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Women in Tech: Office Insider Celebrates Women’s History Month

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March is recognized as Women’s History Month in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, while March 8th is International Women’s Day around the world. It’s a time for everyone to acknowledge and celebrate the many contributions that women have made—and continue to make—toward building a better world.

During Women’s History Month, Microsoft is emphasizing the message that when those of all genders are not limited—when we encourage and reward authenticity—we all thrive.

We felt that one of the best ways to honor this important occasion would be to feature the voices of some of the outstanding women in the Office Insider program. We wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate them, and also ask for their views on women in technology, female role models, and how their childhood ambitions influenced the lives they lead today.

These women—Microsoft 365 technology experts and leaders in their professions—were kind enough to share their thoughts with us, which you can check out below. Happy Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day!

Celia Alves

Celia Alves

Role: Founder, Solve & Excel Consulting; Microsoft MVP

Find her:

What did you dream of doing when you were young?

As a child, I wanted to be a teacher. I believe this dream came from both the admiration I felt for my teachers and the willingness to help others do well in school. In the end, it’s about recognizing the power of knowledge.

Which powerful women do you admire most, and why?

I admire my mother and all the women who act like her. They put others’ needs and problems first. They follow their values and beliefs and do not depend on others’ judgments or approval to do what they can to help someone. They are problem solvers and community healers. Women with these traits have the power to generate a positive impact.

How can we help women thrive in the tech industry?

The era of working remotely has taught us that many tasks are time-flexible, meaning that they do not need to be performed during a rigid 9-to-5 schedule. For women raising young children, employers should provide them with reduced and flexible work hours (with full pay, if possible) for the period when they need to focus more energy on their family. After all, they are raising the future of us all! Women who feel accomplished in both their personal and professional lives will give their best to both worlds.

What advice do you have for women entering the tech field?

Do what you love. If it feels right to you, do not wait for other people’s approval. Learn as much as you can and show your work. If possible, offer free value to other people by sharing your knowledge. And do not spend a second thinking of your gender as a potential obstacle. You were gifted an intelligent mind and a good heart; combine those two to have fun and serve the world!  

Chantal Bossé

Chantal Bossé

Role: President, Head Trainer, and Presentation Magician at CHABOS, Inc.; Microsoft MVP

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What did you dream of doing when you were young?

Growing up, I remember wanting to be a teacher to help the kids, as one of my teachers did. Then I wanted to be a lawyer, because I just could not support injustice. And finally, during high school came my archaeologist period. I was fascinated with the amazing things that could be uncovered, and with traveling to remote parts of the planet. Reflecting on who I am now, I guess I did achieve my younger self’s dreams: I’m a trainer, I have traveled to great places and uncovered amazing local traditions, and I’m still on a mission to pitch in every time there is an injustice. Looks like it’s only the technology part that came out of nowhere. 😉

Which powerful women do you admire most, and why?

All the new women making themselves visible in world politics inspire me. In my industry, I look up to my PowerPoint MVP and Presentation Guild ladies: you all inspire me to do my best and become the best version of myself.

And as a businesswoman, there is an amazing entrepreneur here in Quebec that I look up to: Lise Watier. She started her business when it was a “men’s club” and navigated through so many challenges! She’s a great role model not only because of her success, but also because of everything she still does to help women through her foundation.

How can we help women thrive in the tech industry?

Support one another, whether it’s between women already in tech, or male colleagues pitching in to support women in their own tech environments. I also think helping girls and young women embrace technology would help more women thrive in the industry.

What advice do you have for women entering the tech field?

Believe in yourself and stop underestimating your expertise. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask colleagues for help—you’d be surprised how many are just waiting to help you! And finally, never stop learning and being curious, so you keep evolving.

Hear more from Chantal

Emma Chieppor

Emma Chieppor

Role: Founder, Excel Dictionary

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What did you dream of doing when you were young?

Something I have always dreamed of doing—and still want to do—is have my own successful makeup line! I even went to school for chemical engineering at first, in the hopes of achieving that goal. I’ve always loved makeup and fashion, but I wanted to create and run my own business at the same time.

Which powerful women do you admire most, and why?

The powerful woman that I admire most is my mother, Mary Chieppor! She has always led by example and found great success through building her own business. She has made me realize that anything is possible with hard work and dedication, and I aspire to be a leader like her!

How can we help women thrive in the tech industry?

One thing that could improve opportunities for women to thrive in the tech industry is to offer mentorship from female leaders, to assist with professional development and to help navigate the hardships encountered along the way. It’s so easy to feel alone as a female in the tech industry, and I would have loved to have had a female leader to not only confide in but also to receive advice from as I develop in my career.

What advice do you have for women entering the tech field?

I know it can be very challenging at times, but do not be afraid to be confident and speak up in group settings. Your contribution will make you stand out, and any idea will go way further than none at all.

Hear more from Emma

Leila Gharani

Leila Gharani

Role: Founder, XelPlus; Microsoft MVP

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What did you dream of doing when you were young?

I wanted to be an astronaut or a teacher. I loved physics in school but it wasn’t my strength, so I decided a job at NASA probably wouldn’t work out. I never liked high school, and I couldn’t see myself going back there and teaching. I ended up pursuing a career as an economist and later as a project manager.

I enjoyed the type of teaching I did at work. I valued working in teams, learning new tools, creating applications, and rolling them out. I loved seeing happy people walk out of my trainings. I realized that this was the type of teaching I wanted to do. I then set out to do just that, only on a broader scale.

