Heads up! To view this whole video, sign in with your Treehouse account or enroll in your free 7-day trial. Sign In Enroll
Well done!
You have completed Treehouse Festival June 2021!
You have completed Treehouse Festival June 2021!
Preview
Women in Engineering: Who Run the World? with Dr. Toni Josato, Daelynn Moyer, Leila Kaneda, and Betza Villarreal
62:21 with TreehouseDr. Toni Josato hosts this session where three panelists share advice from their journeys and what it takes to foster an environment where everyone thrives.
This video doesn't have any notes.
Related Discussions
Have questions about this video? Start a discussion with the community and Treehouse staff.
Sign upRelated Discussions
Have questions about this video? Start a discussion with the community and Treehouse staff.
Sign up
[MUSIC]
0:00
Well, hello everyone.
0:06
And welcome to this session,
Who Runs the World?
0:09
Women in Engineering do.
0:12
Well, I'm your host today.
0:14
I'm Dr. Toni Josato.
0:16
And I'm so glad that you all
decided to join this session.
0:18
I think the outermost is not very good.
0:21
But I don't know, there might be huge,
huge competition out there.
0:23
But let me get started and
introduce these fabulous women to you all.
0:27
These women are just incredible.
0:32
I can't wait to just hear
this conversation myself.
0:34
We will be spending the next hour in
conversation with these amazing panelists.
0:37
But first I'd like to introduce
you to Daelynn Moyer.
0:42
Daelynn, I'm sorry, Moyer.
0:45
Daelynn is a software engineering
manager at driveway.com.
0:47
Prior to moving into a leadership role,
0:52
several years ago she was
a 20 year software engineer,
0:54
building systems in support of
transportation and heavy manufacturing.
0:58
She's built networks of electric vehicle
charging stations, flight deck software
1:03
for commercial jets, programming and
configuration tools for heavy trucks.
1:08
And control interfaces for
electron microscopes.
1:13
She's gonna explain all of that, I'm sure.
1:16
But deep technical background where
we are, is worked in her favor.
1:18
And she builds and
guides high performing engineering teams
1:23
on a foundation of empathy,
trust, and authenticity.
1:27
A woman after my own heart there.
1:31
She and her wife live in Portland,
1:33
Oregon area, where they obsess
over the 1963 ranch home.
1:35
And all things mid century modern.
1:39
Her life's greatest achievement is
teaching her cat to stand on his hind
1:42
legs and turn on a proel.
1:46
Well, that's some fancy training there.
1:48
We'll talk about that too.
1:50
But next, I'd like to also welcome
to the stage Leila Kaneda.
1:52
Leila is a computer vision software
engineer for SightLine Applications.
1:57
A small company in Hood River, Oregon,
focusing on onboard video processing for
2:02
advanced camera systems and applications.
2:08
She holds a master's degree
in computer science,
2:11
with a special specialty in machine
learning from Portland State University.
2:13
Alongside working for a variety of
companies ranging from big corporations
2:17
to small startups,
Leila volunteers in the tech community to
2:21
help people from underrepresented
groups succeed in STEM.
2:25
In 2020 she was a finalist for
the Intel Involved Hero Award for
2:29
her work of starting a mentorship
program and growing WICS.
2:34
We in computer science.
2:38
A Portland State student group
focused on creating a computer science
2:40
community [INAUDIBLE] on equality and
inclusion, very bright idea.
2:45
Coming from a non traditional background,
2:50
Leila passionately brings many
of her skills from music and
2:53
mathematics to make the STEM community
a much better place for everyone.
2:57
Welcome, Leila.
3:02
And finally, we have Betza Villareal.
3:04
I hope I said that right.
3:08
Currently Betza designs and
implements business applications to
3:09
help more Oregon the safest and
healthiest place to work.
3:14
After 15 years of working in the energy
management product industry as
3:18
a design engineer, I'm sorry,
program and change manager.
3:23
She recently brought her
skills into the IT world.
3:27
Her global experience working in Europe,
Latin America, and Asia, have given her
3:31
the depth of insight and skills for cross
cultural communication and integration.
3:36
She's inspired by her children to use
her talents to create a better world for
3:42
future generations.
3:47
Thank you Betza, and Daelynn, and Leila.
3:49
And I know I've only covered
a smidgen of who you all are.
3:51
Therefore, thank you so
much for spending the time and
3:54
reminding everyone here who's listening
and watching that you can do.
3:57
Live captioning is provided.
4:01
Please see the link below this session for
access to captioning.
4:04
All right, well, let's get started
chatting to these amazing women.
4:08
How are you?
4:12
>> Yeah, I'm wonderful, thank you.
4:15
>> [CROSSTALK] I'm very,
very excited and nervous to be here.
4:16
Thank you for inviting us.
4:21
>> Yeah, it's so glad to have you all.
4:23
So, hey, let's just start by telling
folks, how did you get here?
4:25
What made you choose
this pathway as a career?
4:33
Cuz this was the easiest pathway
that you could have chosen, right?
4:37
>> Of course.
4:41
>> [LAUGH]
>> Yeah, Betza,
4:42
how did you decide that this
is where you wanted to be?
4:46
>> Well, like everything,
it's a long road, right?
4:50
[LAUGH] I was incorporated
to mainly by my father.
4:54
I've always noted that fathers have
a great influence on daughters.
5:00
And he's himself a mining engineer,
metallurgy engineer.
5:06
And when I was graduating
high school deciding what
5:12
I wanted to do,
he mainly told me, you know what?
5:17
You can do whatever you want, it was going
from theater, or engineering, or medicine.
5:22
It was like all over the place.
5:29
But he told me engineering
teaches you how to think.
5:32
It teaches you how to solve problems.
5:38
And it teaches you how to learn as well.
5:41
And he himself had gone
from being a mining
5:46
engineer to having
a raising horse food and
5:51
instrumenting business.
5:57
So he's like, look at me,
6:00
the engineering is kinda like gonna
help you and prepare your brain.
6:02
And I went into mechanical and
electrical engineering at the time.
6:07
And about three, four years ago,
6:13
after 15 years in that industry,
6:17
I was realizing how
obsolete I was getting.
6:21
[LAUGH] And I was like, okay,
6:26
I need to think about the future and
where I wanna go.
