Empowered Women in IT

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...

You sense your team has issues simmering beneath the surface.  But no one talks about them, including you. It's easy to hope they'll just fade away. But have you ever wondered what ignoring them really costs? Your high performers will start planning their exit.  Productivity will take a nosedive. And you’ll continue to lose your team’s respect.  Imagine the shift you could make if you ha...

The organization you work in sets the cultural tone and operational standards. Your values determine how you choose to lead within it. There was a time in my career when it was the norm to: Call someone out publicly if they made a mistake Make organizational changes without speaking to those impacted Shut someone down in a meeting because they didn’t agree  I observed these behaviors modeled by se...

Midway through my career, I stepped into a new management position with a new director. A few months in, a pattern developed. Every Sunday evening, I’d get a text message from him—something “urgent” that needed to be handled first thing Monday morning. Here’s the part I didn’t say out loud at the time: Sundays were sacred to me. A day of worship, rest and time with my family. But I didn’t push bac...

Throughout my IT career, I've seen women often underestimate their skills, convincing themselves they couldn’t progress beyond their current position.  Despite wanting to advance, they self-disqualify by focusing on every job requirement they don’t fully meet. Meanwhile, men apply for roles they aren't fully qualified for and often get them. Women can be overly critical, letting past mis...

Do you ever feel lonely as a woman leader in IT? It can feel like being on an island–isolated and overlooked. I spoke recently with a woman leader in IT who felt this isolation deeply.  She was the only woman manager in her organization and longed for a network of peers who truly understood her challenges. Without this support, who do you turn to when you need encouragement or a listening ear?  It...

As a woman leader in IT, you’re the person responsible and accountable for your team’s performance. I know, that might seem heavy at times. But, you’re the leader your management and customers look to when deliverables are late or milestones missed. Conversely, you’re also going to receive high praises and respect when you implement solutions to the problem. Exploring team accountability issues is...

Is delegating work something you struggle with? What is it that makes you uncomfortable? You may be concerned that someone else can’t meet your expectations or quality standards? Maybe you feel it’s just easier to do it yourself than to teach another person? Or, are you afraid of letting go of something you now have control over? Sure, I get it –  you might be really great at performing the work,...

Have you ever noticed how you can walk into a room and sense the emotions of the attendees? Often it is not what people say, but how they say it that makes all the difference.  Are they saying ‘yes’ just to appease their manager when they really aren’t behind the decision at all? Is there enthusiasm and conviction in their voice? What is their body language telling you? Are their arms folded, eyes...

When I first started my career in IT, I worked as an intern doing software development.  I enjoyed my work, but still had a lot to learn in the professional world. My first project included migrating an application to a new platform. My assignment was to design, develop and test all the reports using the new software.  My team was the first in the organization to blaze the trail using this new tec...

You hear through the grapevine that a reorg is about to happen. Assumptions are shared through chats, emails, and water cooler discussions. As time passes, employees get anxious awaiting the news. You assure your team that everything will work out regardless of the new manager.  The time arrives for the announcement of the reorg. You feel the tension as employees await the news. The org chart is d...

Many times throughout my early career I expressed concerns or suggested an idea only to have it fall on deaf ears in IT.  Why? It’s not because I wasn’t smart enough or didn’t have great ideas.  It had everything to do with being a woman in a male-dominated field. Men listen to other men in this culture. But what if your customers could become one of your most powerful allies?   You create innovat...

A requirement for my CIS degree was an organizational development course. It covered topics like organizational change management, talent and performance management, improving team dynamics, and continuous improvements.  I loved the class and found the content relevant and applicable in my work environment. What made the course even better was the professor’s teaching style. She made a comment one...

Is giving constructive feedback to your employees hard for you?  What is it that makes it so difficult? Are you afraid it will change your relationship? Or maybe you haven’t yet learned how to give feedback and you’re worried about how it might go? Regardless of the reason, giving constructive feedback to employees is truly a gift.  Without feedback, employees make assumptions that everything is g...