Tag: woman

Girls, the time is now.

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I was recently interviewed about being a woman in the technology sector, namely challenges I faced getting to where I am and continue to face. This isn’t the first time I’ve had the question; people are fascinated that I’m the director of IT for an advertising and technology company. It wasn’t an easy road, but it wasn’t as hard as people think. I studied hard, worked harder, and continued to move up in positions throughout my career because I proved myself.

My biggest disappointment with the technology sector these days is that there aren’t enough of us in it. By us, I mean women. Many times over the years I was the only female at the table in a room with 10 or more men. It took a while to learn I was there because I earned it and my contributions are important. I was intimidated at first, painfully quiet during discussions. The more meetings I went to, however, the more I realized some things were missing from the conversation and that was my cue.

These days I’m more than comfortable being the only woman at the table, leaning in, learning, and sharing my knowledge. I am grateful I have been in more than one position to pay it forward and hire equally qualified and smart women in the field. The one question I always get asked is what advice would I give girls considering technology as a career. My answer is, “Don’t give up. Stick with it, even when you are singled out or made to feel inferior. It is a predominantly male field, but it won’t always be like that with our brains and determination. Girls, the time is now to start taking over the tech industry!”

 

Beauty of a Woman

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Today’s #bloglikecrazy writing prompt encouraged us to answer the question “Why Do I Love Being a Woman?” That’s an interesting subject for me –  I wanted to be a boy during my younger years. I am not sure if I had a gender crisis when I was younger or if I just really enjoyed the more masculine toys and games, but I distinctly remember enjoying insects, playing with balls, super hero type games with the local chums, and being very upset that I was a girl. I recall one afternoon throwing a ball against the back of the house and crying for hours that I was born a girl and not a boy. I was a tomboy at heart and I loved it. I have no idea what brought that on, but it was there. I think part of it was not being as girly as all the other little girls in my class and kind of standing out (in the beginning). I was tough; I played tough and I liked it that way. I wasn’t a wuss and didn’t want to be around any. I was into bugs (most little girls were not), I was a huge nerd already (robotic arms and microscopes for Christmas), and I liked playing ball.

All that changed as I got older and I got into the dolls, makeup, clothes, and all that fun girl stuff. But it took me what I consider a long time. So yes, today, I very much enjoy being a woman for so many reasons..the main one being that all those things that made me long to be a boy when I was younger are now just as acceptable for little girls as they are boys. Girls, teens, women are achieving great things and erasing gender lines and boundaries every day. I love that we can now vote, work, even be President. How amazing is that? We are still striving for equal respect and pay in the work place, but we’ve come a long way, baby. We are the whole package – the soft femininity of beauty with the rock solid strength of brawn. There is nothing we can’t do; we can run families, corporations, causes…we can create anything our beautiful minds can think of…we can conquer anything we choose to…we can love like no one you’ve ever known….and we can leave the greatest legacy humanly possible – a child. What do YOU love most about being a woman?

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.