6:28
And I always had this passion for
computers and how things work.
6:32
And so I switched into tech.
6:39
So I'm recent into tech engineer.
6:41
And here I am, growing,
6:45
learning, getting into data,
6:49
becoming full on data scientists.
6:54
It's been a long journey but here we are.
7:00
>> Nice nice, well.
7:04
My goodness, your father is so
crucial in encouraging the ingenuity.
7:06
And just the fact that he believed that
you too as his little girl could still do
7:11
this, right?
7:16
>> Yes.
7:16
>> Absolutely, so Daelynn,
how was your journey like?
7:18
Why did you choose this pathway?
7:21
>> [LAUGH] Well, at its core I chose
technology because it paid better
7:24
than laying bricks or digging ditches.
7:29
Like a lot of folks,
I am a college dropout.
7:32
And spent the next ten years after
college being a single parent,
7:37
working minimum wage jobs
in restaurant and retail.
7:42
And after ten years I was
getting pretty hungry.
7:46
Minimum wage doesn't go very far.
7:49
And it didn't go very
far in the late 90s and
7:52
it's only going less far.
7:56
I found myself working at Borders Books.
7:59
And I was shelving computer
books all day long.
8:02
And I had access to this
encyclopedic wealth of information.
8:06
Cuz back then StackOverflow
didn't exist and you had books.
8:11
So I started reading, and
reading, and reading, and reading.
8:17
And eventually, I learned enough to talk
my way into my first technology job.
8:22
Which was basically, the Resident Geek
added this little tiny company
8:30
that needed someone to process
mailing lists and upgrade RAM.
8:34
And fix the printer, and
unjam the copier machine, whatever.
8:39
>> Yeah.
8:44
>> After about six months there,
they came to me and said, well,
8:45
we have a new client and we need a custom
database application to support them.
8:50
And I said, okay, I don't really know what
a database is, will you buy me a book?
8:55
>> [LAUGH]
>> And they did.
9:01
>> You knew what to do with that and all?
9:04
>> I knew how to use a book.
9:06
So I wrote my first piece of software,
Access 95.
9:08
It was a success.
9:14
It worked.
9:15
Six months later they were still using it.
9:16
And I was like, that was really cool!
9:18
I wanna do more of that.
9:22
>> That was amazing!
9:24
I love that.
9:25
What I'm getting from that is,
read and learn what you can and
9:26
then you'll figure out the rest, right?
9:29
You'll learn to [CROSSTALK].
9:32
>> [CROSSTALK] Like if you have
the knowledge then it's really just about
9:33
relationship building.
9:36
It's about convincing people that
you're worth making an investment in.
9:38
>> That's clear.
9:41
>> And
then that you're worth taking a risk on.
9:42
>> That's right.
9:44
That's right.
9:45
I love that.
9:46
I love that.
9:47
Leila, so father, internal, that was
an intrinsic motivation that you ended.
9:48
I feel that you just had to say,
look, I can do this.
9:55
But for you, Leila, how was your journey?
9:58
Mine was a little bit all over the place,
so my father also was in engineering.
10:00
But I grew up and never wanting
to do that, just watching him.
10:06
Because I was like he's always busy,
he's up until 1 or 2 AM,
10:10
waking up at 6, always go on traveling.
10:15
I was like I never wanna have
a lifestyle where I am never around or
10:18
always focused on work.
10:24
And so, I went in to college being
like this is never what I wanna do.
10:26
And so, I followed my passion first
which was music, and was studying and
10:31
on my way to becoming a professional
performer around the world of soloists.
10:37
And, I did math at the same time,
kind of as a way to make my parents happy,
10:43
but really I was focused on music.
10:48
And, after graduating and doing music for
a year, getting ready to go for
10:51
grad school for that to get what
they would call an artist diploma.
10:56
I figured out that my work life
that I wanted with this career and
11:01
my personal life that I wanted,
11:07
even if I was 110% successful,
would never align.
11:10
I would never be able to get what
I would want that make me happy.
11:15
And so, I essentially reevaluate and
was like,
11:18
I need different career that allows
me to continue doing music while also
11:21
giving me flexibility to have
a home base which was really big.
11:26
I wanted to be able to stay in place.
11:30
And, as I was looking around,
I was like, I just invested four or
11:32
five years of my life into this so
I want to do another four or five years or
11:36
more just to get another education.
11:40
I was looking around and
computer science was
11:42
a quicker way for
me to get in an interesting field.
11:47
I had a couple other options
I don't remember right now.
11:52
But I remember looking at that being like,
hey,
11:54
that was the one thing I said I didn't
wanna do, but when I looked at it,
11:57
I was like everything here
is really interesting.
12:01
It was just nine month accelerated program
to get me into a master's, so I knew like,
12:04
hey, after two years,
I would have a master's degree.
12:07
It's not I'm having to go backwards.
12:10
And so, I said, okay, I can commit nine
months and see unbiased if I'm actually
12:12
gonna like this or I'm gonna find
something I'm passionate about or not,
12:17
I was surrounded by people
who are also in tech.
12:21
My partner was in tech at the time,
a lot of my friends were in tech,
12:24
my my dad and a couple others.
12:29
So I decided to just put my head down,
give it a try, see what happens.
12:31
And within nine months, I found my passion
in machine learning and data science and
12:35
I started pursuing it
like crazy after that.
12:40
And, now I'm sitting
here in the tech world.
12:44
And then as I was going along the way,
I was realizing that, hey,
12:47
there's not a lot of women here, there's
not a lot of people of different races or
12:51
minorities and that was really reflected
at my school but also in the community.
12:56
And so,
as I was kind of going along the way,
13:01
I was also wanting to branch into
the why is this such a different
13:03
experience than when I
went to music school?
13:06
How can I bring some of those things into
the community to make it better and so
13:09
that's how I ended up doing my tech
career while also volunteering and
13:13
trying to help out in
the community at the same time.
13:16
>> Awesome, thank you, Leila.
13:19
Yeah, so once you all decided this
was the thing you wanna chase, right?
13:21
This is the thing that gets
you up in the morning and
13:26
making you feel like you have a purpose.
13:29
How did you cultivate or
13:32
find that place that work in space
that's gonna pay you, right?
