaytelynd Kelley

 

Talent Acquisition Leader at ZoomInfo

Previously, Talent Acquisition Manager at Waters Corporation

ZoomInfo is hiring!

Vestmark

Andrew Liao

 

Staff Software Engineer at Vestmark

Previously, Software Engineer, SMTS at Salesforce

Vestmark is hiring!

EDB

Matt Manieri

 

Principal Product Designer at EDB

Previously, Design Director at Sony

EDB is hiring!

Advisor360

Eric Esfahanian

 

VP, Enterprise Sales at Advisor360

Previously, Chief Revenue Officer at Heretto

Advisor360 is hiring!

Seismic

Hayden Stafford

 

 

President & Chief Revenue Officer at Seismic

Previously, President, Global Field Operations at Pegasystems

Seismic is hiring!

Our Lead(H)er series features impressive women leaders in the tech industry. In this Q&A, we are featuring Mariah Bridges, Sr. Director, Content & Community at InsideTracker. 

Where did you grow up and how would you describe yourself as a child?

I asked my father to answer this question; he said, “Curious, bright, alert, artistic, and stubborn.” – and I grew up in North Carolina. 

What did you study in college and what was your first job out of school?

I studied English and Psychology in college. My first job out of college was a professional dance choreographer for competitive dance teams. 

Can you share the details on your career path and what were the critical moments that got you to where you are today?

I started a traveling dance convention business at a young age that benefited the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Starting from the ground up, I had to learn (sometimes the hard way) all about building a business, event planning, and leadership. After years of growing that business, I had the opportunity to sell. Then I started planning events and fundraising for nonprofits that eventually led to startups' brand building. Both owning your own company and working in the startup/nonprofit world taught me how to wear multiple hats, organize, and the value of budging. What I didn't know at the time was that community-building skills were etched in everything I did. I quickly learned that my passion and education in psychology was a superpower in the marketing world, so my consulting business took off. I stayed very niche in the endurance/health and wellness space and was lucky enough to grow and learn from some of the best in the wellness marketing space-- which eventually led me to cross paths with the CEO of InsideTracker. Little did I know that everything I had been a part of before then had to lead me to content and community marketing within the biotech space, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

What is your current role and responsibilities?

As the Sr. Director of Content and Community, I lead a team responsible for all aspects of demand generation, email strategy, lead nurture workflows, social media, content strategy, community activation, events, and growth. InsideTracker is full of intelligent, talented humans, and I consider myself lucky every day to get to learn and grow with them. 

Looking back, is this where you thought you’d be professionally?  Was it always your goal to be in this position?

I never thought my career would take me to where I am now, but I’m not surprised by it either. My only career goal has been to help people, grow outstanding communities, and learn along the way. So with that as a goal, I would say I’m right on track.

For people who are looking to be in a similar position, what advice would you give to others in terms of helping them achieve their career goals?

Marketing is constantly changing. You have to acquire and master best practices at the same time you are educating yourself on the latest tactics and trends. And it is critical to always be a student of your industry. The more you know the product, your customer, and the psychology behind how they make decisions, you will have a unique perspective to add to industry best practice tactics. 

What are the most important skills that you need to do your job well?

Adaptability, Communication best practices, Creative Problem Solving, Data analysis, and hands down; project management. 

What do you find most interesting/rewarding about your work?  What’s the most challenging?

Leadership and Management. The greatest joy of my life is leading a team. I consider it an honor to help others grow their talent, career, and help the company to achieve their goals. It, however, is also highly challenging to adjust working styles for each colleague while at the same time working towards the company's immediate growth needs and long-term growth goals. 

Are you involved with any professional organizations outside of the company? Volunteer work?

Board Member of Healing Canines 

Volunteer Coordinator and Producer for Shop Local Raleigh and WRAL 

Run Coach for Girls on the Run 

Community Development Volunteer for USO 

Q&A

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

My family is number one. We love to sail, boat, workout, and weekly walks around the neighborhood with my dog Maverick. When I’m not with my family, I’m usually crossing something off my “Learn list” or traveling — from skydiving license, Ironman racing, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, and more. I love this world of ours and consider myself a constant explorer. 

​

How do you manage stress?

Before you learn how to manage stress, it is essential to have the proper tools in your stress management toolbox (Mental therapy, physical fitness, nutrition optimization, laughter, gratitude, human connection, sleep, mindfulness, positive self-talk, journaling, organization, etc.) 

I acknowledge all the tools for stress management, and sometimes I’m excellent at prioritizing them and knowing which tools to use, and sometimes the toolbox is all but completely closed. 

Still, some of that is the cost of excelling in your career. There are times you have to push through the stress, as it is nearly impossible to prioritize all self-care and stress management tools every day. So in those times, you focus on the one thing you can do, do it well (give yourself tons of grace), and when that season of your life has subsided, you can double down on the tools in your stress management toolbox. I’m lucky to work for InsideTracker and have access to the platform and an incredibly smart health and wellness community backed by science. 

