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Tag: women in tech

  • Women in Tech: Shining brighter at Sun Life Global Solutions PH

    Women in Tech: Shining brighter at Sun Life Global Solutions PH

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    Sun Life Global Solutions (SLGS) Philippines, the shared services of the global insurance and asset management leader Sun Life is celebrating this year’s International Women’s Month by further championing Women in Tech through a more comprehensive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) career plan.

    Over the years, SLGS has emerged as a talent and innovation hub, driving seamless digital transformation and providing technology, knowledge services, and business services to Sun Life businesses globally. In its continued commitment to empowering its talent, Sun Life Global Solutions strives to foster an environment where all employees are treated fairly and respectfully at work and in communities, where everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources.

    This has been the motivation of their DEI&B core team to develop an even more comprehensive DEI&B career plan for 2024, divided into three phases: 1. Attract, 2. Develop, and 3. Engage and Retain which was conceptualized considering inputs from the SLGS team, survey results, and a DEI index in the Towers Watson survey from Towers Watson, a global professional services firm focused on business, risk management, and human resource consulting to measure and propel an organization’s workforce. 

    ATTRACT through gender diversity-focused hiring 

    While SLGS’s gender diversity across the organization is currently at 55%, the company is still looking to grow their gender diversity in tech positions. SLGS is committed to improving gender diversity at the very start of the employment process by removing bias in hiring. 

    With their Talent Acquisition team collaborating with various sectors since 2023, SLGS created awareness campaigns with university partners, conducted training on resume writing, and incorporated policy changes for removing bias in hiring such as the removal of pictures, schools, gender, age/birthday and parent occupation in candidate resumes. 

    DEVELOP with mentorship program for women and training roadmap

    For current employees, SLGS in collaboration with the SunStree team, a women employee network that serves as a platform for women to maximize their full potential, is creating mentorship programs for women and would-be women leaders. This will run alongside a reverse mentorship program with MIllennials and Gen Zs as mentors, and their leaders as mentees.

    The mentorship programs will be amplified through the implementation of the Allyship Framework, which  allows the entire leadership team of SLGS to co-sponsor awareness campaigns on how to be an “ally” as well as to drive the SLGS PH DEI&B scorecard that will measure the demographics, participation rate, and impact of activities. 

    This will be done through the SLGS inclusion networks, which are groups for gender empowerment called Bright Women,Pride (LGBTQ+) and DiverseAbility (Persons with Disability) clubs, which are all aligned with the Global Sun Life DEI&B Inclusion Networks. Two more were established locally: DEKADA (Inter-generation) and Working Families.

    To consistently improve their DEI&BI efforts, SLGS is also inviting their managers to have focus group discussions to align on their inclusivity programs and serve as the voice of their employees. 

    ENGAGE AND RETAIN through DEI&B Programs 

    Sun Life Global Solutions (SLGS) Philippines vice president and site head, Nathalie Bernardo delivering her speech on SLGS’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEI&B) efforts, focusing on the organization’s 2024 career plan.

    SLGS’s commitment to celebrating Women in Tech stretches to engaging and retaining women talent through year-round DEI&B programs. Some of these activities include: the annual celebration of the International Women’s Day during the month of March, the implementation of DEI&B Awards under Rewards and Recognition, Inclusion Network Activities and Events including collaboration initiatives with Sustainability and CSR teams, and as well as Awareness and visibility campaign on the inclusion networks to boost membership sign-ups.

    Nathalie Bernardo, SLGS Philippines vp and Site head, echoed during their recently culminated SLGS’ Moments of Togetherness event the importance of their DEI&B mission to Sun Life as a company and its employees. “Our goal is for every employee to feel heard and empowered to make a positive impact, both with the organization and in our community,” she shared.

    Sun Life Global Solutions (SLGS) managing director, Tarun Sareen talked about the company’s Culture of Care and the impact of women leaders in the organization.

    “Our People are our primary assets and hence they remain our core focus of our purpose and mission.  At SLGS, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive and respectful environment, where everyone can harness their potential to their fullest and where our workforce has equal access to opportunities and resources that enables everyone to make significant contributions,” said Tarun Sareen, managing director of Sun Life Global Solutions. 

    “When we feel that we truly belong in our workplace, we feel more connected, committed, and valued. We then just own the opportunities and steer through challenges… to do the best work of our lives and inspire others,” added Bernardo.

    “This is why we want to ensure a psychologically safe environment for everyone, where we bring our whole selves to work, where we are authentic and express our unique perspectives. We inculcate Belonging by fostering open conversations, listening to diverse voices, and celebrating the strength that arises from our differences,” Bernardo said. 

