Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Microsoft’s Codess event in Atlanta! Codess is a community for female coders around the world with the goal of promoting gender diversity in the field. Over 100 girls from around Atlanta came to Codess ATL, and we got to meet some of Microsoft’s recruiters and engineers, learn about navigating the tech industry, and build our networks. You can learn more about Codess here.
My favorite part of the night was the Women in Tech Panel that featured different women from Microsoft including recruiters, engineers, and a program manager. They were extremely insightful and shared some great advice. Here are the top 5 things I learned:
- Feel empowered: Whether you’re at work, at school, or with friends, Garima Singh, a software engineer, advises everyone to feel empowered enough to ask for what you need to succeed. It’s ok to ask for help!
- Build your brand: Andrea Ragin Coleman, a business program manager, did a presentation on creating personal and professional brands in the tech industry. The keys to branding are to be authentic, learn how to introduce yourself in a concise and effective way, show your confidence, and develop a professional online image.
- Be decisive: We all know the feeling of confusion when someone asks, “Where do you want to eat?” Rebecca Reed suggests practicing being decisive. Make a choice, pick a place, and stick with it. This will help you develop that skill for those crunch time decisions.
- Know yourself: To be truly happy or successful you have to understand who you are. Ellen Thorley is a university recruiter, and she says that it’s important to know what your passion is, so you know where you want to go. You have to find what makes you tick and what makes you unique.
- Know your worth: In the tech industry, imposter syndrome is real, but buyer’s regret is not. You might feel like you don’t belong or question your abilities, but you have to remember that there’s a reason why you’re here. There’s a reason why you were selected for your job or admitted into your program, so don’t underestimate yourself!
There are Codess events year round, so check their website or Twitter to see if they’re coming to your city!