13:33
That how did you decide
where that was gonna be for
13:38
you and that they were gonna
accept you and your experience and
13:41
your your knowledge and
just all that you would bring to it?
13:44
How did you all go about deciding
where you want it to work?
13:47
Yeah, Dylene,
did you wanna tackle that one?
13:52
>> I think the things I learned
early on is that your level of
14:01
agency in terms of selecting
your workplace is directly
14:06
correlated with the your
depth of experience, right?
14:11
And so early on,
I was motivated by who's gonna hire me.
14:16
And, frankly back in 1996, nobody
was talking about diversity in tech.
14:23
And it wasn't a relevant conversation.
14:28
The conversation was, can I,
as a gender variant person,
14:31
find work here and make better money?
14:36
Can I develop my trade?
14:40
Can I get a job here?
14:42
>> Mm-hm, mm-hm.
14:46
>> And it was a decade or
14:47
more before I started being able to
have internal conversations around.
14:48
Okay, well,
what do I want out of an employer?
14:54
And how much agency do I have in
making that happen for myself?
14:59
What I found was that if
people wanna hire you,
15:07
do you have a lot more agency
than if they don't, right?
15:11
It has to be a two way kind of thing.
15:16
And I have spent a lot of time telling
young people entering the workplace,
15:21
yes, an interview is your chance
to interview the company.
15:26
Absolutely, and if you don't like
what you hear, you should walk.
15:32
>> Yeah.
15:36
>> And I know what it means to have
an empty cupboard in the kitchen.
15:37
And I know what it means to
not feel like you can do that.
15:42
And ultimately, you have to balance
the pragmatism with the idealism and
15:49
finding the opportunities to
enhance the idealism hitting and
15:56
amplifying whatever opportunities
you can find to get the good stuff.
16:02
>> Yeah.
16:10
>> Sometimes at the cost of
accepting the pragmatic stuff.
16:11
Now that I have a 25-year-long resume,
now that I've written
16:18
some really high profile projects,
now that I have led teams and
16:23
build successful teams,
I'm at a place where I can be very choosy.
16:28
>> That's right.
16:34
>> I haven't had to look for a job for
five years, they keep looking for me.
16:34
Because I'm out there in the world,
I maintain a brand, I network actively.
16:40
And people who go to my LinkedIn profile,
they can see what I'm about and
16:46
they can make decisions about whether or
not that's the thing they buy into and
16:52
if they don't, great, somebody else will.
16:57
>> That's right, absolutely.
17:00
I so resonate with that is, as a single
parent of three, same kind of deal, right?
17:03
Those earlier days you're not so
sure cuz you're right.
17:08
You got to pay those bills,
you got to pay that mortgage.
17:11
But then after a while, and when you get
your first one ladies that you say, no,
17:14
I don't think so, gives them power and
guess what, it makes you even stronger for
17:18
the next time.
17:22
This bs, right, comes along, you're like,
I don't need to deal with this and
17:24
I survived, right?
17:28
I took care of my family.
17:30
I took care of what I needed to do,
and I'm stronger for and
17:31
I know that I can do anything now.
17:34
And I think it's so important especially
it was of a certain age Dylene,
17:36
we recognize that our better days
are even ahead of us because
17:42
we do is at a certain point.
17:47
But Leila, for you, how do you go about?
17:49
You've got some very specific
things that you've identified,
17:53
causes that that you feel
very passionate about.
17:57
How does that come into play when
you choose somewhere to accept work?
18:00
>> Well, at first, I was kind of
in the same boat where I was like,
18:05
who's gonna hire me, let me get in
the door and see what I can do.
18:08
But now, I'm very choosy, and
I'm very, in essence wondering,
18:12
every time I go into a job, is this
a place that I'm gonna feel accepted?
18:17
Number one,
is this a place that I can thrive?
18:22
Am I gonna be excited
about what I'm doing?
18:26
Am I surrounded by people that are going
to help me instead of hinder me?
18:28
And I actually trusting my manager or
my leadership or
18:32
whoever is above me in a way that
they're not gonna make it harder on me.
18:36
And three,
I say what about everybody else?
18:42
Maybe I'm gonna be successful because
maybe they're really excited about me and
18:45
they're really invested in me,
but what about my co-workers?
18:49
What about my peers?
18:51
What about future people
who haven't been hired yet?
18:52
Are they also going to be welcomed and
accepted in the same way?
18:55
Are they gonna be happy working here?
18:58
And so, when I interview for jobs,
19:00
I always make it a point at some point
in the interview process after they've
19:02
gotten to know me a little
bit to get to know them and
19:07
ask them some uncomfortable questions and
just see how their responses are.
19:09
Are they genuine?
19:14
Are they truthful and transparent?
19:15
Are they stock,
are they read off of a pamphlet?
19:17
Are they trying to cover something up and
19:21
care more about the reaction than
necessarily the words that they're saying.
19:24
You take into account the words that
they are saying, but also look at how
19:30
they feel about those states and
how they feel about the community.
19:34
And, I am at the point where I will
only say yes to a job if I feel that
19:38
all three of those things
are outlined before are met.
19:43
I'm gonna be successful I'm working
with people that are great.
19:47
And, everyone else who's there is also
treated well, happy to be there and
19:50
we're setting up for the future.
19:54
Or if it's not set up now,
there's potential to make a change within
19:55
the company to help the company
Grow into that space.
19:59
And so when I'm looking for a job,
that's what I'm looking for.
20:02
When I look for a volunteer opportunity,
I really also look for,
20:05
is this somewhere where
I can make a difference?
20:09
Or am I just gonna be another
person logging outwards,
20:11
maybe helping out with an event and
meeting?
20:15
Because if I only have a limited amount
of time in the day, I wanna try to,
20:17
as best as I can, make an impact and
make sure that I'm really helping others,
20:22
not just being clocking in and
clocking out.
20:28
>> Absolutely, I love that Layla.
20:31
It's almost like you get into a space,
yeah, they're gonna accept you, but
20:32
then is there room for
you to kind of elbow your way through?
20:37
And for folks to like listen to you and
hear you out and build an opportunity for
20:40
you to really make it the space
that you know that it can be for
20:45
not just yourself, but
for other folks too.
20:49
I use that one too.
20:53
[LAUGH] What about you Betsa?
