Overcoming Obstacles to Success: Surviving and Thriving in the High Tech World Kelly Lopez File Sr. Competitive Strategy Manager Microsoft Corporation.

Overcoming Obstacles to Overcoming Obstacles to Success: Surviving and Success: Surviving and

Thriving in the High Tech Thriving in the High Tech WorldWorld

Kelly Lopez FileKelly Lopez FileSr. Competitive Strategy ManagerSr. Competitive Strategy Manager

Microsoft CorporationMicrosoft Corporation

[email protected]@microsoft.com

AgendaAgenda

IntroductionIntroduction How are women doing in high tech?How are women doing in high tech? Obstacles to successObstacles to success How to surviveHow to survive How to How to thrivethrive Personal highs and lowsPersonal highs and lows ResourcesResources

IntroductionIntroduction

37 years old37 years old Hispanic Hispanic Mother of 7 month old baby girlMother of 7 month old baby girl BS in Computer Engineering from U of BS in Computer Engineering from U of

WW 20 years of experience:20 years of experience:

8 software test and design8 software test and design 9 software development9 software development 3 competitive marketing3 competitive marketing

In the grand scheme of things…In the grand scheme of things…

Steve Ballmer

Sales Products Operations

Enterprise Sales & Partners

Field Competitive Strategy Technical Marketing

How are women doing in high tech?How are women doing in high tech? Better in pay equityBetter in pay equity

Non high tech: $.73 on Non high tech: $.73 on the dollarthe dollar

Tech: $.92 on the dollarTech: $.92 on the dollar

*National Science Foundation*1998 US Census Data*2001 survey from techie.com of 106,000 workers across 39 U.S. job markets, all levels

40% of Computer Science degrees awarded to women in 1994

Top 50 Fortune Most Powerful Top 50 Fortune Most Powerful WomenWomen

1. Carly Fiorina – Chairman & CEO, Hewlett-Packard1. Carly Fiorina – Chairman & CEO, Hewlett-Packard2. Meg Whitman – President & CEO, eBAY2. Meg Whitman – President & CEO, eBAY6. Anne Mulcahy – President & CEO, Xerox6. Anne Mulcahy – President & CEO, Xerox23. Betsy Bernard – President & CEO, AT&T Consumer23. Betsy Bernard – President & CEO, AT&T Consumer28. Ann Livermore – EVP, HP Services28. Ann Livermore – EVP, HP Services30. Linda Sandford – SVP & Group Exec, IBM Storage Systems30. Linda Sandford – SVP & Group Exec, IBM Storage Systems32. Donna Dubinsky – CEO, Handspring32. Donna Dubinsky – CEO, Handspring47. Janet Davidson – Group President, Lucent Integrated 47. Janet Davidson – Group President, Lucent Integrated

NetworksNetworks49. Louise Francesconi – VP & GM, Missile Systems, Raytheon49. Louise Francesconi – VP & GM, Missile Systems, Raytheon 9 out of 50 are at technology-related companies9 out of 50 are at technology-related companies

Common obstaclesCommon obstacles

Attraction to technical educationAttraction to technical education Getting through the doorGetting through the door Retaining women long enough for Retaining women long enough for

them to move upthem to move up Individual obstaclesIndividual obstacles

Education issuesEducation issues Qualified female students don’t choose scientific Qualified female students don’t choose scientific

majorsmajors OTA report of 2,000 9OTA report of 2,000 9thth grade students grade students

End of high school: 280 male, 220 females have sufficient math End of high school: 280 male, 220 females have sufficient math for scientific degreefor scientific degree

But only 16% of qualified females vs. 50% of males choose But only 16% of qualified females vs. 50% of males choose scientific majorsscientific majors

College can reduce self esteem of womenCollege can reduce self esteem of women 80 high school valedictorians – 20% of both men and women 80 high school valedictorians – 20% of both men and women

ranked selves as highly intelligentranked selves as highly intelligent During college, women outperformed in GPADuring college, women outperformed in GPA ButBut only 3% of women only 3% of women vs.vs. 20% of men ranked selves high 20% of men ranked selves high

after sophomore year!after sophomore year! Personal experiencePersonal experience