How many cups of coffee do you have in a day?

I go through phases where I’ll walk to my local coffee shop and grab a cup usually 1-2 a week but then sometimes I go months without. 

Any book or podcast recommendations?

• Atomic Habits - James Clear 
• The Power of Moments: Why certain experiences have extraordinary impact - Chip & DanHeath
• The Secret Lives of Colors - Kassia St. Clair 
• Any Harry Potter or Fantastic Beasts book
• Huberman Lab Podcast 
• How I Built This Podcast 
• The Tim Ferriss Show  
• And of course, Longevity by Design Podcast 

What advice do you have for recent college graduates?

Take time to figure out who you are apart from what others have told you that you should be, then go out and unapologetically be that person. 

Invest in your natural gifts, your talent. Because talent finds work, and work finds talent.

It takes time to build up your career but every season of growth has its purpose.

Be humble and know that therapy is your friend. 

Our Lead(H)er series features impressive women leaders in the tech industry. In this Q&A, we are featuring Nicole Hildenbiddle, VP, User Experience at Rue Gilt Groupe. 

Where did you grow up and how would you describe yourself as a child?

I grew up on the eastern end of Long Island, New York, in a small town called Amagansett. It's a beautiful part of the country with a thriving art and design community, which captured my attention at a very young age. I would describe myself then and now as a deep thinker with an appreciation for beauty and detail. When I was thirteen, I began training with a local artist named Linda Capello, who focused on figure drawing. The five years I spent working with Linda motivated me to pursue a formal design education.

This is a photo of my son and me last summer in my hometown:

What did you study in college?

I studied industrial design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island. I went to college thinking I wanted to focus on painting, but during my first year at RISD, I was exposed to human-centered design and fell in love with it. I found it fascinating that a well-designed object or experience could influence behavior and positively impact the daily lives of others. Every project was an opportunity to connect with new users, understand a unique problem space, and use creative thinking to develop a solution.

Can you share the details on your career path and what were the critical moments that got you to where you are today?

The beginning of my career was not glamorous. After working hard in college, I graduated during a recession, and finding work as a junior designer was very difficult. I took freelance jobs and did contract work where I could find it and eventually joined a design agency in Seattle, WA. As a young designer in a small but growing agency, I had to wear multiple hats. I managed client relationships, conducted research, designed web experiences, and wrote code. It was a challenging period in my life, and I often felt like I was burning the candle at both ends, but I learned a broad set of valuable skills that helped differentiate me from my peers later on in my career.

I joined a luxury department store chain in 2013. It was an exciting opportunity to help establish user experience as a new discipline for the popular retailer with a growing e-commerce platform. For the first time in my career, I was working on a single product suite with a team of designers at a large organization. As I grew into a leadership role, I became more confident in my abilities and learned how to drive transformational change within a corporate structure. I was also introduced to the philosophy of servant leadership during my time at this company, of which I'm an advocate to this day.

I moved to Austin, Texas, to join an online marketplace for coupons and deals in 2019. My role was to support a growing team of designers, establish a strong design culture, and deliver impactful changes on an aggressive schedule. Within the first year, my team redesigned the complete product suite, which put the company on a new growth trajectory and played a significant role in its 2020 acquisition. This opportunity challenged me in new ways and helped me grow into a stronger people manager and business leader.

These experiences have led me to my current role at Rue Gilt Groupe. Each one has shaped who I am today and compelled me to push through self-doubt and self-imposed limitations.

What is your current role and responsibilities?

I'm the VP of Product Design at Rue Gilt Groupe. Rue Gilt Groupe is a leading off-price eCommerce portfolio company that operates three complementary sites: Rue La La, Gilt, and Shop Premium Outlets. I joined the company last year to establish an influential user-centered design, research, and writing discipline. I'm excited to be part of the leadership team focused on accelerating the company's growth by connecting with customers and supporting top talent. My day-to-day activities consist of helping my team navigate design challenges, identifying opportunities for the product, promoting our discipline throughout the organization, and connecting with our customers to gain insights. I love my role at Rue Gilt Groupe because there's a ton of opportunity to influence and significantly impact the customer experience. 

For people who are looking to be in a similar position, what advice would you give to others in terms of helping them achieve their career goals?

As a leader in the design industry, I believe it's essential to understand your craft and stay curious. We are in a quickly evolving field, and I think people do themselves a disservice when they become too comfortable. It's also imperative to be kind and respectful inside and outside your professional life. Relationships matter. Positive relationships do more than grow your network; they improve the quality of your work and your day-to-day life by making collaboration more efficient, enjoyable, and ultimately more rewarding.

What do you find most interesting/rewarding about your work?  What’s the most challenging?