20:54
>> Well, as a recent Intertek
transition professional,
20:58
it was [INAUDIBLE] Mean to me.
21:06
I was 15 years in a company that I
love and I grew up in, and I was like,
21:10
I love your vision and everything and
then suddenly I'm out of a job.
21:16
And [LAUGH] So,
here I am making that hard decision
21:22
about I need to change,
make a new career, and
21:27
that's when I decided to get into tech.
21:32
And what I also realize was
that the work wasn't enough.
21:36
It's just not about
the job that I'm doing.
21:43
I do look into the vision and
the mission of the company.
21:46
It needs to be aligned to
what I wanna do because for
21:51
most of my life,
I've defined myself as whatever I do.
21:57
Time doing this so
better be something that I believe in.
22:06
Something that aligned with my values and
22:10
not more about,
does it give me a paycheck?
22:15
And it's very hard to do it because
I have two young kids and a mortgage.
22:20
And I have all of these and
22:26
you have to kind of decide do I
wanna make this amount of money or
22:29
do I go into this other
company that pays less, but
22:35
I'm delivering more to the world?
22:40
And I've had to make those decisions.
22:43
And thankfully, I have my husband support.
22:49
He's always like, yeah, sure, do it.
22:53
[LAUGH] And it takes some adaptation, but
22:55
it's definitely important to
me as I'm looking for a job.
23:01
Two, as an engineer,
I wanna use technology.
23:09
Here, I wanna use technology for
23:14
the betterment of the human experience.
23:17
I researched, okay, how does this
company go into Glassdoor and
23:22
what is the experience of the employees?
23:29
What it is a integration of people?
23:33
Do they have a mentorship program?
23:38
How am I gonna grow up?
23:40
So those are the things that I look for
as I'm interviewing for a company.
23:41
Definitely, the policies
23:47
in place kind of like those,
23:52
how are flexible?
23:57
How are they flexible?
24:00
Because I'm a mom, I need to get out
of the office any point in time or
24:01
I need to work from home and
they'll look for all those things.
24:05
So it's definitely a challenge,
but I think that
24:10
the more we do it,
the more the workforce does that,
24:15
then employers are gonna
pay more attention.
24:20
>> Yeah.
24:25
>> They're asking for this,
they want this, they need this.
24:25
And then we all do that,
then they'll have to move that way.
24:29
Yeah, absolutely.
24:34
I think what you're speaking to is
something that we've all needed even more
24:35
so over these last year and
a half of this pandemic.
24:39
And as being women and caretakers and
mothers, that we need that flexibility.
24:43
And sometimes when we're just getting
started and we're thinking about that,
24:49
that first job, that the money is
the thing that kinda drives this.
24:53
But there's just so
much value in working with a company or
24:57
organization that you're
feeling fulfilled, right?
25:01
With your purpose.
25:05
And then also, as you mentioned,
25:06
just the flexibility to take care
of yourself and your life, right?
25:09
Which can be invaluable.
25:14
Hey you all, tell me about your
perspective of why there needs to
25:16
be women in tech and what perspective
you all bring to these these
25:21
workspaces and how does that that vary?
25:26
So Layla, how do you feel your
identity improves where you work?
25:29
>> So I feel that at least when I
come into the workplace every day or
25:36
even if it's to a conference,
maybe it's not even my job.
25:41
When I'm coming into the community
as a whole every day,
25:46
being a woman I look at
things differently, right?
25:51
Within my day-to-day job, right?
25:56
Maybe instead of looking or
focusing on a problem or two,
25:57
maybe I'm looking across 10 or 20.
26:02
My previous experience also
makes me look across five or
26:05
ten different levels at the same
time within the same problem.
26:09
But also, the big thing I think I take
from being woman other than helping
26:13
the different perspective with my
problems, is really on the culture side.
26:18
Just being in there a lot of times,
it's really easy for people not to think
26:24
about their behavior and not to think
about the way they interact with people.
26:29
To use words or use phrases that
make it a little bit harder for
26:34
a woman or maybe someone who's non
binary to actually step up and
26:39
have a voice at the table, right?.
26:45
It's different ways we interact.
26:49
It's different ways we write.
26:51
It's different ways we
speak to each other.
26:52
And being a woman in that room,
26:55
I feel like almost brings a little
bit more equality to the table,
26:57
especially being someone who recognizes
what some of these things are.
27:02
I can say, hey,
you're not allowing me to speak.
27:07
You are dominating the conversation.
27:11
Or yes,
we're thinking about these things, but
27:15
how can we think about them differently?
27:18
And it's not saying that because I'm
a woman, it's my role to call people out.
27:21
That is not what it is.
27:26
But by having more people with
different voices at the table,
27:28
you are encouraging thoughts that are,
or giving more people a chance to speak,
27:33
a chance to be heard, and
a chance to enter the conversation.
27:39
And so, I've been in a room
where it's been all guys and me.
27:45
And oftentimes in those situations, I find
it really hard to have an opinion and
27:50
to have my opinion taken
seriously at that matter.
27:57
Being a woman in that room, or being
a couple of women in that room, right?
28:02
If it's you and a co worker, you and
someone else, you start to say, hey,
28:06
that's not acceptable.
28:10
Hey, we have a voice.
28:12
We have an opinion and this is why we
think we're right or this is why we think
28:13
that maybe what you're saying
needs a new perspective, right?
28:18
And maybe we're not right, but
now we're entering that conversation and
28:22
that conversation is becoming a tone
where more people can speak up.
28:26
And so, I think there's a lot of
things we bring to the workplace, but
28:30
one of the most powerful is just
making people recognize that, hey,
28:34
we're here and we're we are competent.
28:39
And we have a voice and
there's a reason we're here.
28:41
And so we should be speaking and
28:46
talking in a way that's really welcoming
to everyone so everyone can be heard.
28:48
>> Yeah, Laila, thanks.
28:53
That struck a chord, right?
28:54
I think every woman on this call knows
exactly what you're talking about,
28:56
has been in a situation.
29:01
So that's it, tell me, what have you done?
29:02
Cuz I know you've been in that situation.
29:04
What have you done?
29:07
And how can you tell these,
what can you share with the rest of us
29:08
when we're not feeling it that day,
and we can't swallow it that day.
29:13
How do you overcome these sorts of micro
insults or micro aggressions really?
