Josh Tolan“On my own I will just create, and if it works, it works, and if it doesn’t, I’ll create something else. I don’t have any limitations on what I think I could do or be.” — Oprah Winfrey
Oprah’s quote is an inspiration for female employees in all industries, but it especially hits home for those in recruiting technology.
Whether a vice president, co-founder, or editor, our picks for the top three female influencers in recruiting technology have no limitations. They’re determined to change the face of recruiting for both job seekers and employers — and it’s working.
Every single one of these inspirational ladies knows exactly what it’s like to fight, push, and pull their way to the top of a predominantly male field. Here’s their advice on climbing the male-dominated ladder:
Consider every opportunity
“I once had a colleague who was paralyzed by impostor syndrome. She would write down the opportunity and the advice that she would give a friend about it so that she could clearly evaluate it before her doubt crept in. It was her hack to make sure she never counted herself out from taking big leaps forward.
At Duo, we train our sales team to ‘help, help, ask.’ This goes a long way in dampening any impostor syndrome as well as building stronger relationships with everyone around you.
Wendy Nather, Principal Security Strategist at Duo Security, says, “go where you are not a called a unicorn.” Choosing your environment matters. Find a place where you can put your energy into learning, collaborating, and growing versus feeling like you’re putting it toward being the female rarity.”
Ambrosia Vertesi, VP of people at Duo Security
Bring all of yourself to work
“My advice to women entering tech is: make the decision to bring all of you to the work you do. Rather than trying to hide the qualities that may differentiate you as a woman or as a mother, give those around you an opportunity to see exactly how those qualities make you a world class contributor in your space.
I spent a good portion of my career minimizing the things that differentiated me from my male colleagues in the tech space. I tried not to draw attention to my prioritization of family balance because I didn’t want to be perceived as weak or unfocused.
I realized it was my responsibility to contribute to changing the way women, and specifically mothers, are perceived in the tech space. As a leader, I needed to challenge the norms. So, I started to speak up about my experience and about my belief that we can — and need to — elevate and celebrate the way women. Mothers, specifically, can uniquely and creatively contribute to advancing technology.”
Natalie Baumgartner, Chief Workforce Scientist at Achievers and former Co-Founder of RoundPegg.
Embrace conflicts
“When looking at ‘Gender Intelligence’ it is widely accepted that men seem to prioritize their work and focus on the results, rather than what it takes to get there. Conversely, women care about goals, but they also care about the process of how they’re reached.
Embrace the fact that with all diverse work environments, there are going to be conflicts. It is these conflicts that drive innovation. Men and women simply see the workplace differently.
With that in mind, it is not your job to try to teach or change the way your male counterparts see gender. Respect one another’s differences and learn from each other.”
Jackye Clayton, editor of RecruitingDaily.com
Male-dominated fields, like recruiting technology, can be difficult for females to break into and stay on top. However, it’s crucial for women to continue pushing the envelope. Challenge yourself to dive into unfamiliar territory, and above all, don’t forget to always be yourself.
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