I love demonstrating the power of design and bringing people from other disciplines into the creative process. I've led multiple companies through design transformations at this point in my career, and the first phase is always focused on building trust. You need to inspire your colleagues to innovate and push past established norms, which can be challenging because there are many different personalities, agendas, and working styles to navigate within an organization. I've successfully built trust by bringing cross-functional partners into the creative process and working with them to create an inspirational vision that we can work toward incrementally. Getting in a rhythm of incremental delivery is when the magic happens. The organization begins to see how gradual design changes can dramatically impact the customer experience and business, and they want more. There's a dopamine effect when a new design, feature, or copy change goes live, and the numbers start to climb in the right direction. When I see that shift happen and people within the organization begin asking for more design and user research, I'm reminded why I love this industry so much. It is incredibly impactful and rewarding!

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

If I had to choose one, I would say I will always be proud of my work on the e-commerce platform of the luxury department store chain. When I joined the company, it was funding major renovations to the retail stores, but there was little investment behind re-envisioning the e-commerce space, which was lagging behind the competition. I initiated and drove an effort to demonstrate the importance of modernizing our customer-facing, digital experiences, resulting in full funding for redesigning our digital product suite. This redesign generated significant wins for the company year over year. A future-thinking concept from the initial board presentation also evolved into a product, which was a big success.

I look forward to leveraging my learnings from past experiences like this one and making a significant impact at Rue Gilt Groupe. I believe the best is yet to come!

Q&A

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I'm very interested in health and wellness and I’m currently studying nutrition. I think it's remarkable how seemingly small changes we make to our lifestyle add up and have the potential to transform our health. I also highly value the time I get to spend with my family. My husband, son, and I have a very close bond and enjoy exploring new places together.

How do you manage stress?

Poor relationships are a significant source of stress in the workplace; therefore, I prioritize building positive relationships with my team and colleagues. I also make time for a walk each day and practice breathing techniques to reduce anxiety. The power of breath is impressive! Here's a good book recommendation on the topic: Breath The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor.

How many cups of coffee do you have in a day?

I don't drink coffee. I gave it up two years ago when the pandemic started because I noticed it triggered anxiety, so I now opt for caffeine-free herbal teas. My new favorite is a Lavender Mint blend by RISHI teas. You can still find me in coffee shops though because I like the ambiance, and my son is a hot chocolate connoisseur. 

Any book or podcast recommendations?

Two books that shifted my perspective recently are Atomic Habits by James Clear and Untamed by Glennon Doyle. My team is also reading Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek right now, and I'm enjoying it.

Do you have any open roles?

We have a Product Manager role on our Business Intelligence team open right now, and our Engineering organization has several open positions as well. It is an opportune time to join Rue Gilt Groupe because it's on an exciting growth trajectory, and there's a strong appetite to innovate and improve the customer experience.

What advice do you have for recent college graduates?

There's a Martin Luther King Jr. quote that I revisit, which is: "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." I felt so much pressure to have it all figured out when I graduated college, but there was no way I could have foreseen how my journey would unfold. Each step introduces you to new people and opportunities, so forget about the five-year plan, focus on the now, and take your first step. The steps will build upon each other organically, and one day you will be looking back on your life from a new vantage point and appreciate all the twists and turns. 

In recognition of International Women's Day and this year's theme #BreakTheBias, we reached out to companies asking the following question: 

How is your company recognizing International Women's Day and accelerating equality for women?

Here are their responses. 

Forward Financing

In addition to the workshops and volunteer opportunities that Forward Financing is hosting, our VP of Technology, Brittney St. Germain will be facilitating a “Women In Tech” lunch for all women-identifying employees on the Technology team. The women will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their experiences working in tech, and discuss any challenges they may be facing. We are looking forward to learning more about the accomplishments of the women on our Technology team, and how we can continue to support them in their careers.

Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies will be kicking off the Month of March with a discussion on "What is Allyship?" with writer, speaker, organizational consultant, and public policy and communications specialist Malcom Glenn. During our annual user conference, Formation, we will also be hosting a Fireside Side chat on our main stage on March 7th with our Chief People Officer, Courtney Townsend, and Reshma Saujani, activist and Founder of Girls Who Code, a global partner of ours and Marshall Plan for Moms. In addition, our Women's Resource Group will be hosting events in honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month throughout March.

 

Cedar

For International's Women's Day, Cedar Women+ is asking Cedarians to share stories about women in their lives they value and appreciate. The final compilation will be shared as a podcast, so all participants can share with the most important women in their lives on International Women's Day.

Cedar Women+ is one of Cedar's three employee resource groups. The mission of Cedar Women+ is to support and promote all people who are underrepresented or face gender-based biases through cultivating an environment that connects, empowers, and advances all women, both professionally and personally. We strive to remove gender barriers, promote diversity and provide a safe and supportive community in the workplace for all Cedarians.

 

 

ZoomInfo

The Women’s Initiative Network is dedicated to accelerating equality for women by providing opportunities for professional development and community connection. Not only do we hold events like women in leadership panels, professional development workshops, happy hours, coffee chats, book clubs and more, but we also foster a strong sense of community among women at ZoomInfo by having a super active Slack channel where women from across the company (and across the world) share their input on daily discussion prompts.