29:17
>> [LAUGH]
>> [LAUGH]
29:28
>> I have to honestly say that I've
29:32
developed a thick skin.
29:35
[LAUGH] That is something
you unfortunately
29:37
have to continue to deal with since
you are in school or learning.
29:43
You're being questioned even
about your own femininity.
29:51
Being an engineer, it's like Completely,
opposite of being feminine.
29:58
[LAUGH] It's like engineering
is this grey box and
30:04
not this glittery pink thing.
30:10
And you just have to keep pushing great.
30:13
Definitely is in believing having that,
30:21
like my father, having that group
30:26
of people that believe in you,
30:31
have that support system.
30:35
When I moved here to US,
I don't have any family.
30:39
I don't have any support system.
30:43
And I had to build one.
30:46
I join organizations where I could find
30:51
women in technology, women in engineering.
30:55
So that I don't feel
like I'm all by myself,
31:00
having this type of discussions and
31:06
in being that person or someone
>> Yeah
31:11
>> Having a way to be able to talk about
31:15
what you're dealing with.
31:20
And why it makes so
much sense to link that to where you're
31:24
working in the learning session that
you're working, that has those values.
31:30
Because then when you speak up and
31:38
when you bring to the table,
what's going on,
31:42
then you listen and
people will take action.
31:47
And it's such an intrinsic culture
that people don't notice, right?
31:53
They don't know we live in the matrix
[LAUGH] of a male dominated world.
32:01
>> [LAUGH]
>> I've seen that I myself,
32:09
have these biases sometimes over women.
32:16
And then I find out, wait a second,
why am I thinking this?
32:24
And it's because that's
how you grew up and
32:29
you were raised and
then this is a chance to change it.
32:34
And it's never been so
open and spoken about us now.
32:40
This is completely new.
32:46
The first time I heard about
gender balance was 2009,
32:48
2010, and
I was blown away because I'm like, yes,
32:53
that's what's going on with me,
but nobody's ever talked about it.
32:58
And I've just had to develop this
thick skin and stand up for myself.
33:05
And unfortunately the days that
you're like, okay, this is too much I
33:12
can't keep fighting [INAUDIBLE] everyday,
>> Yeah.
33:19
>> I've learned to, I need a mental day.
33:23
It's completely fine to
take that day to cry or
33:27
fall down or walk outside.
33:33
We need to stop thinking that's weakness.
33:36
I myself thought that for
a long time because throughout
33:40
my career I could not show weakness
in a classroom with 100 men.
33:46
>> Yeah, yeah.
33:52
>> And not one or two women,
33:53
or in the office where I was
the only one on a meeting room.
33:55
And I could not show that I couldn't.
34:01
I could not ask for help,
even on the work because then
34:05
you're immediately less capable, right?.
34:10
Fortunately, times are starting to change.
34:14
And now, I've grown up maturing and
34:17
decided that it's more important
to have that space and
34:20
to look for help and mentorship,
and then that it's fun.
34:25
>> Yeah, gosh, Beth,
34:31
you just covered so, so much there.
34:34
Self care, and community and affinity
with other women, having a support group.
34:40
And when you don't have
it in those spaces,
34:43
you need to create one and
I just really, really love that.
34:47
That brings me to thinking
about the importance of EDR.
34:52
You talked about how a lot of these things
we're talking about today, I think daily,
34:56
you brought it up.
35:00
We weren't talking about EDR.
35:01
We weren't talking about these things,
not even ten years ago, right?
35:03
And so,
why do you all think it's important for
35:08
us to have that conversation and
for these, particularly in tech,
35:13
to have EDI centers and
training and programming?
35:19
Why do you think that's important or
do you?
35:24
>> But yeah, I do.
35:27
[LAUGH] I do think it's important.
35:28
And I think it's important for
a variety of reasons.
35:31
One of which is that there aren't
a lot more ideas that straight white
35:34
middle aged guys can bring to the table.
35:39
They're tapped out.
35:44
We're entering an age in
which our problems are so
35:46
nuanced and so complex and
so complicated to solve,
35:51
that a single point of view is never
going to come up with the right answer.
35:56
>> No.
36:02
>> Mm-hm.
36:03
Right, so, there are incredibly
strong business cases to be made for
36:04
having multiple voices in the room.
36:10
>> Absolutely.
>> Right?
36:13
And that doesn't even address the whole,
do what's right,
36:14
part of the conversation, right?
36:18
I believe there is
an increasing restaurant,
36:20
companies, to have an ethical sparring.
36:26
>> Yeah.
36:32
>> Right?
And
36:33
this isn't a thing IBM had to worry about.
36:33
This isn't a thing that
HP had to worry about.
36:37
But increasingly,
candidates are coming to the table,
36:42
candidates like me, candidates like you,
36:47
candidates like the folks on this call,
who are demanding better.
36:50
>> Yeah.
>> And we bring enough to the table
36:56
that is clearly visible,
that people are listening.
36:59
>> That's right.
37:04
>> And ultimately, there probably for
the next 20 to 50 years,
37:05
will be enough straight
white guys in the work pool
37:10
that if that's who you wanna hire,
you can find them.
37:14
But if you are a company that
is thinking about solving
37:22
new problems in a new economy.
37:27
If you are a company that is
thinking about doing good,
37:30
>> Mm-hm.
37:35
>> Then conversations around diversity,
equity,
37:37
inclusion and
belonging become inescapable, right?
37:41
You cannot talk about doing good,
without talking about creating equity and
37:46
inclusion.
37:51
You cannot talk about
solving problems in new ways,
37:52
without bringing new voices to the table.
37:55
>> Absolutely.
37:58
>> Otherwise you just
keep moving in a circle.
38:02
>> Mm-hm, absolutely, David.
38:05
I'm gonna say preach [LAUGH] because our
future's becoming extremely more diverse.
38:07
And we have to be at the table
to create what that technology
38:14
is gonna look like for
people who will be using it.
38:19
We need to be at the table.
38:24
We need to be at the table and
the companies need to understand that we
38:26
are the future, and that we need to be
part of integrating, and understanding,
38:30
and creating what that future looks like.
38:35
So, what does the future for
engineering look like for you all?
38:38
What do you think it should, imagine that.
38:43
Imagine this new future 20, 25 years
from now, what does that look like?
