Building Community is Just the Start

Last year, Gallup released an intriguing interview between two high-level women about how community building could combat high stress and quit rates among working women.

The takeaway was clear: the best networks are communities “built on genuine connections, strengthened by vulnerability, generosity and intentionality.”

While tech companies struggle with attracting and keeping women at all levels, the problem isn’t the employees; it’s the ways they’re being (or rather, not being) supported.

As one of a very few Latina executives in tech for 20-plus years, I rarely—if ever—saw someone who looked like me in the same room.

Finding support networks among other women leaders was essential to my success, but hard to come by. Only 10 percent of women working in a technology role are on female-majority teams. And one in five women in tech are thinking of leaving their jobs.

(For a truly eye-opening and in-depth analysis of the uphill battle for women in tech, read this March article from CIO.)

There’s no company perk in the world that’s going to solve these problems. But we can (and must) start closing these egregious gender gaps—and one of the best ways is by empowering women in tech to find and build community.

Expose the ‘Genuis in the Room’

Recently, I facilitated a group session at the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS). I called it “Women in Tech: Power Hour+”—all with the idea that creating a space for women to discuss their challenges and bring out the “genius in the room” would catalyze them to step into their true potential for success.

It’s one thing to talk about the work-life balance or gender inequities that we face as women professionals in a male-dominated industry. The conversation moves to an entirely new level when you explore, together, how you can use your voice, bring your authentic self, and confidently share your perspective in workplaces where women remain underrepresented.

That’s why at the end of our discussion, our room wasn’t just full of energy—it was empowered with tenacity, bravery, honesty, and passion. In sharing our stories and struggles, we also shared a number of “aha” moments and a robust discussion about what it means to lean into a new definition of the way the industry sees us as strong, high-achieving, and motivated women.

Here are some of the questions we asked each other—and ones I encourage you to think about, too:

• What are your strongest leadership traits, and how do you leverage them in your work?
• What are your boundaries and how do you manage expectations to maintain a healthy work/life balance?
• What are some practical tips for navigating power dynamics and building influence in the workplace?
• What are some practical strategies for engaging others and building momentum around your work?

Reflections and conversations like these aren’t just exhilarating, they’re the first step in what McKinsey last year called “repairing the broken rung on the career ladder for women in technical roles.”

We stand the best chance when we stand together, and that’s what building community is all about.

A New Community for ‘Women in Tech’

Even before the ATLIS discussion, I had been dreaming up ways to build a movement around women supporting each other in the tech industry. It’s the reason I launched my Tech & Thrive coaching practice in the first place.

On top of individual coaching and team development, I wanted to create a space where women could “expose their genius.” I’ve studied lots of leadership development models and know the benefits of group coaching.

I’m bringing all these best practices together with my passion for women in tech into a new kind of community and group coaching cohort launching this fall.

Already, a dozen incredible women leaders in tech have waitlisted for the experience—and I can’t wait to see who else wants to join.

It’s going to be truly extraordinary to bring these creative and collaborative spaces to more women who want to support each other in our collective goal to THRIVE! And it’s one of the best ways that we can really start to make a difference in an industry whose future depends on our success, above all!

(Coaching plug: If you are looking to learn more about the group coaching cohort and want to join the waitlist, I hope you’ll check it out!)

Denise Musselwhite is a tech executive turned leadership coach, speaker, and strategist. After 25 years in the tech industry, she founded Tech & Thrive, a coaching and consulting practice that provides personalized coaching solutions to help women and diverse professionals in tech overcome the hidden barriers holding them back. Learn more about Denise and her coaching at denisemusselwhite.com.