    This year’s International Women’s Month is a monumental celebration for SLGS as the organization celebrates its women leaders and embraces their commitment to championing women in tech and the company looks forward to carrying the torch for gender equality not just this month but all year round. 

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  • How Women Can Beat the Odds in the Tech Industry | Entrepreneur

    How Women Can Beat the Odds in the Tech Industry | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Women are underrepresented in the tech industry, holding less than a third of computer and mathematical occupations. It’s only getting worse with the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, as a new McKinsey report found women are 1.5 times more likely to be impacted by generative AI in their work. As a woman working with clients in tech, it can often feel isolating.

    However, most days, I view it as an advantage because women have a different natural skill set than men. Our empathy helps in listening to clients and understanding the design process. We are less transactional and more inclined toward human connection, which is a great trait to help build a strong team. We also have different perspectives of the world, and various perspectives are essential for long-term success.

    Related: 4 Strategies to Empower Women in the Workplace

    This gender gap in technology is long-standing and caused by a variety of societal issues, ranging from stereotypes, bias and hostile work cultures to lack of early exposure and STEM educational pathways.

    Companies like Amazon developed AI hiring bots to screen applicants, and, despite being proven to favor male applicants, they are still in use. Not only that, but women were also disproportionately impacted by recent big tech layoffs. Axios and Layoffs.fyi found that 45% of 3,404 workers confirmed laid off from tech employers between October 2022 and June 2023 were women, despite companies like Meta having 63% male workers in their workforce. These layoffs also focused largely on departments like Human Resources, which is nearly 73% female.

    Web3 does get better. Some organizations like Boy’s Club, SheFi and Surge do an amazing job combatting this by onboarding, retaining and curating female-oriented events to onboard more women into the ecosystem. This sector still inherits the same Web2 bias, though.

    Boss Babes surveyed Gen Z about Web3 and found young women were 36% more likely to lack any formal education about the sector. Boston Consulting Group partnered with People of Crypto Lab to find only 13% of Web3 startups include a female founder, and only 3% of those were all-female founding teams.

    All-male founding teams in Web3 raised an average of nearly $30 million each, compared to only $8 million for the all-female teams.

    Related: Gen Z Is Seriously Misunderstood — Here are 3 Secrets Young CEOs Employ to Disrupt Industries

    This gender gap exists in venture capital firms (where only 15% of VCs are women, and only 3% of funds go to all-female teams) and extends to tech sales teams, where women make up only 25% of salespeople and 12% of sales leadership. In school, 80% of AI professors are men, and after graduation, only 10 to 15% of AI research staff at companies like Facebook and Google are women.

    Even just by existing as a woman, tech can threaten me, regardless of whether I work. Research shows that 96% of deepfakes online in 2019 were women, and generative AI is known to accentuate biases while disproportionately affecting women.

    There’s no reason for any of these problems to exist, either. A McKinsey report on diversity found companies with at least 30% female executives are up to 48% more likely to outperform their least gender-diverse counterparts. In fact, both gender and racial diversity from the entry-level to the C-suite can increase a company’s bottom line.

    Building this foundation as an entrepreneur is especially important as you scale beyond your garage into a multinational company. There are ways to succeed as a female entrepreneur in the tech space.

    Getting ahead as a female entrepreneur

    I can’t understate the importance of continuous learning. It’s easy as we get older to remain stuck in our ways, but the more knowledge you have, the more confident you’ll be in every aspect of your life. That’s why it’s important to learn something new every day, whether directly related to the business or not.

    Sometimes, we can learn something in a completely unrelated field that can be applied to our own, so always stay open to new experiences.

    Related: 4 Research-Backed Reasons Why Women Belong in Tech

    Don’t be afraid to be unabashedly who you are. Speak your mind, take the lead, and be willing to win or lose as yourself. We all battle imposter syndrome, and I realize it’s difficult to “be yourself” when you aren’t entirely sure who you are. Still, you should stand confident and follow your dreams, regardless of how difficult the road can sometimes be.

    As a woman, also be prepared to go the extra mile. My business partner and I regularly attend business conferences like Consensus and NFT.NYC, and speaker panels are often filled with men. We’re lucky to account for 10 to 20% of the speaker slots, which means we must compete harder and bring our A-game.

    It’s also vital to lean into your strengths–while you may have a steeper hill to climb, you can remain competitive by focusing on your core skillsets. Everything else can be outsourced as you build a team of specialists in areas you struggle in. It doesn’t mean you can’t still struggle through and learn new things, but your bread and butter should focus on what you’re best at.