 

 

Aqua Security

Aqua is honoring its women and making steps to #BreaktheBias through various initiatives. One example is a panel led by Aqua board member Rona Segev of TLV Partners and features 3 Aquarian woman. All employees were invited to attend and engage. Additionally, we’ve launched a new digital magazine to spotlight several of our women – keep an eye out for it on social media! (Follow us @AquaSecTeam on Twitter, Aquaseclife on Instagram or on LinkedIn).

 

Toast

At Toast, we're inspired by the uniqueness we all bring to the table and the diversity of the restaurant industry. We foster an inclusive culture where all employees are empowered, motivated, and supported.

We do this in many ways, one of which is our employee resource groups, known as Toast Communities. ToastHER is our Toast Community for female-identifying Toasters and their allies. ToastHER regularly hosts networking events, mentorship programs, and learning opportunities with both internal and external speakers. This community is on a mission to empower one another in the workplace, and help others develop the personal and professional skills needed to thrive.

 

Veeva

In support of our mission to grow a diverse and inclusive workforce, Veeva is accelerating equality for women through our Veeva Women’s Community. This employee-led resource group takes an active role in promoting gender equity in the workplace. Initiatives include partnering with our talent attraction team to diversify the talent pool, establishing a mentorship program, and offering opportunities to learn and share through DEI-focused webinars and hot topic discussions centering women's experiences in the workplace.

 

Liberty Mutual

At Liberty Mutual, we’re passionate about inspiring and supporting women in technology every day. Whether it’s someone’s first introduction to STEM through our coding outreach programs, mentorship through our Women in Technology (WiT) community, or a new connection as an attendee at our annual Women in Tech Summit, we continue to find ways to ensure women feel valued for their individual strengths and are recognized for driving innovation. To honor International Women's Day, we’ll be hosting a variety of programs that highlight women who are making things better and helping create change.

 

Markforged

Markforged is celebrating International Women’s Day by bringing in a female leader in STEM who has navigated a male-dominated industry, served in many engineering advanced technology development teams, and is an active member of IEEE. We chose to partner with her to provide meaningful insight and help our employees navigate their professional journeys. She will speak with our entire team and participate in a more intimate, private Q+A session with our WAM affinity group.

 

Onapsis

Onapsis employees across the globe will be getting together on March 8 for a day of giving back, learning, and fun. Onapsis will be building donation boxes for a local women's shelter, take part in a speaker session hosted by IWD, and our team will have the opportunity to take LinkedIn Learning courses. We will also be launching our first Employee Resource Group, to support, empower and recognize the business women of Onapsis.

 

Pluralsight

Following this year’s International Women’s Day theme, Woman@Pluralsight, one of our Employee Resource Groups, will be celebrating Women’s History Month by #breakingthebias. We’ll be hosting a panel discussion featuring 4 women tech leaders at Pluralsight. During which, they’ll answer a series of questions related to bias and talk about their experience as a woman in tech. Though this event is specific to IWD. Women@Pluralsight has programming year round featuring educational resources, events, and mentorship opportunities for women and allies

 

Robin

To commemorate this celebration, Robin is bringing the first She Makes Sense sponsored event to all our Robinauts. She Makes Sense is an event-based platform for womxn at Robin to share their expertise and experiences in a casual and supportive space. Events are held monthly on Thursdays and are typically in a presentation or discussion-based format.

On Thursday, March 10th at 12pm EST, we will have a workshop led by Claire Wasserman from Ladies Get Paid on the topic of Self-Advocacy. Here's what we'll cover on this session:

FIND YOUR POWER: HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF AT WORK
Many of us think that if we put our heads down and work hard, our work will speak for itself. But it’s actually the opposite: to get ahead, WE have to speak for our work. But easier said than done. Led by Claire Wasserman, the author and founder of Ladies Get Paid, this workshop will give you the tools to take risks, be bold, and make sure your voice is heard. Key takeaways include:
 

1. Identify internal roadblocks (imposter syndrome and perfectionism) and how to combat them​
2. ​Track and articulate your strengths and accomplishments
3. ​Find advocates and allies
4. ​Gain visibility and project authority

 

JRNI

Each day of March, we are posting a Fun Fact on slack having to do with notable women in history or the history of IWD

Starry

To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, Women at Starry is relaunching their “Nominate a Starry Woman” spotlight program. All employees are able to nominate a woman who has positively impacted them, their team, or Starry by submitting their name to the group. We did this last year as well, but this year the intention is to highlight more women. Those who are selected will be recognized company-wide on Slack as well as our internal website and newsletter.

 

Agero

Agero’s Women Who Lead associate resource group has invited employees to submit recognitions of women mentors, role models, and leaders from across the business who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of Agero. These recognitions will be shared broadly to celebrate the talent we have! The ARG is also hosting a panel consisting of a handful of leaders who will share career development insight with a focus on equality for women.

