Spotlight on Women in Tech: Insights from the 'Ladies in Tech' Anthology
The end of season three for Lunchin with Lisa show featured not only a group but the group of successful women who were featured in “Ladies in Tech”, the anthology. The podcast started with the season ending introduction and the projects that our host Lisa Dove Washington are having which are “Imperfectly Fierce & Focused” where she co-authored, a collaboration with Dr. Gail Crowder on a new TV show “Dr. Gail on Love, Sex & Marriage” where she is one of the production team and her upcoming event, the “Power of Shut Up Symposium” on May 13th. It was then followed by introduction of Kenyatta Powers-Rucker, the woman who started the “Ladies in Tech” the anthology.
Kenyatta was the one who gave intro for the ladies that attended to be the guest for the interview, who was attended by some of the authors, Doris J. Cammack Spencer, Martina Kuzenski, Tamara McLemore, Ashley Esposito, Pamela Minor and Kenyatta Powers-Rucker herself. In the world of tech in where it was dominated by men, the Anthology is made to feature powerful women who made mark in the world of technology that has not being given their rightful recognition. As the “Ladies in tech” are having their book tour, let them provide more information on what people will expect when they read the books.
"I have gotten every member of my family into technology, because I knew that's where they could grow, that way they would continue to learn" A mentor to a lot of people in helping them grow more into tech department, teaching them the right way and paving the way for generations to come, Doris shared her start as one of the pioneer of the Ladies being in tech, she wants to make sure that as she grows in the industry she also make sure that she will be able to teach the younger generations that will follow her footsteps, training them as a mentor and helping them into success. A woman who laid down the foundation for the other women who wants to enter the industry.
Tamara was then asked by Lisa on why the number of women going to technology are low, and she did a great job in answering with “It is difficult because we don’t see ourselves, you have to be strong, you have to have thick skin and must understand what you have to bring to the table and there are other skills that one must have to be able to stay into technology.“ As a woman who didn’t know anything that tech career are a hit and she only got into the industry because of their aunt that was in the industry. She is now serving for over two decades of in-depth experience in IT project management with businesses.
Awareness in knowing that there are a lot of career opportunities in tech and that everyone can have a better career path. Ashley Esposito started being in tech with Kenyatta and what she answered to Lisa on why there are lower number of women in tech is that most are not aware of it when she said "Lack of awareness on how many different careers exist within the umbrella of tech.” "Even if people that are going to school for business or project management, like knowing that tech is a place for them to reroute". Followed by Lisa who agreed with her take that once you are in tech, then there are really a lot of several path to take when it comes to growing your career.
Martina Kuzenski is one of the youngest of the co authors of “Ladies in Tech” that started her tech career through being in movies. A young lady who wanted to spread awareness about doing tech career is okay and not being intimidated even it the career is mostly employed by men. Last guest that they asked is Pamela Minor, who shared her experience on how she entered the tech industry. As a Masscomm graduate who never had idea that it existed and due to recession that most people didn’t have job, she became a reliever until she was able to land a job in the Environmental Earth Science Firm. She alongside with Doris worked together before developing super computers, until she became the first MIS Director for the dot com and that is where her career in the tech industry became a success.
Lisa is also not new to tech industry since even she knows a lot about the technology in which she mentioned that most of the time people would think that women are not involved since they are not always being seen but in reality they also have contributions when it comes to developing technology. But then what is really Kenyatta’s vision into why she started the book? What she really want is to show that there are also women who can share their experiences and contributions when it comes to tech, but that doesn’t mean that men are not welcome to write for the “Ladies in tech” since she also wants to welcome men who would want to be an author for the book to also share their experiences so that the readers will have some comparison on what are the differences and similarities with their experiences.
“What is that one thing that keeps in the technology world?”, Lisa gave her final question during the interview in where all of the guests answered with almost same reasons on why. The reason why they stayed in the tech world is because it plates with their strength, and they are a learner since tech constantly changes it means that the learning will never stop to keep up with the pace of changes. Also, they wanted to be a representation for other black women to be in the industry because most of the time no one is there to represent them and talking about representing, they also want to keep fighting about for the neurodivergent, to show them that it is possible for everyone to be successful in the world of tech because someone made it and went. from not being only a leader but also land a successful job
Pamela then ended the question with, "Most computer people have some king od musical background, the creativeness is part of who we are". The representation of the artistry of the people behind the tech industry that they have to be creative in order to create a masterpiece when developing technology. This is what Kenyatta envisioned on how the book to be successful, that all the authors will work together as one in lifting the women and showing the world that success of tech industry is more about men and women working together. Please join them as they do their Virtual book launch this coming Friday, May 5th at 6:30PM and support their ‘Ladies in tech’ book tour in Long Beach California this coming May 17th in Wonder Woman Tech Conference. They would also be holding ‘Ladies in Tech’ network summit on June 24th at Arlington Virginia and lastly their next spot on July in Atlanta.
This will only be the first batch that Lunchin with Lisa will feature ‘Ladies in Tech’ because on their upcoming episodes more authors will guest the show. Please check out their full interview by visiting Lunchin with Lisa channel in youtube or by following the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsnu0MBC1Ok
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