The other two women in my program quit during 1The other two women in my program quit during 1stst quarter! quarter! Issues with a prof that wanted to flunk me out of Analog Issues with a prof that wanted to flunk me out of Analog

ElectronicsElectronics Lab partners scarce, had to be creativeLab partners scarce, had to be creative

Filling the pipelineFilling the pipeline

UMass College of Engineering – great work!UMass College of Engineering – great work! Minority Engineering ProgramMinority Engineering Program Engineering Exploration Program (SWE, Girl Engineering Exploration Program (SWE, Girl

Scouts, College of Engineering effort)Scouts, College of Engineering effort) Women in Engineering Program Women in Engineering Program TWIST – great way to retain women!TWIST – great way to retain women!

Corporate sponsorshipCorporate sponsorship IBM, Ford, Raytheon, Texas Instruments, IBM, Ford, Raytheon, Texas Instruments,

MicrosoftMicrosoft Take Your Daughters to Work DayTake Your Daughters to Work Day

Getting through the employer’s Getting through the employer’s doordoor

Hiring processes can be um, biased…Hiring processes can be um, biased… Women often disqualify themselvesWomen often disqualify themselves

Men: 20% job knowledge is enoughMen: 20% job knowledge is enough Women: 80%!Women: 80%!

Not negotiating well starts you at a disadvantageNot negotiating well starts you at a disadvantage Learn to “sell” your qualities to prospective Learn to “sell” your qualities to prospective

employersemployers On the other hand…On the other hand…

Education pipeline problems mean fewer female Education pipeline problems mean fewer female candidates available – they candidates available – they needneed you you

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORKNETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK

Networking is the #1 success factor for women in high tech

RetentionRetention

Women are highest turnover groupWomen are highest turnover group Work-life balanceWork-life balance Lack of mentoring and networkingLack of mentoring and networking Can’t fulfill ambitions, lack of Can’t fulfill ambitions, lack of

professional developmentprofessional development ““No matter how hard I try, I won’t win”No matter how hard I try, I won’t win” Lack of visibility to upper managementLack of visibility to upper management

Turnover makes it hard to find Turnover makes it hard to find qualified female candidates for qualified female candidates for leadership rolesleadership roles

Mentoring is key to retention

Individual obstaclesIndividual obstacles

““The imposter” syndromeThe imposter” syndrome Stanford study shows men more confidentStanford study shows men more confident

Men more confident that they can handle the workload Men more confident that they can handle the workload (2x)(2x)

Women half as comfortable speaking up in classWomen half as comfortable speaking up in class 33% of women (vs 9% men) fear that speaking up will 33% of women (vs 9% men) fear that speaking up will

expose them as impostersexpose them as imposters Women tend to downgrade their capabilitiesWomen tend to downgrade their capabilities

Success attributed to “lots of hard work” vs. men Success attributed to “lots of hard work” vs. men who claim “innate ability”who claim “innate ability”

Competing can be uncomfortableCompeting can be uncomfortable Fear of the unknown, aversion to changesFear of the unknown, aversion to changes

How to surviveHow to survive

Fake it until you feel more confident!!Fake it until you feel more confident!!1.1. Everybody messes upEverybody messes up

2.2. EverybodyEverybody feels insecure about their job feels insecure about their job performanceperformance

3.3. The most successful people are The most successful people are notnot those who those who mess up the leastmess up the least

Learn to speak up in many different Learn to speak up in many different situationssituations

Ask the right questionsAsk the right questions

**Kaitlin Duck Sherwood, 1994Kaitlin Duck Sherwood, 1994

How to thriveHow to thrive Get more comfortable with risks, changeGet more comfortable with risks, change

My switch to sales and marketingMy switch to sales and marketing Stepped down from manager to individual contrib roleStepped down from manager to individual contrib role ““Can do” attitude helps ensure successCan do” attitude helps ensure success

Mentor and be mentoredMentor and be mentored 46.8% of women of color cite lack of mentoring as major 46.8% of women of color cite lack of mentoring as major

barrier to advancement (Catalyst Survey)barrier to advancement (Catalyst Survey) 44% of women of color cite mentoring as a critical success 44% of women of color cite mentoring as a critical success

factorfactor UMass participates in MentorNet program – use it!UMass participates in MentorNet program – use it!

