Sudipto Ghosh (SG): How can women support other women in their organizations?
Claire:Â “Women can support each other in their organizations by sponsoring promotions, putting colleagues forward for stretch projects, offering flexibility in roles, speaking up when they see non-inclusive behavior, and providing a supportive environment to talk about topics that disproportionately impact women such bias and microaggressions, as well as safe spaces to discuss often taboo topics like pregnancy, infertility, and parenting challenges…
Creating formal policies and providing support networks for individuals experiencing these challenges is crucial. However, studies have found that only 27% of employers provide this support, and 40% admit they don’t have plans in place to introduce these policies. There is incredible power and reassurance in knowing that you are not alone in your experiences.
The biggest thing all women can do is make sure they pay it forward. Small actions can have a significant impact, and for those women who make it to the top of organizations, make sure to keep the ladder there for others to climb.”
SG: How can women develop their leadership skills?
Claire: “So many women already hold the skills they need to be great leaders – empathy, emotional intelligence, decision-making, budgeting, negotiation, and prioritization.
I think we should put more emphasis on what businesses and society need to do to recognize that these skills are critical to the future of leadership. For any aspiring leaders out there, I would encourage self-reflection on the type of leader you want to be, active participation in development programs, taking on additional responsibilities where there are learning opportunities or networking, seeking mentorship opportunities, and advocating for yourself in the workplace. Investing in skill-building initiatives, such as public speaking programs, facilitates professional growth and confidence.
Embracing diverse leadership opportunities and learning from successful role models, like our female CEO, Sheila Rohra, challenges traditional gender norms and fosters a culture of inclusion and innovation.”Â
SG: What career advice do you have for women in tech/STEM?
Claire: “I encourage women in tech and STEM careers to seek support networks, advocate for themselves, and ask for the flexibility in work arrangements needed to make work fit around the life you want. It’s important for women to actively pursue opportunities for skill development, mentorship, and leadership roles to advance their careers in the male-dominated technology industry. Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, like our initiatives at Hitachi Vantara, enables women to thrive and succeed in technology and STEM fields. It’s equally important to break taboos in the workplace and address challenges such as pregnancy discrimination and equal pay are essential for creating an equitable environment.”
SG: What advice would you give women entering the STEM field?
Claire: “Spend time researching what area of STEM you’d like to go into or find a company that will allow you to experience many fields so you can understand what you enjoy most. In the tech part of STEM alone, there are hundreds of different roles – engineer, designer, tester, analyst, technical support, sales, pre-sales – and it can be hard to know exactly what you’ll enjoy most before doing a role. I would also seek a company whose values and ambitions align to your own and check how these values show up in any interview process or interactions with the people you meet.”
SG: What are some of the greatest challenges you encountered as a woman in STEM?
Claire: “My greatest challenge has been being a non-technical woman in STEM. I’ve often felt like I need to prove myself because I don’t know how to code. I understand the benefits technology can deliver for people and organizations, can design creative solutions working with technical teams, build rapport quickly, create great working environments where teams flourish and can anticipate challenges to overcome. Yet, there has always been a part of me wondering if I truly belong in tech. Overcoming this limiting belief has been of great benefit to me personally and is one of the reasons I’m so passionate about encouraging people from all backgrounds to STEM – technical or non-technical.
There’s space for us all.”