    More than anything, understand that change is slow. We’re living in the 2020s, and my challenges are not much different than those my mother and grandmother faced at my age. You’ll still face adversity no matter how hard you work or climb.

    Gender diversity isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s a business imperative. Innovation thrives on diverse perspectives, and women are essential to this ecosystem.

    Being a woman entrepreneur has unique challenges, but it’s not impossible. In fact, overcoming these hurdles helps us refine our skills and come out stronger on the other end. Tech bros may run the world, but that doesn’t mean we can’t claim our space, disrupt the status quo, and lead with passion and resilience.

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    Lena Grundhoefer

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  • How Leaders Can Change the Trajectory for Women in Tech | Entrepreneur

    How Leaders Can Change the Trajectory for Women in Tech | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    No one blinks when they find out your doctor is a woman. Or your lawyer. Or your accountant. But try telling them that your CTO is a “she” or your IT “guy” isn’t a guy at all — you might get a different reaction. That’s a problem, of course. Fortunately, it’s solvable. As leaders, we can help pave the path to a tech career, making it less daunting for women.

    As a woman who’s been successful in navigating the rocky road to tech success, I can attest to the fact that it can be done. If you have a dream, you can do it. I just wish that women could realize equality in the technical fields a little faster. According to one CIO Magazine article from 2023, women make up merely 28% of the computing and math-focused worker population. Perhaps worse, about half of the women employees who start in tech eventually leave the tech world behind. Those aren’t great numbers, but they shouldn’t serve as barriers.

    The fact is, technology is an amazing sector. It’s growing all the time, and opportunities are opening up left and right. Who would have guessed just a decade ago that podcasting technology for brands would be so needed? Now, it’s not only a “thing:” It’s a “thing” that’s in high demand. That’s why I moved into the niche.

    Women who are passionate about all things technology-related have so many directions to go in. However, they need to get a foot in the door first. If you’re in a leadership role where you can help women move into tech, I urge you to apply some of these tips. You’ll be doing a favor not just to talented, tech-minded women but to all the industries that need them.

    Related: 5 Ways to Make the Modern Tech Workplace More Welcoming to Women

    1. Eliminate biased hiring practices

    Several researchers dove into the statistics of inclusive organizations in 2021. These were businesses devoted to diversity. Nevertheless, they still found tons of biased hiring happening. In one case, female STEM majors needed perfect GPAs to effectively compete with their male counterparts with lower GPAs.

    My guess would be that those companies’ leaders had no clue they were making the candidate journey harder for women. They probably assumed that everyone was being treated fairly. Instead of making the same error, work with your human resources director and hiring managers. Figure out if unconscious bias may be sneaking into the way you evaluate tech applicants.

    One way to remove gender bias includes taking identifiable names and information off applications. You may also want to wait to conduct face-to-face interviews until the last rounds of decision-making. Using digital, AI-fueled platforms can help, too, especially in the early stages of screening.

    2. Offer female employees the chance to laterally move to tech roles

    Let’s say you have a female employee in a non-tech department. She mentions that she’d like to learn more about technology and maybe one day hold a technical position. Is it possible to make that happen? Perhaps, if you set up professional development and mentorship programs within your company.

    You can’t assume that every worker in your business wants to stay where they’re at forever. Many will want to make lateral moves at some point during their tenures. Why couldn’t those lateral moves be across silos and not just from one cubby to the next? I got my start in marketing. However, I gradually pivoted myself into a more tech realm. I still have my marketing chops, of course. I just use them differently as the head of a more technical startup.

    You shouldn’t risk losing a good employee just because she’s interested in doing something different career-wise. According to Qualtrics, the average churn rate is 10.6% across all organizations. This means that if you can get your turnover to single digits, you can avoid saying goodbye to superstars. At the same time, you may be able to guide a female team member into a technical position. She’ll stay with your company, and you’ll increase the number of women in tech on your staff. Everyone wins.

    Related: 3 Tips for Promoting From Within

    3. Switch to a female-friendly tech vendor

    There’s a saying that you’re judged by the company you keep. It’s true in business as well as personal life. When you partner with vendors who prioritize gender equality — including in places where women are historically underrepresented — you make a big statement. Effectively, you tell the world that you’re going to be the change you want to see.

    For example, let’s say that you’re trying to pick a new vendor for a technical service you need. Though the vendors you’re evaluating are all unique in some ways, they’re not too different. Except one has obviously given women more chances to try their hand at technical jobs.

