Empowered Women in IT

“It needs to get done, so I’ll just take care of it.” Have you ever said that to yourself? Someone on your team hasn't followed through. A problem needs to be resolved. And rather than risk having something fall through the cracks, you step in and handle it yourself. It may feel like you're simply being a responsible leader. But what if the problem was never yours to solve? I learned thi...

Is there something happening in your IT career right now that’s weighing heavily on you?  You’re worried about the next reduction in force and who will be affected. Perhaps another reorganization has you wondering what will happen to you and the team you’ve developed. Your budget’s been cut again, but the expectations haven’t changed. Or maybe you’re in a position that doesn’t align with your stre...

If you’re a growth-minded woman leader in IT who loves learning, progressing, and achieving new levels in your career, you may already be thinking about how to prepare for your next advancement opportunity. Whether you want to grow as a leader, transition into management, or become an executive-level director one day, there are steps you can begin taking now. And that preparation can start early i...

Over the past six months, I’ve talked with many former colleagues and women leaders in IT about difficult changes happening in the workforce, including: Mandated return to office. Layoffs. Reductions in force. Doing more with fewer people. And AI creating uncertainty about jobs and skills. These changes are difficult to navigate and can take an emotional toll on your team—and on you as their leade...

As a woman leader in IT, have you ever worked in an environment where you felt so devalued and unsupported that you began to shut down? Instead of sharing your ideas, you put your head down, do your work, and try to get through each day. That’s where my guest, Wendi O’Neill, found herself after working for a leader who was more focused on advancing his own career than supporting the people on his...

When you move into a management role, it changes the dynamics of the relationships you once had with your teammates. Suddenly, you’re no longer considered “one of the team.” You’re now “the boss.” And that can be a difficult transition, especially when you’ve formed close relationships with some of your teammates. You may even find you’re no longer invited to go out to lunch or social gatherings o...

 This week, I'm bringing back one of the most listened to episodes of the Empowered Women in IT podcast.  It's episode seven, “Five Steps to Increase Critical Thinking for Women Leaders in IT.”  Critical thinking is one of those leadership skills that becomes increasingly important as you take on greater responsibility.  You're expected to evaluate complex problems, challenge assump...

There’s a statement I’ve heard repeatedly from women throughout my IT career: “My good work should speak for itself.” I believed that too for many years. I worked hard, delivered results, and assumed my leadership would notice. But eventually I had to ask myself: " Was my work really speaking for itself ?" While I was doing great work, I wasn’t receiving the advancement opportunities I w...

You’ve spent years becoming an expert in your IT field. Your knowledge and experience have earned the trust and respect of those around you. But there comes a point in your leadership career when being the expert can actually begin to hold you back. Because being indispensable in your current role can make you unavailable for your next one. If you’re still the person everyone depends on, it become...

Experience won’t protect you from being overlooked. Allies and advocates will. Angela Elliott had nearly 15 years of experience, a strong track record, and a seat at the leadership table. Yet her manager worked around her, left her out of important conversations, and dismissed her ideas—only to embrace those same ideas when a male colleague shared them. And that’s what makes this conversation so i...

Have you ever noticed that after accomplishing one of your biggest leadership goals, the attention starts to shift away from you? You worked hard to implement new processes, develop your team, and build strong relationships with your customers. Your leadership recognized your accomplishments and rewarded your success. But over time, something changes. Those accomplishments become the new normal. N...

One of the biggest challenges many women leaders in IT have shared is feeling confident when making critical decisions. You want to make the best decision possible, so you gather information, seek input from others, and think carefully about how your decision will affect your team, your customers, and your organization. But even after doing all of that, it’s easy to wonder… “Am I making the right...

When a new technology or major change is deployed in your IT environment and something doesn't go as planned, what's one of the first questions management asks? Is it, "Who did it?" Or... "What happened, and what can we learn from it?" The answer to that question says a lot about your IT culture. It's never easy to admit that someone on your team made a mistake....

Do you ever end your workday feeling like you were busy every minute...yet the most important work still didn't get done? You've answered emails, attended team meetings, and solved problems. And somehow your highest priorities are still waiting for you tomorrow morning. If you've felt that frustration, you're not alone. One of the biggest challenges women leaders in IT face is...

If you gathered your team in a room and asked them a handful of questions about their lives, would you be surprised by what you learn? Many leaders assume they know their team because they work together every day. But knowing what someone does at work isn't the same as knowing who they are. And that matters more than you might think. When work gets busy, it's easy to focus on projects, d...

Do you ever find yourself avoiding professional events where you walk into a room and know no one? For many years, I didn't realize how uncomfortable those situations were for me because I usually attended with a coworker. But when you're on your own, it can feel vulnerable. You walk into a room full of strangers and suddenly you're not quite sure where to begin. If you're an i...

Have you ever agreed to take on something you didn't really have time for? Said "yes" when you wanted to say "no"? Avoided a difficult conversation because you didn't want to disappoint someone? If you're like many women leaders in IT, you've probably done all three. You care deeply about your team. You want to be supportive. You want people to feel valued a...

Have you ever received feedback that was hard to accept? Maybe it wasn’t delivered in a kind or constructive way. Or maybe criticism sinks deeper because of earlier experiences in your life. For some women leaders in IT, feedback immediately feels personal—like your brain goes straight to: “Here we go again…” And when that happens, it’s easy to either shut down or start questioning yourself. But f...

How often do you find yourself checking in or asking for permission, before making a decision? It’s something I see all the time with women leaders in IT. Capable, intelligent women who have learned to second-guess themselves. In leadership, you’re expected to think, decide, and act. While experience builds confidence, so does making decisions before you feel 100% ready. Mistakes are part of the p...

When was the last time you sat down with someone on your team and asked, “What helps you do your best work every day?” Not in a formal review, but in a real, curious conversation. Here’s what I see happen all the time—teams take assessments, learn their strengths and weaknesses and then nothing really changes...  And that’s where great leadership matters. When employees are utilizing their strengt...

Have you ever had a great idea at work that died on the vine because you just couldn’t get the right people to back you up? You knew the idea was solid—yet it just wasn’t landing, no matter how clearly you explained it. It’s not just frustrating, it’s discouraging.  You start to second-guess yourself OR wonder why your male colleagues can say something similar and their idea gets traction. But her...

Do you ever feel like the work you do is invisible to your management team? Not because it isn’t valuable—but because everything is running smoothly… and you’ve become the person they can always count on. And while that reliability matters, it can also leave you wondering— why am I not getting the visibility or recognition I’ve earned? The reality is, as a woman leader in IT, every new role can fe...

As a woman leader in IT, you’re no stranger to change. And if you’re like many women I work with, you’re probably wondering, “Am I keeping up?” You thrive in fast-paced environments, navigating evolving technologies and leading teams through it. But here’s the challenge… Staying where you are for too long becomes a risk. Especially in today’s environment with layoffs and constant change. Over the...

Successful women leaders in IT don’t just manage technical work. They manage their energy, emotions and mindset every day. Leadership is about showing up focused, steady, and confident—even when the pressure is high. And if you’re like many women leaders I work with, your days can feel full before they even begin. You’re leading teams. Solving problems. Balancing responsibilities at work and at ho...

Learning to manage your emotional intelligence as a woman leader in IT is a vital skill.  And yet, it can be very difficult to do when no one really teaches you how to do it. Yes, it’s wonderful to have reliable allies and sponsors that support you in difficult circumstances. But what happens when they don’t? What happens when you’re the only one in the room expected to hold it together? Throughou...