 

Hi Marley

Aside from our ongoing DEI efforts and the establishment of a 'Womnx across Marley' employee resource group, Hi Marley will celebrate International Women's Day by conducting an employee-led social campaign. We are asking each of our team members to share a story about a woman that has positively impacted their life (personally or professionally) and to thank that individual via social. Employees will then also nominate individuals in their network and encourage them to do the same to share the goodwill. By shining a light on these stories we hope to elevate the voice of women and also share how actions large and small can have a profound and positive impact on the lives of others.

 

Simon Data

Simon Data is supporting the 2022 International Women's Day theme, "Break the Bias". We asked our team to provide a picture of their arms crossed to show solidarity; we are making the submissions into a sharable collage for social media channels. Together, we are pledging to forge women's equality, celebrating the achievements of women, and raise awareness against bias.

 

Allego

Allego is excited to celebrate International Women's Day as a part of Women's History Month. In March, we are conducting a workshop on common biases that women face in the workplace with the intent of mitigating it, offering a movie discussion on RBG, and hosting Women's History Trivia.

 

Bamboo Health

Bamboo Health is hosting author Jill Eaton to speak to us about “Gender Communication Differences: Why They Matter at Work.” Jill will share the latest research, with examples from her corporate and personal experiences, and lead a discussion about how our position on the gender spectrum impacts our relationships and effectiveness at work. Bamboo Health will also host a virtual Women’s History Trivia in celebration of Women’s History Month.

 

Motional

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the heart of the company’s mission, both internally and in its product development. In recognition of International Women’s Day, Motional is hosting a number of initiatives aimed at supporting its female workforce and promoting the acceleration of women across STEM fields. This includes internal workshops, women’s leadership panels, and educational spotlights of prominent female leaders across varying industries. Motional will also be featuring a number of its female employees across its social media channels throughout the month, highlighting the many career opportunities in the AV industry.

 

Formlabs

We are running a few events during Women's History Month!
 

• Toast to Women at Formlabs on 3/8 with treats from local women-owned restaurants
• Hosting a Women's Networking Night with a few panelists from Formlabs across multiple departments who will share a bit about their background and their career progression so far. We will then offer follow-up conversations split by universal skills such as negotiating & project management, and leave time for open conversation / networking.
• Book club - reading "Women & Other Monsters" - Formlabs provides the books and we meet to discuss over 3 different meetings.
• We have a Women in Engineering Affinity Group that is a very active community for women at Formlabs, with a couple women-specific slack channels that are pretty active as well.

 

Starburst

Starburst is recognizing and celebrating the incredible women of Starburst through a month-long social campaign. We will amplify the voices of our women employees by sharing their views on what it means to be a woman in today's workforce and what makes them proud to identify as such. These posts will be coupled with photos displaying their diverse and unique identities — whether it be a photo of them doing something they love or sharing a part of their lives outside of work.

 

GoTo

At GoTo, it’s our mission to cultivate and celebrate a culture of gender equality by representing and empowering women+ and allies. We strive to make our company a place where everyone can do the best work of their lives, and feel comfortable bringing their full selves to work. In recognition of Women’s History Month, and the international theme #BreakTheBias, we are hosting a number of events aimed at supporting our employees in their understanding of unconscious bias. For the first time, GoTo will be hosting a company-wide development time, with live and self-paced learning opportunities, for employees to understand the various kinds of unconscious bias. In addition to providing educational opportunities for all employees, we are providing a safe space for women+ and allies to reflect on the theme for the month, and to feel comfortable expressing themselves, their feelings, and their stories. In addition to thought leadership throughout the month, we will be volunteering as a company with San Francisco Village to host intergenerational conversations with older adults. Ultimately, we hope that everyone at GoTo feels they have a voice, a sense of community, and endless opportunities to grow as a professional. GoTo is hiring globally! Interested professionals can visit https://www.goto.com/company/careers to learn more!

 

Aura

Women@Aura Employee Resource Group (ERG) is spotlighting women across the organization daily via our Women's slack channel, organizing an International Women's Day Trivia designed to test our knowledge on the influential women and events of the past that contributed to our culture and society today. We are also hosting a Women@Aura panel for the entire company to discuss the importance of recognizing Women's History Month. Just recently, we had an inspiring female speaker come to talk about her successful career journey and to give advice to other women.

 

SmartBear

On March 8th, SmartBear is hosting a fireside chat with Tory Frame. Tory has had a diverse career, from a Partner at Bain and Company to researching accountable and responsible AI. During this event, Tory is sharing best practices with SmartBear employees on how to create successful and inclusive global teams. We’ll also launch our, ‘This is what a _____ looks like,’ initiative on social media. This campaign will highlight some of the accomplished women at SmartBear who hold leadership positions across all departments at our company and who serve as mentors and role models to their colleagues.” - Maureen Plowman, SVP Brand & Corporate Communications at SmartBear.

