Women in Tech: 20 Trailblazers Share Their Journeys

Twenty successful women in the tech trenches generously shared their insights with TechNewsWorld reporter Vivian Wagner in this interview compilation. They tackled subjects ranging from how to search out a strong mentor to how to be one — from how to advance in a large company to how to start your own small firm. Each told a fascinating personal story, and each offered encouraging advice. Although every woman’s journey is unique, what they clearly have in common is their love for technology and their firm belief that there’s a place for everyone in the field. They know it because they’re living it every day. Girls and women should not fear technology, these 20 remarkable women seem to say in one voice. Rather, they should fear not living up to their dreams and potential. This is an excellent guide for students considering STEM courses, for graduates pondering their first job choices, and for career changers at any stage in life. It’s a useful tool for school and career counselors, recruiters, and HR staff eager to diversify their workplaces. It’s an easy read that is refreshingly nonpromotional and nonpolitical. It doesn’t idealize the work of women in tech, but it doesn’t minimize it either. It puts on full display the importance of opening doors for women to pursue the work they love both for its challenges and rewards.