Each day during Grace Hopper Celebration 2021, I will send out a personal email. Below is the content of Day 2. Subscribe below to get these delivered directly to your inbox.
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Day three. There is a lot of content below because the quality on Day 3 was extraordinary and wove together tightly. Today was…a lot. As it should be because we are women in tech, striving to re-create what the tech industry is, who has power, and how power is used.
For me the thread of the day is accountability.
Accountability in doing better as individuals, expecting better from ourselves and others, and creating norms that recreate how we work and how we do business.
What was your biggest moment today?
I got a big surprise!
See me in two different parts of this incredible video!
What I attended
Live sessions:
Speaker Corner & On-Demand Session Dare to Change the E’s in “DE&I”: Diversity, Equity/Equality and Inclusion
Do you know the difference between Equity and Equality and why the difference matters? Equality means everyone gets the same thing; equity means that each person gets what they need to thrive. One actually creates change – equity – one supports system of power. The recorded session is worth a listen for inspiration of story and reality. Then the panelists did something remarkable: they turned a zoom Q&A full of strangers into a brave, vulnerable, soul-educational space for a community.
White ladies: too many of us think we are allies while our black and brown sisters aren’t experiencing our allyship. That is on us. We have to change that, we gotta show up, do the work that is needed, listen, make space, and so much more.
Featured: Dare to… Invest in the Last Mile for Low-Income Women in Tech
I wanted to skip this session, which is why I went. I knew this session would bring up the shame I experienced as a low-income student struggling through university. There were so many “invisible” barriers to establishing the foundation of my career, even though I have many privileges of identity. For most of my career, I hid how poor my childhood had been, how early I started working, and I felt great shame. Therapy and coaching have helped me be more honest and share my experience. I am grateful that economically disadvantaged realities were elevated into a featured topic.
Live Desk & Keynote: Leveraging Intersectionality with Layshia Clarendon
A client insisted that I attend Layisha Clarendon’s session, even though I wasn’t familiar with Layshia or the WMBA. So much was packed into a short keynote. It felt like first past me was seen and celebrated for the resiliency required for the choices I made while I was in economic survival mode. Then – within three breaths – current me was acknowledged, in the craving to be seen in my fullness. Then, while I was deep breathing in the inspiration, future me was changing the world by changing me and living in the power of showing up as my fullest self.
It was a journey. I am full of gratitude.
Live Desk & Keynote: Timnit Gebru
All I can say is thank you. I did not take any notes because I was so captured. I saw my own past actions in the description of other white woman’s tone policing of (in my case) African women. I also saw myself in the description of being targeted for having spoken out about bullying in the executive level of my then-employer. We have so far to come and voices like Timnit Gebru’s are lights into accountability and a total reinvention of the industry of tech.
Live Desk: An Interview with Haben Girma
Haben Girma pointed out that the biggest barrier to inclusion is ableism. Ableism is the wide spread belief that abled people are more valuable than disabled people. What impressed me the most was experiencing how small the moments of inclusion can be, for example, in choosing to describe oneself. It is up to each of us to hold ourselves to better standards and learn about ableism so that we can dismantle it.
Speaker Corner with Kathy Pham (Session: Integrating Ethics and Responsibility in the Product Development Cycle)
I already wrote about Kathy Pham’s session (day 2). Her speaker corner was outstanding. She reminded us that there is always a pocket in any sector, in any group, for each of us to do work that matters. She acknowledges that there are power dynamics (like race, low income, ability, and more) that play into being able to find that pocket, and we can look for, create, and expand the pockets. I was reminded of the power of asking questions in expanding conversation, even if the answer isn’t available or dismissed at the time.
iPoster:
You can’t get what you don’t ask for – advocating for your career and negotiations 101
The average woman seeking a career in leadership will lose almost $2million in revenue by not negotiating (Forbes).
Grow your grassroots allyship initiative
Detailed how to, experience, failures, and successes for how you can build a grassroots allyship. We can all be an ally for someone else. Definitely check this one out.
Creating and communicating product vision
Strong, clear, specific how to and why poster with two videos that enrich the content.
How to build an effective professional network on Linkedin: some data-driven insights
Want data on why you need to use your Linkedin as well as three recommendations for how to use your Linkedin to drive your career? Make sure you catch this iPoster.
My Biggest A-Ha
“If I change myself, I change the world.” – Layshia Clarendon
“Create accountability for us all, especially ourselves,” – Jeanne Sparrow
These two statements were made at two very different times and they capture my theme of Day 3L accountability.
Yes, I must start with myself. I must be with myself, believe in myself, love myself, invest in myself so that I can be wholly and fully me.
Then, by showing up as the only me that will ever be, I impact my family, friends, clients, community, world. When I grow myself, when I better myself, I better the world.
And, at the same time, even when these two contradict, I also live in obligation to and for my global community. Which means, expecting and envisioning better, accepting less status-quo, speaking up and listening more, creating accountability for me and you.
Us. Together.
We deserve better, so we must do better. Even when it don’t want to, even when it isn’t easy, even when we can lose. Even then.
What I’m Looking Forward To
I’m looking forward to:
- My lightening Talk session: #DareTo Build Your BRAVE
- Featured: Dare to Fly: Turning Your Pain to Purpose
- Live Desk: “Walking the Walk with Public Service”
- Featured: #WhatWouldChadDo: Negotiate, Navigate, and Neutralize Situations
- Live Desk & Featured Speaker: Journey of Authenticity