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4 women making waves in the tech world right now If you’re reading this blog, you’re likely the type of person who gets hyped up by seeing other women in tech thrive. Well, we’ve got your regular dose of inspiration and motivation right here. As we continue to weather the storm of 2023, these are […]
Diversity across all workplaces and teams should be something the world is striving for – that much is clear. So, why does it appear we’re seeing increased talk regarding this issue in reference to the Artificial Intelligence space in particular? As AI is progressively making data central to much of our decision-making, this issue talks […]
It’s nothing short of gut-wrenching to know that women remain underpaid and under-represented in tech. The gender gap is a multifaceted issue requiring leadership action, systemic change and an intense re-engineering of the culture to truly shift these deep set biases. But what can be done at ground level? Here are 5 ways you can […]
It’s not an exaggeration to say that apps have changed our lives. From finding love to finding your keys, hefty programs on a desktop have transformed into little genius squares within your hands. The best thing about it is: Some of the best apps in the store are female-owned. And it checks out when you […]
Why we should stop and smell the progress. Once more for the people in the back: it’s never been a better time to be a woman in tech. And there’s so much to celebrate whilst looking ahead to what we can drive even further. We’ve detailed how the industry has shifted for the better, and some […]
In 2023, workplace diversity matters. And it’s not just about meeting quotas to make everyone feel nice – it’s about transparently ensuring that all areas of the workforce include a mix of perspectives. This is good business. Global Hiring Trends reported by LinkedIn show that 78% of companies prioritize diversity to improve culture, while 62% […]
The world is desperate for women to step up and take their place. To be represented in boardrooms and beyond. To be appreciated for all they do – in families, in society and in the workplace. This Women’s History Month, join us in acknowledging today’s female trailblazers. They’re not always the women you see featured […]
Even the most successful among us need help to achieve their goals. The people we meet along the way, throughout our career and life, serve as a key tool in opening doors, facilitating introductions, getting that coveted promotion, securing investor dollars and much more. Yup, networking works, and it’s not just your imagination: 85% of […]
Unfortunately, it’s likely that you’ll experience bad bosses throughout your career far more often than you’ll work alongside the incredible ones. In startup environments, people problems abound. Like so many company factors—culture, values, work ethic—poor management starts at the top. So many startup leaders are inexperienced, ego-driven or just simply haven’t been in the workforce […]
There’s no doubt that the last few years have thrown some curveballs. A pandemic, a war, and widespread tech industry layoffs – to name a few. Thankfully despite all this, we see a lot of hope and opportunity on the horizon for women in tech in 2023. Think: new jobs, exciting career paths, and opportunities […]
2021 was a milestone year for women around the globe. It demonstrated not only what we can achieve in the face of crisis, but also the increasing need for female leadership in our world. According to a UN Women report, female leaders responded more rapidly with measures to help ‘flatten the curve’ of the pandemic […]
Even the most successful among us need help to achieve their goals. The people we meet along the way, throughout our career and life, serve as a key tool in opening doors, facilitating introductions, getting that coveted promotion, securing investor dollars and much more. Yup, networking works, and it’s not just your imagination: 85% of […]
I thought that my biggest failure was coming back to the Dominican Republic, after studying in the United States. I was admitted to Northwood University in West Palm Beach, with a tennis scholarship. After I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems, I was offered a job at a Microsoft partner company in Boca Raton.
It was a rare opportunity for an international student and a chance for me to complete my Optional Practical Training (OPT), available to foreign students after they graduate. I could eventually apply for a U.S. permanent residence and later become a citizen. The decision should have been a no brainer. I could have been living and working in a country with unlimited opportunities and earn a much better salary, compared to the DR.
The trade-off was to not go back to the DR for over a year during the course of my OPT and until I got a permanent job offer from the company.
The thought of not being able to see my family for such a long time made me nervous and I took this as a sign that I had to return to my home country. Family is very important to me. I was very happy about my decision in the beginning, but as I started my new life back in the DR, I was struck by the lack of general education, the low wages for entry-level professionals and the overall challenges in a developing country.
This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Within three months of being back, I got a job offer from Microsoft (not the partner company in Boca Raton), here in the DR! This ended up being a life-changing experience, which would later catapult me towards where I am today.
“Being in my native country has also given me the opportunity to make a difference locally, where a LOT of help is needed.
I believe that each individual defines success differently. Success to me is to be able to remain grounded during difficult times.
It’s to make a difference in at least one person’s life while on earth and to let go of personal biases and negative experiences from the past in order to be a better human being.
My failures allowed me to see parts of me that weren’t so pretty.
“Most of my failures showed me that what I needed the most was to give myself the permission to be myself.
Permission to trust my instincts and to be kind to myself throughout this journey. And through this understanding, I was able to quit a job that I didn’t enjoy, and go for one that aligned with my personal values and beliefs. Finally, I was able to build up the courage to understand that I, too, can make a difference. Today, I am brave enough to make an impact myself, instead of observing and admiring from a distance at what other people are doing. It wasn’t an easy lesson, and it didn’t happen in one day but it was valuable and I cherish it. For me failure equals growth.
I feel a 360-degree change. I used to give myself a very hard time every time I failed. I told myself that I could do better, and I felt both guilt and shame. Mostly because I was worrying about failing other people, instead of looking inside myself and thinking about how I had failed myself.
When I was younger, I never looked back at failure to reflect and learn from it. I was worried about what others would think, how many doors would close for me, and feared I would be able to move on after such a bad move.
Today, when I fail it is because I am failing myself.
Just like with success, there are endless definitions of failure. And one has to understand what it means for us. Have I let myself down here? Why did I do it? How can I learn from this? Did I hurt someone else? This is something I strive for and practice everyday, and it has been one of my biggest and most important challenges in growing to be a much healthier and happier individual and a better professional.
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