I’m often asked about my experience being a woman building a career in tech companies surrounded predominately by men. As International Women’s Day (March 8, 2020) is approaching, I’m going to share my perspective. Note: This is my experience, and is not intended to represent anyone else’s. However, the point I hope to make here is that every single one of us, no matter who we are, has to ultimately pave our own path. Yes, some may have more challenges than others on the road to achieving their dreams, but I come from the camp of believing just about anything is possible if you work hard enough and adjust your attitude for it.
I’ve spent years writing about diversity & inclusion. I would imagine that my point of view was shaped largely by my first career experience, at a quickly growing consulting firm in Kendall Sq. in the 90’s. Joining fresh out of college armed with literally no skills and a positive attitude, I completely took for granted the diversity that existed in the firm. There was a healthy balance of men and women at the top, and a rainbow of talent making up the bulk of the firm. Success was reflected by those who added impact to their customers and value to the company overall. Without trying overly hard, they had created the workplace that companies in today’s modern era are trying desperately to build. I completely took that dynamic for granted.
When I left that organization four years later, I was off and running building culture and people strategy at another up and coming Cambridge company poised for hypergrowth. It was everything I was looking for in a company; the ability to build something from scratch, with people that were just as passionate about building as I was. I realized quickly, however, that I was a woman among a vast sea of men. And I also learned that coupled with my role being one that was not overly valued by the majority (has anyone up until relatively recently ever thought highly of the field of Human Resources?!), being a woman among men was going to present a new set of challenges I frankly hadn’t considered before.
Here’s where my point of view might raise some eyebrows. Would it have been great to have more women on the team, and more diversity in the firm? Of course. Not because it would have made me more comfortable, or made me stand out a little less. It would have been great because I fundamentally believe when people embrace that which makes them unique and bring those attributes to a broader population with a shared goal, they can collaborate to make insanely good things happen. It’s not rocket science. It’s just a healthy dose of common sense mixed with a little empathy.
I tend to be a glass half full person. I will look at the chaos or discomfort of a situation, and do my best to find the opportunity that exists within it. Rather than looking at the fact that I was one of a small number of women on a leadership team in a role that I knew was going to be an uphill battle in terms of gaining respect, I took it as an incredible challenge. It forced me to consider what I had to offer that no one else could. I realized quickly that I did not have to shy away from being a woman, nor did I need to carry a chip on my shoulder for having to work a little harder to have my work respected. Instead, I focused on my value contribution to the team, and what I could offer that no one else could. In essence, the very notion that I was a woman with a very different approach and perspective on a team of men became my competitive advantage.
As I’ve navigated this dynamic throughout my career, I’ve always stayed focused on honing my unique value contribution. Is it annoying to be the only woman sometimes? Sure. But there are also some real perks to it, and I tend to focus on those. That, and it certainly helps that I work with some of the most respectful, amazing guys on the planet.
I live in reality. I am certainly cognizant that not every woman has shared my experience. However, I’d also argue that I have played a role in shaping that positive experience for myself. At the end of the day, every single one of us has something that makes us unique or special. We can choose to feel like an outsider, and push hard to be included and “fit in” with inauthentic actions. OR, we can embrace the unique things that make us us, and seek out people who share a common mission. When we choose to connect those commonalities that bind us together we knock down a whole lot of ridiculous barriers, while setting ourselves up to do something collectively amazing. Isn’t that a better approach?
I’m incredibly grateful that my formative work years bolstered me with a confidence and perspective that anyone can do anything when they are focused, disciplined, and approach the greater mission with positive intent. Of course that isn’t always easy, but I do believe that attitude and perspective counts for a lot. I could have made excuses for myself, leaning hard into the dynamic that would define me as a dyslexic young woman with no real skills playing a role that didn’t garner much respect. Rather, I chose to embrace the vision that I would be a person who was passionate about building the people side of a company from the ground up, and I would forge a path to be amazing at it. The fact that I’m a woman just became one of those tools in my toolkit along the way that I would select as needed to add the impact I wanted to.
Women should be celebrated on this special day. There is no denying the last several decades have seen much of the world embrace the notion that women can do whatever we want in the world - and yet we still have so much farther to go. I’m grateful to all the women who came before me who provided me the opportunity to not just build a career doing what I love, but change the world enough that I can have formed this perspective over the years. And yes, we’ve had to build our careers while trying to give birth and wear heels and fend off unwanted advances. It’s not always pretty or graceful, and I’m ok with all of that. It’s all an opportunity to pave a better way for the future. I for one never want things without challenge; easy is boring. I want to help chart the course for every person in the world to be able to do the work they love with people who value and respect them. To me, that’s true inclusion.
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.
- Maya Angelou
Christina Luconi is Chief People Officer for Rapid7. Follow her on Twitter: @peopleinnovator.