Lady Tech Leader Adventures

Fawn [00:00:01]:
Hi there. Welcome to Lady Tech Leader Adventures, the podcast that empowers and elevates women in technology through insightful discussions, inspiring stories, and actionable advice. I'm Fawn Turner, your host and founder of Lady Tech Leader. We are dedicated to helping women become influential leaders and achieve fulfilling careers in tech. Join us as we explore the journeys of trailblazing women and uncover key leadership strategies while sharing the tools you need to lead and succeed in the ever evolving tech landscape. Let's dive into today's episode and unlock the leader within you. Hello. I'm Fawn, your host.

Fawn [00:00:45]:
And today, we're zeroing in on a key aspect of leadership, building technical credibility. Let's unpack why robust technical skills are crucial for women in tech leadership and how you can stay at the cutting edge of modern advancements. So a little bit why technical skills are essential for leadership. For women in tech, demonstrating strong technical expertise is not just about having the ability to guide teams and projects. It's about establishing authority and respect in a traditionally male dominated field. It's essential for making informed decisions and for inspiring confidence among stakeholders and team members. Fundamentally earning respect of those around you. Early in my engineering career, I was tasked with learning what I could about electrical cable assembly on my new project.

Fawn [00:01:36]:
The thinking goes, as an engineer, you need to not only know how to assemble a cable, but you need to know the processes that your technical team uses to assess the quality of your products. So I was spending a couple of days with a technologist who was telling me how to build and assemble cables. He was rude and accusatory in how he told me what to do. It wasn't a stimulating learning experience, to say the least. Some of his comments centered around how all these new, young engineers didn't know anything coming out of college, so he had to teach them what to do. After several hours of these types of uncomfortable interactions, I looked straight at him into his eyes and said, has anyone ever told you that you are rather abrasive? He looked at me and his eyes got very wide. He answered, actually, yes. I have been told that more than once, just never by a newly minted engineer.

Fawn [00:02:38]:
From that point forward, he treated me with a great deal of respect and completely turned his attitude around to a can do attitude. He asked me if I knew this or that before he assumed I knew nothing and asked me my opinion on technical matters of other parts of the system. He actually treated me as if I had some technical chops from that point forward. Earning respect in small ways like that can compound like a snowball. His behaviors then were seen by other members of the team, and they started treating me with more technical and professional respect as well. Speaking up courageously to that tenured male technologist was one of the scariest things I did early in my career, and it was one of the most memorable. Sometimes speaking your mind in a respectful way can have a huge impact on your perceived technical credibility. So try to remember this story the next time someone starts talking to you in a disrespectful way.

Fawn [00:03:36]:
Here are some tips for staying current with tech advancements as well. Technology evolves rapidly, making continued learning essential. Here's how you can keep pace with the latest developments. Number 1, really engage in continuous learning. Enroll in technical courses tailored to your expertise or things that you want to learn that's new and outside of your expertise, but you're wanting to expand what you do within your team or just to understand what other team members, do so you can tie to those expertises, especially technical courses, but also in leadership courses, not just to learn the latest trends, but to really develop yourself and your skills. There are hundreds of great books and courses to advance your skills throughout the year and as your career changes in time. Platforms like Coursera, edX offer programs that fit into busy schedule, and many of them can be free or very low priced. And make sure you get your organization that you work with to pay for those continuous learning credits.

Fawn [00:04:49]:
Let's see. Number 2, attend technical conferences. You really wanna absorb the latest trends and network with other professionals at both virtual and in person events. Technical conferences are a great way to know what is cutting edge in your technical field and help you really advance your skills. Because there's courses at most of those places, not just listening to talks. And it's also a way to build your network with great mentors or possible collaborators. You will know who you connect with and what you're interested in doing more of when you go to these tech conferences. Number 3, following thought leaders.

