Wal-Mart CIO's Advice For Women In IT

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Laurianne,
User Rank: Author
11/19/2013 | 10:10:20 AM

Where are the female technologists on TV?

Here's another interesting tidbit from Terrell: Television and movies have a powerful impact on a young woman's view of the world. She thinks young women need to see women on television and in the movies who are successful technologists. We see female lawyers, doctors and police officers galore -- but where are the cool female software developers? CSI is one show that has stoked girls' interest in tech. Terrell would like to see more.

Maybe one of you could write the Bridget Jones Diary of female technologists. Wouldn't that be fun -- and powerful?

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Ariella,
User Rank: Author
11/19/2013 | 5:35:23 PM

Re: Where are the female technologists on TV?

@Laurianne Never underestimate the power of dramatization. If not for the novel Girl with a Pearl Earring that was also made into a successful film, the painting, which is currently visiting The Frick Collection in NYC would not have the oval room all to itself and would not be the representative picture for the special exhibit. It's not necessarily Vermeer's best work, but it is his best known, thanks to the chick lit/flick effect. So, yes, casting women in IT roles on television would likely have quite an impact on the public's perception.

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Sara Peters,
User Rank: Ninja
11/19/2013 | 10:15:03 AM

sounds familiar

Good advice for those of us inside and outside of IT... and advice I confess I'm not always very good at taking. The key part seems to be women being shy about asking for things they deserve -- whether that be a better salary, a better title, a new position, or something else. Most of us are more likely to work hard and hope that those things will eventually be handed to us. That's an overgeneralization, of course, but I think it's largely true.

So how do we fix that?

Is that the kind of thing that the mentor group for women can assuage?

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Nicole Ferraro,
User Rank: Apprentice
11/19/2013 | 10:28:02 AM

Re: sounds familiar

I was intrigued by the distinction between mentor and sponsor here -- and it sounds like a mentor could help women ask for what they want, but a sponsor could actually advocate on their behalf. Is that right?

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Laurianne,
User Rank: Author
11/19/2013 | 10:46:48 AM

Re: sounds familiar

That is exactly right, Nicole. A sponsor advocates for you and puts you forward for new projects and opportunities. The sponsor does it because it's good for the business -- not because he or she is fond of you, as a longtime mentor. That is why the sponsor's voice carries weight, Terrell says.

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Alex Kane Rudansky,
User Rank: Author
11/19/2013 | 10:47:28 AM

"Lean In"

This interview reminded me of some of the lessons in Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In." Both Sandberg's and Terrell's advice is valuable for women in and out of the IT world. Speak up. Work together. Advocate for yourself. Sandberg dives into the topic of the male/female interactions in the workplace, and walking the fine line between assertive and over-bearing. I wonder what Terrell's response to "Lean In" would be.

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Laurianne,
User Rank: Author
11/20/2013 | 8:59:13 AM

Re: "Lean In"

Alex, I find it interesting that Terrell was doing IT mentoring circles at Wal-Mart long before the idea of Lean In circles (inpsired by Sandberg's book) became popular. Wal-Mart has mentoring circles for people in disciplines outside of IT, as well.

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kelleyd1,
User Rank: Apprentice
11/19/2013 | 2:17:08 PM

speaking up for women of color

Interesting comment on women speaking up for women of color? What do people think about this observation? Does it ring true in their organizations?

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shamika,
User Rank: Ninja
11/20/2013 | 2:58:39 AM

Women in IT

This is an interesting article. There is very less percentage, where ladies continue their higher studies in the area of IT. Most of them prefer to be doctors and engineers rather than IT professional.

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sfreeves,
User Rank: Apprentice
11/20/2013 | 11:22:37 AM

IT Mentoring

This is great to read stuff like this! I am new to the IT industry and with being a recent graduate studying Business Administration I sometimes feel lost so finding articles like this really help me out! I do not have a mentor or a sponsor and really don't know how to even go about it, but does anyone have any suggestions or ways to start mentoring groups within an organization?

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