38:46
What's that look like Beth Sam?
38:51
>> It looks purple and sparkly.
38:56
[LAUGH]
>> Very feminine.
39:00
[LAUGH]
>> No, it's like, as women, for example,
39:04
we experience the world so differently.
39:09
We are even from completely
different cultures,
39:14
socio-economical status, right?
39:19
The world is experienced in
a complete different way.
39:23
You cannot experience it
the same way another person has.
39:29
And I see an increase of diversity and
39:38
companies taking over because
they have this structure.
39:41
Our technology is disruptive industry.
39:47
And disruption is what makes it grow and
so excited.
39:52
And that's how film expire
with digital cameras, right?
39:56
We've seen it.
40:03
Over and over and over.
40:04
And like Dalian said, if companies don't
change up that structure they have,
40:06
they're gonna expire and
new organizations are gonna come.
40:13
I do hope that the pipeline to engineering
40:18
changes from little girls to getting to
40:23
high school and show how exciting it is.
40:28
And that's why it needs to be purple and
40:33
sparkly because they need to see it,
40:38
lnd little girls,
boys everywhere in the world.
40:43
And the way we are interacting, for
40:50
example, this forum, this experience
40:54
can happen anywhere in the world, right.
40:59
When I worked [INAUDIBLE] and
I used to travel a lot,
41:04
and I love traveling,
I love going everywhere.
41:10
Get to know other cultures,
get to know food and
41:18
how people think, how people work, etc.
41:21
And that I seem to be this
weird person that like that,
41:24
right, cuz nobody wants to get
out of their comfort zone.
41:29
But now you are being inundated by it,
now is the status quo.
41:35
Now you get to work with
people from everywhere,
41:41
talk to them about all different topics,
41:46
work different, and
this is gonna get even weirder.
41:50
That's how [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGH]
>> Purple, sparkly, and unicorns.
41:55
>> Of course.
42:00
>> I love it.
42:01
That's the future right there.
42:04
Perfect, perfect entrance, love it.
42:06
[LAUGH] You're absolutely right.
42:09
You're absolutely right on just so
many numbers.
42:12
I know folks have questions for
you all, but
42:14
I just have a few more I want to,
this is, is it almost over?
42:17
I can't believe it,
the time is going so fast.
42:20
But hey y'all, give folks some
indication of just a bit of
42:24
your nuggets of wisdom, additional.
42:29
I mean this has been so fruitful.
42:32
But what do you want the folks that
are listening that are coming into their
42:35
careers or just starting their studies or
they've been out there or
42:40
they're 45 and
they're trying to start it all over again.
42:44
What advice would you give to them
as a woman entering into this space?
42:48
I'll start with you, Layla.
42:54
>> I think the best advice I
can give is just go for it.
42:55
There's gonna be a lot of people telling
you that maybe you're not qualified or
43:04
maybe your brain just isn't the way
that it should be for this field.
43:08
Or you're not gonna be able to do
something because it's too competitive or
43:12
there's too many words to learn that
you just get lost and don't understand.
43:17
And so
my biggest advice as you enter this field,
43:21
whether it's studies or internships or
jobs, is just go for it and
43:25
understand that you are probably not
the smartest person in the room,
43:30
and that is great because
that means you can learn.
43:34
And then while you do that,
43:38
surround yourself with people that
will motivate you and lift you up.
43:39
And that are maybe going through
similar things as you or
43:43
have gone through similar things as you.
43:46
Having that support system when
times get hard through all of this
43:49
is really one of the number one
things that will help you succeed.
43:52
So you can do it and
you will make it to the other side if
43:56
you stick through it despite
what other people say.
44:01
>> Awesome, thank you, Layla, well said.
44:06
Daelynn
>> The patriarchal roots of
44:08
the technology industry are still there,
right.
44:12
And they are still designed
at their core to make you
44:17
doubt yourself, and
you are going to doubt yourself.
44:22
And I have spent the last 25 years waking
up every day wondering is this the day
44:29
they figured out that I have
no idea what I'm doing?
44:33
And some days that's gonna
be really hard to deal with.
44:40
But you can create success for
yourself by thinking about what's
44:47
one thing a successful person
in my chair would be doing?
44:52
If I were being successful at what I'm
doing, what would I be doing right now?
45:00
Do that one thing and you're gonna feel
a little bit better about yourself.
45:06
Then think about what is the next thing a
successful person sitting right here would
45:13
be doing right now?
45:18
There's a good chance you're gonna
find you're doing it already.
45:20
But if you're not, start doing it.
45:23
And just keep choosing one thing at
a time that successful people do,
45:27
or that you think successful people do.
45:32
And the next thing you know you're going
to be successful in spite of yourself.
45:36
You're going to be successful
in spite of your demons and
45:41
in spite of your lack of confidence and
in spite of your self doubt,
45:45
because you gonna be doing all of the same
things that the successful people do.
45:49
And then because you're successful,
you'll be able to afford a therapist.
45:57
You can go talk to them a couple of
times a month, about your self doubts,
46:02
because that's important, right.
46:06
You get your car worked
on prophylactically,
46:09
you should get your mental health
worked on prophylactically.
46:12
>> That's right, that's right.
46:16
You wanna bottle her up?
46:17
I just wanna bottle you up,
sit you right here on my desk, and
46:19
push the Daelynn button right here.
46:22
I mean that is so true, it is so, so true.
46:24
So true.
46:29
You fake it till you make it, right.
46:30
>> Ultimately,
there is no making it, right.
46:34
You just show up every day,
you do the best you can.
46:37
You do what you think is gonna
produce the best result, and
46:42
you go home and you breathe.
46:47
That's work.
46:50
>> Absolutely.
46:53
>> The fact is there's nothing mysterious,
special,
46:57
magical, or
impossible about anything that we do.
47:01
Every single one of you can do
exactly what I have done and
47:08
exactly what anybody else has done.
47:11
We all have our unique challenges,
we all have
47:13
problems that will make that difficult for
us.
47:18
But if you can take one step at one time,
rather
47:24
than thinking about all of it all at once-
>> Yeah.
47:29
>> You're gonna get there.
47:35
>> Yeah, absolutely.
47:37
That's so good, so good.
47:39
Vanessa, what do you have for the folks?