 

Klaviyo

Klaviyo is celebrating International Women's Day (and Women's History Month) with a series of events sponsored by The Kladies Collaborative, our employee resource group for women. Events include a Munch 'N Learn with a beloved Klaviyo customer and female founder, a build your own terrarium workshop, a panel discussion with female Klaviyos who also run a side hustle, and a fireside chat with director, writer and filmmaker, Rachel Feldman, about her film, LILLY, about Lilly Ledbetter's fight for gender equity.

 

Perch

Our Women at Perch ERG is hosting a series of engaging events to recognize and celebrate Women's History Month, open for members and allies. One such event was an open discussion focused on caregiving; the group provided a safe space to discuss topics such as re-entry after taking maternity leave, balancing the demands of work with caregiving, and how Perch supports women in these ways.

 

Lose It!

Lose It! sponsored tickets to the California Conference for Women for anyone interested in participating and is hosting a lunch and learn to discuss learnings on March 8th.

We are recognizing the women at Lose It! through an employee-led campaign that is set to go live on March 8th. Lose It! maintains compensation equality among our employee population through annual salary adjustments that benchmark on market data

 

Vista

The Women In Technology employee resource group (WIT) at Vista is hosting multiple celebrations to recognize women throughout the entire month of March. These volunteers have brainstormed, planned, and promoted events such as a panel discussion with female leaders across Vista and Cimpress, as well as Women’s History Month themed trivia. WIT will also be featuring woman-of-the-week posters, honoring various women throughout history. Along with these events, WIT is encouraging Vista employees to give shoutouts to women they admire and want to recognize throughout the entire month. Beyond Women’s History Month, WIT is always dedicated to building a supportive community for women and allies across Vista, Cimpress, and the technology industry.

 

Zus Health

For International Women's Day Zus will be donating to a charity focused on helping Women in Ukraine, and will be matching employee donations to any women-focused organizations in the month of March.

We will also be holding on-site and virtual lunches on IWD, with lunch sponsored (or reimbursed) from women owned restaurants and will be discussing Women who inspire us.

To accelerate Women every day at Zus we are focused on building an inclusive and diverse workforce, we are constantly working to remove any bias from our interview and review processes and we look at compensation on a regular basis and adjust folks to ensure parity.

 

CarGurus

Throughout March, our Women@CarGurus ERG will host various events and learning opportunities that amplify and celebrate women's voices, contributions, and experiences for all employees. These include a week-long #BreaktheBias learning challenge, ongoing Women's History Month trivia, a volunteer event to support a local women's shelter and advocacy organization, and gift card giveaways for Gurus' favorite women-owned businesses.

 

Nexthink

Nexthink makes a conscious effort to champion equality in the workplace throughout the year with programs like our “Diversity Dialogues,” an ongoing series of webinars featuring special guests to discuss topics from women's issues to creating diverse and inclusive spaces. International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month are wonderful opportunities to continue these conversations. This month, Nexthink is hosting a panel discussion with our own woman leaders to discuss their experiences in a male-dominated industry and how, through their roles, they are “Breaking the Bias.” To highlight our most admired leaders, we recently launched our “#YoureIT” social media campaign which encourages Nexthinkers to share a post showcasing a woman who has inspired or made an impact on them, using the hashtag to create a chain reaction of positive, female-empowering posts!

Beyond these initiatives, Nexthink also runs our job descriptions through gender decoding technology to help uncover language that might subtly bias applicants. Our aim is to be as inclusive as possible and using tools like a gender decoder helps us match our words with our intent. There's always room for improvement, and we regularly evaluate our benefits, compensation packages, programs, and policies to ensure we are moving toward a more equitable workplace for all.

 

PrismHR

Team members will be wearing shirts to recognize the day in colors which embody the cause and symbol of hope and feminism.

Some employees will be recording a video on their views on Women’s Day, they will talk about the significance of women in their lives, how important role they play in office/ work to support them. Today there is more acceptance than ever before that women bring different involvements, perspectives and skills to the table, and make irreplaceable contributions to decisions, leadership capability or technology innovations or contributions.

A quick workshop will be conducted to talk on casual women centric issues/ topics.

 

Rue Gilt Groupe

Rue Gilt Groupe is proud of its commitment to developing and empowering women, not only on International Women’s Day but every day. To celebrate IWD, RGG is hosting virtual small group conversations for Associates, led by its women leaders, to discuss how we can collectively #BreaktheBias at work, at home and in our communities. Plus, Gilt is launching an “Inspire & Empower on International Women’s Day” boutique and will donate 10% of the boutique’s proceeds to support Project Glimmer, whose mission is to inspire every girl to envision and realize her empowered future.