Enjoy working with menEnjoy working with men They say what they thinkThey say what they think They make great mentorsThey make great mentors They have wives and daughters, too…They have wives and daughters, too…

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORKNETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK

My experiences…My experiences…

Just like the Olympics: “the thrill of victory Just like the Olympics: “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!”and the agony of defeat!”

The Agony of DefeatThe Agony of Defeat Wanted to quit many times while working Wanted to quit many times while working

30+ hours and FT college30+ hours and FT college Couldn’t break into the “men’s club” at Couldn’t break into the “men’s club” at

last companylast company Had to fire someone for sexual Had to fire someone for sexual

harassmentharassment Presentation to German Bankers 1Presentation to German Bankers 1stst 6 6

months on the job at Microsoftmonths on the job at Microsoft Car and luggage stolen in MalaysiaCar and luggage stolen in Malaysia Literally 100’s of dumb questions askedLiterally 100’s of dumb questions asked In front of SVP – realized I was not In front of SVP – realized I was not

prepared enoughprepared enoughMotto: always make it to the nearest bathroom before you start crying

The Thrill of VictoryThe Thrill of Victory Overcame fear of public speaking!Overcame fear of public speaking!

Presentation to 1500+ peers at Moscone within 5 months on the Presentation to 1500+ peers at Moscone within 5 months on the jobjob

Denmark – 4 hour E-Commerce “seminar”Denmark – 4 hour E-Commerce “seminar” Bangkok – followed SVP to present to 1000+ on E-CommerceBangkok – followed SVP to present to 1000+ on E-Commerce #1 rated speaker in the Executive Briefing Center#1 rated speaker in the Executive Briefing Center

Making a differenceMaking a difference Conference Board conference, sharing results with MS Conference Board conference, sharing results with MS

managementmanagement Most Influential Women of Color in Technology awardMost Influential Women of Color in Technology award

Included live radio interviewIncluded live radio interview Mentoring and being mentoredMentoring and being mentored

Technical accomplishmentsTechnical accomplishments Kernel mode driver development in C++ of an NFS ServerKernel mode driver development in C++ of an NFS Server Designed and implemented an API for a customer; resulted in Designed and implemented an API for a customer; resulted in

$1M sale$1M sale Promoted to manage a team within a year at MicrosoftPromoted to manage a team within a year at Microsoft

Working mommy momentsWorking mommy moments

Missing my moment in Missing my moment in the spotlight…the spotlight…

Code word for pumping: Code word for pumping: “maintenance”“maintenance”

Never leave your pump Never leave your pump unattended…unattended…

How to turn down How to turn down international travel international travel “opportunity”“opportunity”

Never underestimate Never underestimate the effects of sleep the effects of sleep deprivationdeprivation

ResourcesResources Contact me:Contact me:

[email protected]@microsoft.com MentorNet: www.mentornet.netMentorNet: www.mentornet.net National Engineers Week www.eweek.orgNational Engineers Week www.eweek.org UMass Women in Engineering Program (WEP) UMass Women in Engineering Program (WEP)

http://www.ecs.umass.edu/wep.htmlhttp://www.ecs.umass.edu/wep.html Women in Technology International (WITI) Women in Technology International (WITI) www.witi.orgwww.witi.org Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Society of Women Engineers (SWE) www.swe.orgwww.swe.org IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE)

www.ieee.org/organizations/committee/womenwww.ieee.org/organizations/committee/women Toastmasters International www.toastmasters.comToastmasters International www.toastmasters.com Positive Politics at WorkPositive Politics at Work by McKenna and McHenry by McKenna and McHenry Why So Slow: The Advancement of WomenWhy So Slow: The Advancement of Women by Virginia by Virginia

ValianValian

Congratulations!Congratulations!

Enjoy the new Microsoft Center for Enjoy the new Microsoft Center for Women in Engineering and ScienceWomen in Engineering and Science

Questions/Comments?Questions/Comments?