The month of March celebrates the contributions women have made throughout the years in technology, science, and more. To continue our celebration of Women’s History Month, we sat down with Strategic Services Program Manager Laurel Eddins to talk about her experience as a woman working in IT.
Q: What is your experience like as a woman working in IT?
A: I approach IT in the same way I do other challenges in life. You have to assess where you are and where the different stakeholders are to gain a basic understanding and establish a shared vision of where we're going. I try to lead very transparently, and set an example for others' expectations by how I behave.
Q: Is there a woman or another role model in your life who inspires you?
A: When I think of role models, I think of people who inspire the masses, and for me, Maya Angelou comes to mind. She speaks of success, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. I aim to conduct myself in ways to accomplish those things, and I try to follow her lead.
Q: What do you think is the best part of being a woman in the tech industry?
A: I think that technology has historically been a male-dominated field, and I think being a woman brings a different perspective to technology. Being a woman in IT allows me to speak for roughly half the consumers, which are women.
Q: What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in the tech industry?
A: I would encourage women not to fear the unknown. I came into IT as a process improvement specialist. You can take your unique gifts and talents and apply them to any field. Figure out how you can use your abilities to improve the area you’re in, and don’t be afraid of failures or mistakes. Use them to shape your future decisions.
Stay tuned as we continue to spotlight women in technology to celebrate Women’s History Month!