47:40
>> Be patient.
47:48
And you are your best friend or
your worst enemy.
47:50
Unfortunately, I myself leave in my head
so much sometimes, and I doubt every day.
47:56
I'm in a team meeting and
I have these ideas and
48:03
I'm like, am I gonna be so annoying?
48:07
Because they were saying the patriarchal
system is women are annoying or
48:11
bossy or these descriptions,
and you have to fight it and
48:17
just not listen to it,
because more often the not I'm
48:22
addressing issues that
nobody's thought of.
48:27
And I'm surprised about
it because it's like,
48:33
this is why nobody's thinking about it.
48:37
And then maybe I'm wrong,
maybe I shouldn't be and I'm annoying.
48:40
And then I figured out everybody's
thinking about it, but
48:45
nobody is bringing it to the table.
48:48
So trust yourselves.
48:49
And I am also a bookworm,
48:52
I love learning new things and
48:56
go at it from a humble position but
49:01
a powerful position.
49:06
And trust yourself.
49:10
I definitely wanna say
that we doubt ourselves.
49:12
We've been thought to do that in every
step of the way somebody is blocking you,
49:17
somebody is challenging you,
somebody is questioning you, and
49:23
that has made us doubt ourselves.
49:28
>> Yeah.
49:31
>> Yeah.
49:31
>> And so give yourself that breadth,
do your due diligence.
49:32
Think about it, rationalize it,
and bring it over.
49:39
And because we need those voices
to come into the workplace so
49:46
that we make better,
better technology, better solutions.
49:51
We are problem solvers, and
49:58
we need to just Believe it.
50:02
>> Yeah, just believe it.
Yeah, I love it, just believe it,
50:07
that is so awesome.
50:10
I don't wanna have any upset viewers so
we're gonna get to their questions.
50:11
But there was one thing I wanted to
make sure that y'all can do for me.
50:17
Is to put in the chat some ideas for
the women on the team on how to build
50:21
community, maybe it's organizations that
you all are a part of to help support and
50:25
build their communities and their
networks and their support groups too.
50:31
So I wanna ask you all that
are here about their questions, but
50:35
if y'all can put those in the chat for
them,
50:39
I really appreciate it because
I think at the end of the day,
50:41
we want them to be able to take that
away so that they're being supported.
50:44
But hey, Courtney's got a question.
50:48
Courtney, she says how has working with or
50:51
working from home shaped the progress or
lack of an EDI work?
50:55
She says we see companies essentially
silencing employees on these issues and
51:00
just curious how it's brought up now and
that now that we're remote.
51:05
Who's got a response for that one?
51:10
That's a fair question.
51:11
They can't see us now.
51:14
Yeah, Leila.
51:15
>> So I've actually been
dealing with this one a lot.
51:16
I changed jobs during COVID.
51:19
And so I worked with two
companies on this essentially.
51:21
And a really big thing was at
the beginning of everyone starting to work
51:24
from home and being remote was a lot of
panic, like, we can't worry about EDI.
51:29
We can't worry about diversity or hiring
or all of that because we just need to
51:34
figure out how we can operate
working from home, right?
51:39
And as time went on, especially in
the tech field or the engineering field,
51:42
there's a lot of jobs where
you can work from home.
51:46
It's not that different, right?
51:49
You just take your laptop home or
you take some of your hardware or
51:51
some of your stuff home and you can do the
same thing you were doing at your desk.
51:54
And so once that first initial shock of
people not really understanding what's
51:58
going on kinda wore off and
this became more of a regular thing.
52:03
As people started to bring
that back to the table,
52:07
people weren't really willing to listen
for a while because they're just like,
52:10
they themselves were struggling, right?
52:14
It didn't matter where you came from,
or what you were doing.
52:16
Everyone was going through this thing and
through the shock, so
52:18
there was no room for even a conversation
of DEI for a little while.
52:21
And so as that part wore off and
now is really,
52:25
maybe six months in or
even a little bit more.
52:28
For me this was around the time
when I was switching jobs.
52:32
Bringing that conversation to
the table became easier, right?
52:35
Because now it's like, okay, the first
things we've done have been reactions to
52:39
try to help as many people as we can.
52:44
Guess what?
52:46
The minority is the women.
52:47
The people aren't the group of
as many people as we can help.
52:48
So a lot of them were getting left behind.
52:51
A lot of people were losing jobs.
52:53
A lot of people were trying to figure
out how income was gonna work,
52:55
how childcare was gonna work, how just
basic livelihood was gonna work in
52:59
general and so
as that conversation started progressing,
53:03
we really started having to push DEI and
be like this is important.
53:07
What about women?
53:11
What about people who have children?
53:12
What about people who have elderly
people they have to take care of, right?
53:14
What about people who went from
having one or two people in
53:18
their work from home a day to now having
their entire family in their home?
53:21
How are we going to accommodate them so
53:25
that they can still do a really good job,
right?
53:27
Because another thing that was
noticed was that women and
53:30
people who were having to be caretakers,
their performance was going down.
53:33
They were working less hours
because they now had so
53:36
many more challenges that
men didn't have to face.
53:39
So our women were getting laid off
when layoffs had to happen because of
53:41
budget cuts.
53:45
And so now that we are more
comfortable with remote working,
53:46
we're more comfortable with the pandemic,
53:49
and we're more comfortable
with people being at home.
53:51
That DEI conversation became so
much more important and
53:54
now companies are starting
to realize that.
53:57
And maybe give an extra day off
per quarter for a wellness day.
53:59
Maybe they're saying, if you need to
work part time for a little bit or
54:03
you need to take time during the day,
go for it.
54:07
And that's now becoming more of a norm,
which I think is now giving people who
54:09
want to advocate for diversity, equity,
and inclusion, a lot more momentum and
54:14
a lot more power right now at the table
to actually make a difference and
54:18
accelerate things.
54:22
And so since we've gone remote,
since we've been in the pandemic,
54:23
it was really hard but now is the moment
where you can really push for
54:27
that and really start to make a difference
that's going to last once even we're all
54:31
back in the office or
if people stay remote.
54:35
>> Yeah, absolutely, I think being home
has gotten a lot of us just kind of quiet
54:38
to listen to what the true issues are and
54:43
to prove that certain practices can
work and we can work effectively right?
