The Myths and Realities of Women, Leadership and Technology

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The Myths and Realities of Women, Leadership and
Technology

• Presenters
• Roberta Stell, University of Alaska Southeast
• Peggi Munkittrick, SunGard SCT

2
Agenda

• Introductions
• What does the research tell us?
• What does our experience tell us?
• Summary of Findings
• Open Discussion and QA

3
University of Alaska Southeast
Robbie Stell
4
SunGard SCT
Peggi Munkittrick
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What does the research tell us?

• Getting the job
• Women in IT positions got their current jobs
  primarily through recruitment, re-organization or
  acquisition, or active pursuit (took a risk)
• however, most women did not orchestrate their
  moves
• There is no necessary or preferred starting point
  for careers in high tech

• Women and Men in The Information Technology
  Industry, sponsored report by Catalyst, 2000
• Leadership Careers in High Tech Wired for
  Success, sponsored report by Catalyst, 2001

6
What does experience tell us?

• Getting the job
• Knowing Yourself
• Limitations
• Qualifications
• Opportunity Knocks
• Risk
• Motivation
• Negotiation

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What does the research tell us?

• Job Satisfaction
• Women in IT positions are more satisfied than men
  with their current jobs
• Nearly half of women IT employees intend to
  remain in their present companies, full time, for
  the next five years

• Women and Men in The Information Technology
  Industry, sponsored report by Catalyst, 2000
• Leadership Careers in High Tech Wired for
  Success, sponsored report by Catalyst, 2001

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What does experience tell us?

• Job Satisfaction
• The Same, but Different
• Organization
• Drivers
• Motivation
• Riding the Wave
• Performance
• Value
• Flexibility

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What does the research tell us?

• Advancement Opportunities
• Women in IT positions identified the following
  barriers to advancement
• Overcoming preconceived expectations about how
  women should behave
• Being the only woman
• Having to prove themselves
• A technical or business degree is not a
  prerequisite for senior leadership
• Women in IT positions have more difficulty than
  men in finding mentors
• The IT industry tends to be more of a meritocracy
  than non-IT industries

• Women and Men in The Information Technology
  Industry, sponsored report by Catalyst, 2000
• Leadership Careers in High Tech Wired for
  Success, sponsored report by Catalyst, 2001

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What does experience tell us?

• Advancement Opportunties
• Samson and Delilah
• Living in the male world
• Gaining strength
• Fitting a Square Peg in a Round Hole
• Respect the culture
• Find a mentor
• Be a team player

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What does the research tell us?

• Work Environment
• Women in IT positions are more likely to report
  that they have supportive colleagues than women
  in non-IT positions
• Women in IT positions identify visibility and
  performance feedback as positive elements in
  their work environment
• Women in IT positions utilize flexible work
  arrangements, particularly flex time and
  telecommuting, more than women in non-IT
  positions.

• Women and Men in The Information Technology
  Industry, sponsored report by Catalyst, 2000
• Leadership Careers in High Tech Wired for
  Success, sponsored report by Catalyst, 2001

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What does experience tell us?

• Work Environment
• Politics is Reality
• Network
• Line up your ducks
• Go for the gold
• If this is Wednesday, I must be in Kansas
• Face time
• Accessibility
• Organizational strategies

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Findings from the Research

• Get a broad base of professional experiences
• Take risks and learn how to bounce back from
  failure
• Take on critical company assignments
• Look for opportunities in problem areas
• Maintain work/life balance and take advantage of
  workplace flexibility
• Strive for recognition and visibility
• Seek out and foster mentor relationships

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Findings from Experience

• Favorite quote
• I suppose that leadership at one time meant
  muscles.today it means getting along with
  people.
• Indira Ghandi
• Personal values to succeed
• Listening Skills
• Consensus Building
• Collaboration

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Findings from Experience

• Favorite quote
• Reputation is what other people know about you.
  Honor is what you know about yourself.
• Lois McMaster Bujold, "A Civil Campaign", 1999
• Personal values to succeed
• Commitment / Passion
• Composure
• Empathy / Respect

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Open Discussion and QA
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Open Discussion

• Do women bring a different array of effective
  leadership skills to technology-related career
  fields than their male counterparts?
• What are other myths and realities related to
  women, leadership and technology in the 21st
  century ?
• What barriers limit advancement opportunities and
  why?
• What strategies can women draw upon to advance
  their careers and assume leadership roles?

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For more information

• Roberta Stell
• Provost, University of Alaska Southeast
• roberta.stell_at_uas.alaska.edu
• Peggi Munkittrick
• Product Manager, SunGard SCT
• pmunkitt_at_sungardsct.com
• Catalyst
• Women and Men in the Information Technology
  Industry
• Leadership Careers in High Tech Wired for
  Success
• www.catalystwomen.org