Women in Tech: CalendarHero Team Members Share their Stories
International Women’s Day (IWD) and Women’s History Month are global calls to action to speak up about equality and celebrate the achievements of women, including in the tech industry.
At CalendarHero (formerly Zoom.ai), we’re proud to say that gender equality and inclusivity isn’t just a one-day event, but an integral part of our team culture. Our company’s staff is 45% female-identifying and half of our senior leadership is made up of women.
Creating a workplace that thrives on diversity is a big part of who we are.
We know that only when our companies are diverse, inclusive, and intentional about equality can we create space for true innovation and meaningful collaboration. It not only makes coming into the office that much better, but has an impact on the products and technology we offer our customers as well.
Although there is still significant work to be done across the tech industry and many others, we are taking a moment in honour of IWD and Women’s History Month to celebrate and learn from the women on the CalendarHero team. You’ll hear from every woman in our company, minus our Agile Quality Analyst Ashwini Patil who is currently enjoying a maternity leave with her son.
Together with our entire team, these women are part of creating advancements in AI-powered technology solutions that are helping teams and professionals work smarter. Keep reading to hear from Maxine, Jill, Kailah, and Komal.
How long have you worked in tech?
2 years
Why did you want to be part of the tech industry?
I enjoyed solving puzzles growing up, so this industry allows me to do that as a career.
What was your first job in the tech industry?
A software developer for an internship at IBM
Can you share an accomplishment you’re proud about?
I originally did not pursue a career in computer science, but accounting. I realized I wouldn’t be happy in an environment where I felt like there was a ceiling to my career and personal growth. Now, I’m working in a field with boundless opportunities and challenges.
What’s a challenge that you’ve experienced as a woman in tech?
As a woman in the tech industry you can often feel underestimated, and when coupled with imposter syndrome you can also feel inferior. While I still sometimes feel inadequate, one way I overcome this feeling is to remind myself of the last time I felt this way when facing a difficult problem, and how I eventually solved it. I can look back and go, 'Wow, I did that!' and feel confident that I can solve the current problem, too.
What is the best career advice you've received?
"Imagine a box of markers. Each marker has the capacity to carry one thought or idea in your head. If you stress about something, you take one marker out of the box. So the more you stress, the more markers you take out of the box." This advice has stayed with me because it easily visualizes the effects of stress on your mental power.
How long have you worked in tech?
20 years
Why did you want to be part of the tech industry?
I majored in design at University and was first introduced there to the challenge of online user experience and interactive design. I entered the tech industry as a UI/UX designer to help make online experiences intuitive, usable, enjoyable, and accessible for the end user.
What was your first job in the tech industry?
My first paid tech role was designing and coding the York University Fine Arts website. I was frustrated by the design of the website when using it, so sent an email to the department suggesting they have one of their many talented design students redesign it. They agreed and promptly offered me the job.
Can you share an accomplishment you’re proud about?
I’m proud to have been part of the Toronto start-up tech scene for almost two decades and that my ideas and leadership helped build, shape and grow a number of innovative SaaS products. But I'm most proud that I did it while earning my peers respect along the way.
What’s a challenge that you’ve experienced as a woman in tech?
Early in my career I was lucky to have worked with some amazing male leaders and founders who didn't care at all whether I was a woman. The quality of my work and my ideas were valued. Having this experience early on made it the norm for me, so now, frankly, I won't accept anything less.
That being said I have been underestimated or overlooked before in some situations purely based on my gender. I overcame it by not staying quiet, but by continually speaking up with ideas or insights that couldn't be ignored.
What is the best career advice you've received?
Don't be afraid to speak up and share your ideas.
How long have you worked in tech?
3-ish years
Why did you want to be part of the tech industry?
Curiosity. My career has always been at the intersections of technology, social justice, and brand storytelling. I wanted to dive deeper into the tech side and see what I’d find there.
What was your first job in the tech industry?
I started my career as a copywriter for a mobile app geared towards engaging youth in social justice work.
Can you share an accomplishment you’re proud about?
I’m proud to be working in tech. I have a background in journalism and have primarily worked within non-profit and creative agency spaces. I never grew up wanting to work in tech necessarily, but I am interested in what is impacting culture in significant ways. Tech is doing that, so I wanted to make the jump.
What’s a challenge that you’ve experienced as a woman in tech?
I’ve had the rare opportunity to work with mostly female leadership and female-identified colleagues. So, in previous professional meetings and interactions, I did not have to consider how gender would impact the way I was perceived. Tech is much more male-dominated, so it’s been an interesting culture to navigate and a process to find my voice. I have learned that connecting with other women in tech for support and insights is hugely beneficial to my own growth.
What is the best career advice you've received?
Prioritize self-care in whatever version of it works for you. If you’re running on empty, then you’re not able to bring your best self, bright ideas, and full energy to the table.
How long have you worked in tech?
3+ years
What was your first job in the tech industry?
I worked in People and Culture as well as Operations.
Can you share an accomplishment you’re proud about?
I was given the opportunity to play a sport internationally (handball). It drove me to be resilient, shaped my skills to think strategically and gave me the ability to get along with people from different cultures and walks of life. This has translated into me being able to support my team and ideate with them to build better tech products!
What’s a challenge that you’ve experienced as a woman in tech?
Being 'non-technical' was a challenge, simply because I come from an HR and business background. I overcame this hurdle by doing research about how tech works, common terms used and looking closely at design and functionality when I used various applications at work or personally.
How have you seen the industry change while you've been a part of it?
I'm glad that the industry is now backing women founders! I really do believe that women founders/women in leadership roles benefit the company in terms of decision-making and upholding positive work culture.
What is the best career advice you've received?
Everything is technically possible!