54:46
Even more so.
54:51
Sarah has a question.
54:53
Any advice on how to deal with imposter
syndrome and feeling like a fraud?
54:54
I feel like we've all
kind of covered it but
54:58
anybody else want to give a few
more words of advice to Sarah?
55:00
>> Yeah, this is a topic that's near and
dear to my heart just because
55:06
it's something I've struggled with for
my entire career.
55:10
And the fact is,
it doesn't ever just get solved.
55:14
You never stop doubting yourself.
55:19
But what you do, build up a history that
you can objectively look back on and
55:23
say, if I were a fraud,
I could not have accomplished that.
55:30
Every single project you complete,
every line of code you write,
55:36
every successful release you deploy,
55:41
is another empirical data point for
you to say, I did it.
55:45
I succeeded.
55:50
And you've been trained to doubt
yourself your entire life.
55:54
You're not gonna just stop doing that.
55:59
But you can start building a mechanism for
56:03
yourself where you say yeah there
it is again, yeah but look at this.
56:05
Honey, look at this, I've done this,
I've done this, I've done this, and
56:10
if I had not been successful or capable,
I would never have done these things.
56:16
And that can be enough to get you through
the day, to get you home, to take
56:24
off your bra, to lay down on the couch,
to say okay, I got another one down.
56:28
>> That's right.
56:33
You hear that Sarah,
I hope you heard that.
56:34
Absolutely.
56:37
Theresa says,
have you had any challenges or
56:38
issues specifically related to your
gender and how have you handled this?
56:42
>> Yeah, if I yes like a lot of challenges
56:50
just by being in this environment
56:56
in the engineering world.
57:01
Before I was not into tech, but
I was in manufacturing industry,
57:06
so same environment and
you get a lot of second guessing.
57:13
That is the challenge
intrinsic to your gender,
57:21
sometimes your culture or background.
57:26
It's the implicit bias,
people see you and assume things or
57:30
maybe at that point in that project,
you have this role.
57:35
So they think that you're nothing more.
57:41
And you unfortunately,
you know how you're always
57:44
thought about being humble and
not showing all of yourself.
57:50
The reality is you actually have
to do marketing of yourself and
57:57
what you've done, because you have
done all of these, this is all of me.
58:02
I am all of this,
not just this part you're seeing.
58:09
I've learned the hard way that
if I don't speak about it,
58:12
nobody's gonna bring it over.
58:18
Nobody's gonna see it.
58:21
I lost jobs because I
didn't inform them that
58:23
I could do the work just because
I was waiting for them to see it.
58:26
For my job to speak for me and
I believe that's some studies say
58:32
that's what women do from
our gender standpoint.
58:37
I believe to my heart that
my work will speak for me.
58:42
My work in checking the boxes and
doing this is going to speak for me.
58:47
But if I don't speak about it,
if I don't bring it to the table,
58:52
it's never gonna be seen.
58:57
And that's one of the things
is very gender specific.
59:00
It's amazing how men are seen completely
different then the way we are seen.
59:06
>> Absolutely, thank you.
59:14
How are we doing on time?
59:17
My goodness, does that say an hour?
59:19
I'm in the Midwest y'all,
so it's like one o'clock.
59:22
Is it over?
59:25
Is it really over?
59:27
I know the folks are like,
no, it's not over.
59:28
But you know what,
y'all can catch this recording again.
59:30
It's recorded.
59:34
We can watch it again.
59:35
There's so
much I'm sure y'all missed something.
59:36
So I'm so so appreciative of Betsa and
Layla and Daelim for joining y'all.
59:40
This was great.
59:45
We have to do this again, like real soon.
59:45
This feels like a little party.
59:48
And we need a unicorn in the beautiful
little techie because she's the future and
59:49
I mean she came in right so perfect.
59:54
Did you plan that?
59:56
Betsa, did you plan that for us?
59:57
[LAUGH] Absolutely wonderful.
59:59
Thank you all so very much.
1:00:02
But that does unfortunately
conclude our time.
1:00:05
There's just so much more left to do.
1:00:08
But once again, thank you to Dailym,
Laela, and Betsa for joining us today and
1:00:11
sharing about your experiences.
1:00:16
The information y'all shared with
us today has been so invaluable.
1:00:18
I'm gonna rewatch it myself, because
I know there's a lot that we can look
1:00:21
forward to throughout
the rest of the days.
1:00:26
But before we go, I like to announce
a very special opportunity that's so
1:00:29
very near and dear to my heart, y'all.
1:00:34
There are applications for
you, Borah Academy,
1:00:38
the treehouse academy are now open.
1:00:42
Borah is a full scholarship program
designed for women, people of color,
1:00:45
LGBTQ folks, veterans and anyone else
who has been underrepresented in tech.
1:00:50
We're doing something about it y'all.
1:00:56
This is a full scholarship experience
designed to get you career ready.
1:00:59
Visit, don't wait.
1:01:05
Don't hesitate.
1:01:06
Right now visit borah.academy
to learn more and apply.
1:01:07
Well, next up, we have an hour of music.
1:01:15
I can't wait y'all.
1:01:18
With activist, poet, and
educator Mike Crenshaw.
1:01:20
Mike uses cultural activism as a means
to develop international solidarity
1:01:25
related to human rights and justice
through hip hop and popular education.
1:01:31
Mike was voted 2016 Portland Oregon's
best hip hop artists.
1:01:37
Since 2012, Mike has toured in Cuba,
1:01:42
Russia, Germany, Zimbabwe, Tanzania,
1:01:46
South Africa, Kenya, and other countries.
1:01:51
Where hasn't he been?
1:01:55
Well, he's here with us today and
he's facilitating hip hop,
1:01:57
cultural exchange opportunities for
the youth.
1:02:01
So y'all go ahead and head on over to that
main stage where Mike will be hanging out
1:02:04
for the next hour and
we'll see y'all there.
1:02:09
I'll see y'all later,
I'll hang out a little bit.
1:02:11
Y'all take care.
1:02:14
All right see you.
1:02:15
>> Thank you.
1:02:17
Bye bye.
1:02:18
>> Bye bye.
1:02:19
You need to sign up for Treehouse in order to download course files.
Sign upYou need to sign up for Treehouse in order to set up Workspace
Sign up