Fawn [00:05:28]:
So it's important to regularly lead articles and listen to podcasts by prominent figures in your tech sector. Thought leaders in that area, your area, or a little different tangentially area, can really help you stay relevant in your technical field, and it can help you be innovative because you're hearing things that you're not normally exposed to within your organization. Number 4, practical application. So implementing your new skills in your projects or participating in hackathons, for example, if you're in software to test your knowledge in real world scenarios. Practical applications can be the best way to expand your technical skills. I personally learn best by doing. You can tell me all day long what to do, or give me a manual, but being in the actual space and actually seeing and learning by doing cements that learning in my head. We all learn differently, and yet you will remember the effort in your new challenge way more than reading about how someone else does it.

Fawn [00:06:34]:
Find those challenging opportunities and ask your supervisor or volunteer to experience a new knowledge challenge. Alright. So how do you leverage your technical knowledge? So applying what you know is critical. If you're in software, contribute to multiple projects. If you're in hardware, engage in new challenging tech areas. Finding teams that you connect with and that can point you in the right direction to the projects that you're interested in is really key. So sharing what you enjoy, and when people say, hey. You're really good at that, follow those nuggets of information, right, and and those resources to go to the next thing you wanna do because those are gonna be your advocates.

Fawn [00:07:22]:
These activities not only enhance your skills, but they also increase your visibility in your organization. And you can offer your skills more broadly in the tech community through forums or by volunteering. Remember, mentorship is really a two way street. Mentor you can mentor upcoming women in tech and seek out your own mentors who can guide you through your technical journey. This exchange of knowledge is invaluable. Developing your peer network also can help you find the right mentors. And I haven't met a technical person yet who, when I asked for their advice, would refuse. We do like sharing our own experiences.

Fawn [00:08:04]:
Alright. This is our section of the podcast where we celebrate women to know. Some are in tech. Some are not in tech. Today, we dive into the life of Ada Loveless, recognized as the first computer programmer and a visionary for women in technology. Let's uncover her story and lasting impact. So who was Ada Lovelace? Ada Lovelace was born in 18/15. She was the daughter of the poet, Lord Byron and Ann Isabella Milbank, a woman of mathematics.

Fawn [00:08:37]:
Despite the gender norms of her era, Ada pursued her passion for mathematics and logic driven by her fascination with the emerging field of computing. Some of Ada Lovelace's key contributions is that she's best known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general purpose computer, the analytical engine. While Babbage focused on the machine's capabilities, Loveless envisioned a future where such machines could go beyond mere calculation. She wrote what is now considered the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine, effectively becoming the world's first computer programmer. What were Ada's impacts on women in tech? Her contributions did more than advanced computing. They challenged the scientific community's gender norms and laid a foundation for future generations. Her legacy demonstrates that women have always played a crucial role in tech, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. Ada Lovelace challenged those gender norms of the scientific community during a time when women were largely excluded from scientific and mathematical pursuits.

Fawn [00:09:46]:
By working closely with Charles Babbage and the analytical engine, she not only contributed significantly to early concepts of cute computing, but also authored a set of notes that demonstrated her understanding and vision for that engine's capabilities beyond mere calculation. These notes included what is considered the 1st computer algorithm, marking her as that first computer programmer and laying that foundation. Her work highlighted the intellectual contributions of women in fields that were predominantly male, setting a precedent and inspiring future generations. Ada's story is a beacon for women in technology, illustrating immense potential women have to influence and evolve the tech landscape just as she did. Ada Loveless' pioneering work reminds us that innovation knows no gender, only brilliance. Join us next time as we continue to explore the monumental contributions of women in tech. Until then, let's keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible. That's all for today on Lady Tech Leader Adventures podcast.

Fawn [00:10:48]:
Next episode, we'll explore how effective communication can amplify your impact as a tech leader. Keep pushing the boundaries of your technical skills, and I'll see you next time. Thank you for tuning into the Lady Tech Career Adventures. I hope today's episode has inspired you to push boundaries and elevate your career in technology. Remember, leadership is a journey and you are not alone. For more insights and resources, including a community of strong tech ladies, go to lady tech leader.com. Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more stories and strategies that empower women in tech. Until next time.

Fawn [00:11:25]:
Keep leading, keep learning, and continue to make a difference. Goodbye.