Which powerful women do you admire most, and why?

I admire different characteristics in different people, and I look up to them for that. Some examples are Malala Yousafzai for her bravery, Jessica Alba for her entrepreneurship and marketing skills, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) for speaking her mind, and Marie Forleo for authentic marketing. The list goes on!

How can we help women thrive in the tech industry?

Continue showing examples of women working different jobs in the tech industry. Not only women who are visible because of their social media profiles, but those who work behind the scenes, who are part of amazing teams creating innovative products.

What advice do you have for women entering the tech field?

The tech field is like any other field. If you love what you do, nothing else matters.

Hear more from Leila

Martina Grom

Martina Grom

Role: CEO, atwork; Microsoft MVP

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What did you dream of doing when you were young?

The first movie I saw as a child was Star Wars: A New Hope. After seeing that movie, I wanted to be a smuggler with a good heart and a cool spaceship like Han Solo.

Which powerful women do you admire most, and why?

There are so many women out there that I admire, it is hard to choose one. I admire people with passion and strong personalities, and those who stand up for their ideas.

How can we help women thrive in the tech industry?

Many women need more self-confidence about working in technology. Every woman with a passion for technology can do it, and one thing we can do to support that is to make them visible and amplify their work.

What advice do you have for women entering the tech field?

Women entering the tech field should talk to others in the field and look for mentors. Some of my strongest mentors were men, and I learned from listening and trying things out by myself.

 

Karoliina Kettukari

Karoliina Kettukari

Role: Modern Work Lead, Meltlake; Microsoft MVP

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What did you dream of doing when you were young?

I was very into architecture when I was a child. My hobby was to carefully examine every single floor plan I found in magazines and brochures and, of course, make them better and draw my own floor plans. That hobby has remained—I still love to read apartment listings and experience different architecture when I travel. But I was more interested in business and management consulting as a profession. However, I see my core qualities reflected in both these passions: I love to organize things, develop processes, and help people to find the best possible solution for them.

Which powerful women do you admire most, and why?

One great example of a brave and resilient woman was Kyllikki Villa, a Finnish author, translator, and world traveler. She started traveling the world in cargo ships with her small daughter after she was divorced in the 1960s. Talk about a boss lady! She didn’t care if she didn’t speak all the languages and didn’t have lots of money. She didn’t even plan her trips that much, but rather trusted her feelings and intuition. And yet she worked remotely (when remote work as a concept didn’t even exist) and explored the world on 48 different cargo ships over the span of 35 years, making her last trip across the Atlantic (alone!) when she was 75 years old. I admire her freedom, her trust in her instincts, and her Finnish sisu (determination and tenacity).

How can we help women thrive in the tech industry?

Lift each other up! Be or have a mentor, share your knowledge, and co-create content.

What advice do you have for women entering the tech field?

Follow your enthusiasm and be proud! Find a way to show and tell what suits you the best—let yourself shine.

Diane Poremsky

Diane Poremsky

Role: CEO, Slipstick.com; Microsoft MVP

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What did you dream of doing when you were young?

I went through all the things kids dream of being when they grow up—doctor, astronaut, veterinarian, scientist, and princess. By high school, I wanted to be a biologist, just like my oldest brother.

Which powerful women do you admire most, and why?

In my younger days, Rachel Carson, because of my interest in biology and the environment. While I’m still interested in the environment, today I also admire women philanthropists for their humanitarian work.

How can we help women thrive in the tech industry?

Trust their expertise and listen to their ideas; they know as much as the men in the room. There is strength in numbers and hiring more women would help.

What advice do you have for women entering the tech field?

Believe in yourself and don’t sell yourself short. Don’t let your male co-workers put you down; you are as smart and skilled as the men you work with (if not more so). And if your parents gave you a gender-neutral name, thank them. It’s much easier when you can make a good impression before they discover you’re a woman.

Hear more from Diane

Megan Strant

Megan Strant

Role: Principal Consultant, Strant Consulting; Microsoft MVP

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What did you dream of doing when you were young?

I had a long phase of wanting to be an archaeologist as a child. My family traveled through Europe and visited many ancient ruins. We also visited churches and other sites, but I was drawn to the history and so curious about the excavation and preservation of archaeological discoveries. Having my parents provide that opportunity and other exploration through books, documentaries, and even Indiana Jones movies allowed me to dream about other worlds and exciting adventure.

Which powerful women do you admire most, and why?

I really look up to women who have the power and influence to drive change in the world, using their platform and success to lift up other women and push for equality. People like Michelle Obama, Brene Brown, Reece Witherspoon, and even the singer Pink, who has a strong voice for girls and women to help them feel better about who they are.

Also, through my 10-year-old daughter’s eyes I am reminded of women in STEM who throughout history thought outside the box and did amazing work, like Ada Lovelace and Margaret Hamilton, along with key women in history like Rosa Parks and Temple Grandin.

How can we help women thrive in the tech industry?

Advocate for women! Find ways to support women in your organization, as there are so many who lack the confidence to put their hand up for opportunities to advance. We need to help them see that they are capable—just as much as we need to support the women who are more driven—for the roles that may open internally.

What advice do you have for women entering the tech field?

Assume anything and everything is possible with hard work, just like with anyone else. Don’t see yourself as lesser because of gender. Do a great job, and be a great employee and colleague. Also, invest in yourself and your ongoing development.

Hear more from Megan

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