    Is it worth giving that latter company your business? By doing so, you’ll show your support. You may even prove to be an encouragement for the women in your workplace who have considered tech at some point. You may find the experience an opening for what McKinsey & Company calls supplier collaboration, too. That is, you and your new vendor may be able to form other partnerships, like perhaps a joint tech internship for female college students.

    Women who want to jump into tech shouldn’t be held back. By tackling the problem of gender inequalities in the industry now, we can all make having a tech career easier for future generations.

    Related: How Women Are Innovating and Shaping the Tech Landscape — and How Men Can Support Them

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    Lindsay Tjepkema

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  • Only Women in The Room? That Was Me – Until I Took These Proactive Steps. | Entrepreneur

    Only Women in The Room? That Was Me – Until I Took These Proactive Steps. | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    I recently had dinner with two women I’ve known for years. They’re both accomplished leaders with decades of experience in their respective fields. I’ve learned so much from these exceptional leaders and friends: the importance of standing up for your values, being unafraid to have difficult conversations in a respectful way and having the courage to make big changes.

    One of the women was trying to decide whether she should walk away from her job at a well-established company after many successful years. She was at a crossroads and needed advice. We talked it through and by the end of the night, she had a plan.

    Our support systems can be a boundless source of strength. Having a safe space to have frank conversations — to share our experiences and learn from each other — can make all the difference.

    Many times in my career, I’ve felt like a fish out of water as the lone woman in boardroom meetings. It took time, prioritization and investment to build a supportive network. But today, I am surrounded by collaborators, mentors and allies who encourage me to take on the next big thing, challenge my thinking and catalyze new ideas — and I do the same for them.

    Here’s what I’ve learned about finding and supporting my community.

    Be open to possibilities

    Professional relationships can spring from anywhere. Take the waitress who served us dinner that night. Overhearing snippets of our conversation, she told us she was a first-year communications student at the local university. This young woman had great energy, enthusiasm and drive. I gave her my card. I’d love to hire her in a co-op position when she is ready because I know I could learn from her, too.

    Look for those bright sparks and unexpected opportunities. If we are open to these possibilities, it can lead to impact we never imagined.

    Related: Don’t Cling Too Tightly to Your Goals. The Greatest Opportunities Are Often Unexpected.

    Listen and learn

    Lean into the relationships you have already established, whether through extracurricular activities, charitable work, your career, family or friends. These are people you trust who have already invested in you. Ask them how they have overcome challenges, found mentors and built circles of trust. There are always lessons that can be gleaned.

    Be thoughtful and authentic

    In a world of endless opportunities, it’s important to define your goals. What do you aim to achieve with, and through, your network? Create objectives that can evolve as you learn and grow.

    It’s equally important to be intentional in your approach to building relationships. Reflect on the company you choose to keep, how you foster trust, as well as your willingness to be open. The most trusted people in my network have helped me through some very rough waters. If I hadn’t let them in, I would not be who I am today.

    Develop a diverse network

    Look across your circle and see who is missing. Then take steps to build a richer and more inclusive network. Participate in new activities, ask questions and be curious and open to different perspectives. If we only surround ourselves with like-minded people who share the same lived experience, we limit our growth and the opportunity to add value. Think of the impact that diverse business teams and multidisciplinary research units are having in tackling some of the greatest challenges we face as a planet. Seeking out different viewpoints is a powerful way to learn, grow and achieve results — no matter what the goal.

    For example, Invest Ottawa works with dozens of partners every year to host International Women’s “Week,” an initiative that has grown into a month of activities. Our shared goal: to empower current and future women leaders from every walk of life. It brings together allies, partners, champions, women, men and nonbinary individuals to connect, listen and learn from each other to create opportunities that advance women leaders. Everyone is welcome. We have a long way to go, but step by step, it’s driving meaningful change in our community. And that impact is a result of the collaboration among a committed and diverse mix of people.

    Related: 8 Ways To Empower the Next Generation of Women Leaders

    Pursue warm introductions

    See a gap in your own learning? Ask everyone in your circle if they know someone who can help address it and if they can provide an introduction. Very few people turn down a respectful request for virtual coffee. You might have to work with their crammed schedule, but most great leaders say yes. And when they do, be sure to do your research and be clear about what you aim to achieve. This will help ensure an effective discussion and plant the seeds for a strong relationship.

    Chart your own path

    Once you’ve created a strong network of mentors and leaders, sometimes it’s easy to become swayed by their vision and lose sight of your own. How do you want to contribute to the world? What does success mean to you? Take the time to decide if their advice makes sense for you. If not, that is OK. You can always tuck it away for future consideration or explore how it could help someone else in your circle.