 

Workhuman

The theme of IWD 2022 is “Break the Bias”. We are encouraged to celebrate women’s’ achievement, raise awareness against bias and act for equality. This is the first year we will be able to host a selection of hybrid events and we are very excited. We will be celebrating by hosting an internal panel event for our humans including our guest speaker, Mary Ann Sieghart, author, broadcaster, and current affairs commenter. We will also be sharing curated trainings, hosting coffee connections and giving our people a chance to share IWD with pride by providing swag. We will be sharing everything on our social channels including sharing employee stories about how they beat the bias so make sure to follow @Life at Workhuman on Instagram.

 

Crayon

Crayon is taking incredible steps to further elevate women within our organization such as prioritizing hiring more females for typically male-dominated departments such as sales and engineering and promoting more females into management-level roles. Crayon also added a new female board member to its board in 2022 and signed a parity pledge with our investor, Gaingels, committing to interview and consider at least one qualified woman for every open leadership role.

 

WorkStep

WorkStep will be celebrating International Women's Day all week long by bringing visibility to the incredible achievements of the women on our team, women through history, and to a women centric non-profit our team will select for a day of giving with a company fundraising match. Scheduled also during this week of celebration is an IWD presentation during our weekly all hands meeting and a Women in WorkStep Leadership panel where we will learn more about our leaders and discuss the ways we can all help "break the bias".

 

Acquia

Our Women of Acquia Employee Resource Group, and our regional teams in EMEA and India, are hosting events throughout Women's History Month, including several panel discussions with female leaders and rousing rounds of women's history trivia. Acquians also have access to online resources available for self-paced learning. Keep an eye on our social media on March 8th to hear directly from Acquians on why International Women's Day is so important to us!

 

DraftKings

At DraftKings, we emphasize the importance of International Women’s Day by recognizing March 8 as a global company holiday, celebrating the amazing achievements from women employees across our company. We have a variety of initiatives that celebrate women and empower gender equality taking place throughout March and year-round in collaboration with our Inclusion, Equity and Belonging team, Business Resource Groups (BRG), Corporate Social Responsibility team and Employee Benefits team. We continue to stay committed to increasing diversity and inclusion within our workplace and platform.

This month, we are hosting Valerie Gordon, a 10-time Emmy winning television producer and engaging speaker, for the Commander-in-She: Communicating with Confidence Workshop for employees to improve communications with confidence and influence.

DraftKings also recognizes the importance of offering equitable opportunities for employees hoping to plan a family, regardless of gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. We are proud to provide workplace lactation support as breastfeeding employees face a multitude of logistical, emotional, and physical challenges which can impact ability to succeed, at both feeding and work.

As a company, we continue to add and enhance female sports offerings and promotions across our platforms.

 

Perch Energy

Here at Perch Energy, we'll be announcing our newly formed women's resource and networking group. For our first event, we'll be hosting a guest speaker to meet with the group and discuss ideas around building your personal brand.

 

Ably

Here at Ably, we are bringing our Women@Ably ERG together for a virtual lunch, providing employees with digital memberships to AllBright Collective (an online community for women in business to drive change), and writing an internal blog post highlighting the advancements we've made at the company and our ambitions for the year ahead.

 

OneScreen.ai

“One of the best ways to support women to achieve positive results in their careers is for executive leaders to mentor and educate through sharing their knowledge and experience in any way possible – from personal conversations to podcasts, speaking engagements, written articles and beyond. Getting information out there on what has worked for you and what hasn’t is a great way to help those coming up through the ranks. I’m excited to have recently relaunched my award-winning podcast, Table Fries, that spotlights the diversity of women at OneScreen.ai and elsewhere who are successful engineers, product managers, service managers, sales leaders, and marketing folks. Because when women are able to build thriving careers in a supportive environment, we all win.”

– Jeanne Hopkins, Chief Revenue Officer at OneScreen.ai

 

iRobot

iRobot is excited to celebrate International Women’s Month by uplifting the incredible women in our organization. We’re kicking off the month with a panel discussion hosted by female leaders on advancement, advocacy and promotion of women at iRobot.

 

Seismic

Seismic recently launched a community of belonging focused on women, Seismic Sisters, as part of its broader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. To celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, this group is internally hosting a panel with Seismic women leaders focused on life and leadership; spotlighting women employee Q&A; and hosting a photo contest focused on empowerment.

 

Spiff

At Spiff, we care about women and continue to work to improve and accelerate equality. Spiff has recently launched our BIDE committee- which stands for Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. A focus of this committee is on creating a safe and productive environment for an increasingly diverse team- and to us part of that means taking a look at how we're empowering the women who work at Spiff and fostering an environment where all women are heard, respected, and valued.

A part of that work includes creating a community for our Lady Spiffers where we share all kinds of resources, go to ask questions, and essentially act as a support group for one another. One of the conversations we had about International Women's Day was around the idea of female empowerment and what that actually means. We saw amazing participation in this conversation and came away with some great action items as well as a huge appreciation for one another.

