Generally, I’m a big believer in creating space for women and non male identified folks to get together to talk about how and why diversity is needed. BUT. These are not the only spaces that are needed, it’s absolutely critical for men to be included in these conversations otherwise it can easily become an echo…
Well, Actually… 3 Ways Mansplaining Can Ruin a Collaboration
Collaboration. The word alone is enough to bring back the anxiety flashbacks from the high school group projects. You already know that you are not the slacker of the group, but you have to steel yourself to get through the project with that one employee who believes he has all the answers and wildly ignores the…
The First Step: Starting Your Journey When You Can’t See the Finish Line
Your goals are big. Sometimes, the journey to get there feels impossible. In some cases, you don’t even know what the finish line looks like. When you have big dreams, big professional goals, and your eyes on a specific prize, however, don’t let yourself get held back! Get started on that journey, even if you…
Recent Survey “Elephant in the Valley” Exposes Sexism in Tech Culture
Chances are if you are reading this blog you are aware of the rampant sexism in tech culture here in the Bay Area. Although the topic not new, many people may not know exactly how pervasive the issue is within the tech community. I was looking up news in the area and found The Elephant In The Valley,…
4 Ways You Can Boost Your Confidence in 3 Minutes or Less
Often, at the end of a workshop I’ve just taught, women will ask how I “get so confident?” and I always respond… “well, it depends on the day!” There are days that I believe in my own power, and there are days that I struggle to tap into that belief. Confidence is not a destination.…
A Compilation of Key Takeaways from SXSW to Inspire You for the Months Ahead
I did a full wrap up post earlier this week, but realized when writing it that if I tried to include all the things I learned that blog post would’ve been a very long read. As it is, this post ended up super long too! This is still just a fraction of the copious notes…
Denial leads to chronic sexual harassment at The Tor Project
The Tor Project is a network designed to protect users from traffic analysis over the Internet, free to use and run by donations and volunteers. Jacob Appelbaum was a former developer at Tor when he stepped down on May 25, 2016 following “serious, public allegations of sexual mistreatment” according to Shari Steele, Tor’s executive director.…
NSA/NC – September Meeting Recap
I was delighted to see my schedule open for the September 10th NSA/NC (aka the National Speakers Association/ Northern California) chapter meeting and to see that the topics looked particularly pertinent to my interests. Attending this day was a good reminder that in order to build relationships and networks, you have to keep showing up!…
National Speakers Association “Influence 2016” – Event Recap
As I stepped up to the baggage claim to find my hot-pink suitcase and saw the chipper “Welcome” sign along with an announcement of the 109 degree day waiting for me outside I thought, “Yikes, that’s a boiling hot ‘Hello!’ from Phoenix, Arizona!” For the last three years I’ve attended the annual National Speakers Association…
The Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs and Start-Up Loans
Starting a business is one of the biggest roller coaster rides anyone can voluntarily go on, from both an emotional and financial perspective. However, every year, thousands of people decide to take the plunge. One of the most important parts to starting a business is access to capital, but it has recently become apparent that…