    Over the years, many people have encouraged me to pursue sales. “You’re so charismatic,” they say. “You’re leaving money on the table!” I have many friends who are brilliant sales leaders; I know this isn’t the right path for me. I love to chase public and private investment that drives innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development. That passion has enabled me to help secure hundreds of millions of dollars for, and with, many great organizations.

    Don’t be afraid to chart your own path to success. If you know what drives you, you can leverage the advice that’s most relevant to you. Today, I help lead an economic development agency where I can pursue bold ideas to create economic and societal impact with a committed team and community.

    Give back

    The most powerful relationships are founded on mutual respect and values. The best mentors want to learn from you, too. They won’t shy away from sharing their struggles as you share yours.

    Career wins should always be celebrated, but I’m certain my stumbles would be far more valuable to the young woman I met at the restaurant. After chatting with me, I’m hoping she knows that pivots offer some of the greatest lessons life has to offer. And that when she encounters challenges of her own, she’ll pick herself back up — and her network will be there to support her.

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    Sonya Shorey

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  • Bestselling Book Moments: Magic, Miracles, and Martinis by Amy Van Atta Slater Released on May 20th

    Bestselling Book Moments: Magic, Miracles, and Martinis by Amy Van Atta Slater Released on May 20th

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    Transform Your Life and Break Free of Limitations for Lasting Happiness.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 18, 2016


    San Francisco, CA, May 18, 2016 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If you’re unhappy, struggling through one challenge after another, and feeling disconnected from everyone, you are not alone. Regardless of the reason, unhappiness can permeate every area of life if left unchecked. So is it possible to shift perspectives and live a life of happiness and peace? Engaging and practical, Moments: Magic, Miracles, and Martinis, How To Move Forward In Times Of Uncertainty by Amy Van Atta Slater presents simple steps to take ownership of your happiness, health, love, and prosperity, towards a greater level of self-awareness and success. 

    Moments is the unexpected, life-changing journey Amy takes as she navigates the challenges of divorce, single parenting, chronic Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and her father’s diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia towards wellness and a fulfilling life. Using this remarkable book as your roadmap, learn how to gain greater empowerment and change your life to have lasting happiness.

    “Moments is a must read for anyone looking to overcome obstacles”

    Douglas Wick, Oscar Award Winning Producer

    As an SVP of a leading technology company, highly sought after leadership mentor, keynote speaker and single parent, Amy Van Atta Slater transforms challenges into opportunities.  It is through her insights on life, business, personal development, parenting and mindfulness, that she has inspired thousands of business professionals and creative thinkers to adjust, rethink and refocus in every field and walk of life.

    After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, Amy soon became a noted leader in business, and 25 years later, she is consistently inspiring others towards greater levels of success. Motivating the masses with galvanizing speeches, Amy empowers others to build their brands and lead through the cultivation of culture. As a corporate strategy advisor and private executive mentor, Amy cultivates the development of core leadership skills combined with compassion, mindfulness and authenticity. Her unique approach to leadership development has garnered Amy coveted keynote speaking opportunities, such as the 2014 Forrester Research Convention, as a panelist at the Domo Women in Business Tour and as a featured speaker along side Jay Leno at the 2016 Apttus Accelerate conference in San Francisco.

    What people are saying about Moments: Magic, Miracles, and Martinis​

    “A quick burst of inspiration, Moments provides encouragement during life’s most difficult times.” – Lisa Germani, CBS Eye on Detroit Field Reporter, Street Beat On Air Host at CW50 & Producer 

    “Raw and real. Author Amy Van Atta Slater’s take on facing the reality of life with its myriad of challenges and blessings, will leave you validated, refreshed and grateful for the soulful dive.” – Dr. Shawne Duperon, 6 Time EMMY® winner, Project Forgive Founder 

    “A beautiful book, about choices and how they converge on lives. Healing emotions and changing our path after “the perfect storm” we all face during life. To find out that, after all, we are not just left with ruins.” – Valentina Martelli, CEO, IbiscusMedia, TV Host, Producer, Documentary Filmmaker 

    “Moments provides inspiration that will carry you through any challenges life has to offer and keep you knowing you are not going though this alone.” – Michelle Patterson, CEO, Women Networking & California Women’s Conference

    The paperback version of Moments: Magic, Miracles, and Martinis will be released on May 20th, published by Turtle Spirit Press.  Moments is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and select independent bookstores. 

    To learn more about Moments: Magic, Miracles, and Martinis and Amy Van Atta Slater visit www.AmyVSlater.com 

    Source: Marianne Pestana LLC

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