Another area of opportunity unique to Spiff is the opportunity to educate the market on the biases surrounding women in sales and similar commissionable positions. Because of the information we are able to leverage from within the Spiff platform we want to help facilitate a more productive conversation about the barriers to success women face in these key roles. Most importantly, we want to ensure the market is aware of pay gaps between men and women as we make a concerted effort to improve and avoid gaps within our own organization.

 

Cogo Labs

At Cogo Labs, we have developed a month-long series of programs to acknowledge and celebrate Women's History Month. To invest actively in providing opportunities for engagement, we have a virtual cooking class for members of our Women's Collective ERG on International Women's Day. Throughout the remainder of the month, we are facilitating donations for women-centered charities. We are always looking for ways to support both internal Cogo members and members of the greater Cambridge community and this month we are exploring ways to elevate female thought leaders in tech.

 

Brightcove

For International Women's Day, Brightcove is raising awareness across the organization by hosting a fireside chat with our Chief Marketing Officer, Jennifer Smith. We are also sharing videos on PlayTV via social media and educating employees about external opportunities they can get involved in, such as the Women in Leadership event being sponsored by Toastmasters International.

 

3Play Media

Here at 3Play Media we are recognizing International Women's Day with a fireside chat with our very own Stacey Santiago, Senior Director of Technical Support and our newest Tech Lead Manager, Jazmin Gonzalez-Rivero.

Stacey has been in the tech world for the last 10 years and fell in love with being deeply rooted in the era of disruptive innovation. Being a woman in tech to her means helping to drive change through leading by example, creating opportunities for all women, and always challenging the status quo.

Jazmin, a graduate of Olin College, where she focused on applying engineering to real world problems, has taken that technical foundation and continued to develop it over the last 7 years. Being a woman in tech means bringing her whole self to the office every day while working collaboratively to solve difficult technical and human problems.

Additionally, we will continue to celebrate local women owned businesses when we have catered events as we do throughout the year.

 

Recorded Future

One of our five Employee Resource Groups (ERG) Women @ Recorded Future, alongside our D&I committee, is dedicated to empowering the women of Recorded Future and those in the cybersecurity community to reach their full potential by cultivating strong communities in the company and in the tech/cyber industry. For International Women's Day this year we will support local women-owned businesses, have employees attend educational talks about women's issues, organize a professional development workshop and more!

But beyond this month, our ERG works year-round to support women at Recorded Future. Through our Empower Scholarship, employees have the ability to attend conferences or events promoting women and/or diversity in our field. Recorded Future is also a close partner to Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu which gives members access to speaking and networking events, technical training courses, community service opportunities and helps enable us to diversify our talent pipeline to close the gender gap in tech roles.

 

Skillsoft

Skillsoft just announced today our strategic partnership with iamtheCODE, the first African-led global movement to mobilize government, private-sector, and philanthropic foundations. The goal of this partnership is to advance STEAMED education for women and girls in marginalized communities. The partnership is designed to support iamtheCODE’s mission to train 1 million women and girl coders worldwide by 2030 and is consistent with Skillsoft’s social impact mission to open doors to new possibilities through learning.

 

iamtheCODE will be launching its digital learning platform powered by Skillsoft’s Percipio in Africa’s largest refugee camps where tens of thousands of young girls and boys will have online and offline access to one of the world’s richest and most intuitive learning interfaces. The curriculum focuses on teaching four core, in-demand programming languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python), as well as skills development in wellbeing, design, innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship in alignment with their 12 week mentoring program.

 

Concurrent with International Women’s Day 2022, this partnership is designed as a model of public and private cooperation that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to empower marginalized women and girls across the world. iamtheCODE’s mission is a direct implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to improve economic outcomes for women and girls and is also a focus of the World Economic Forum’s Reskilling Revolution.

 

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Episode #249 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Shensi Ding, Co-Founder of Merge.

One of the common mistakes that entrepreneurs make is failing to discovery the true market need for an idea by talking to potential customers. Entrepreneurs sometimes fall in love with their idea and go off to build it but to only find out that it’s not a pain point for customer who are willing to pay money to solve.

This was definitely not the case for Shensi and Gil Feig, the Co-Founders of Merge. While they were still employed, they spent 6-9 months talking to at least 100 different companies to validate the problem, their potential solution, and of course the long term opportunity in terms of the addressable market. At that point, the due diligence was done and it was time to leave their jobs and go all in on building the company.

Merge is revolutionizing the way B2B companies integrate with their Unified API for payroll, HR, recruiting and accounting. The company announced a $15M Series A round of funding towards the end of last year led by Addition, with participation from existing investor NEA.

In this episode of our podcast, we cover:

• Advice on raising funding for first-time founders.
• Shensi’s initial experience in investment banking & technology investing, plus her role as the Chief of Staff at a startup and what this experience taught her about running a company.
• The aha moment that led Shensi and Gil to work on Merge and how they got started.
• All the details on Merge today, the platform, use cases, funding, and growth plans ahead.
• What positions were the most challenging to hire for in the early days of the company.
• And so much more.