Female leaders share how tech shaped their careers
Rachel Becker, Kristy Owen, and Maureen McLaughlin discuss how technology helped them overcome roadblocks and become leaders
The right opportunity at the right time can be transformative for any career.
At a recent Freshworks Community event, three female leaders from diverse sectors—ed-tech, academia, and consumer products—revealed how they turned chance encounters with tech into successful careers. Jess Wyant, Freshworks customer success lead, moderated the discussion.
The panelists—Rachel Becker from EAB, Kristy Owen from the University of Pennsylvania, and Maureen McLaughlin from Curaleaf—shared their various career paths. They talked about navigating male-dominated spaces, overcoming imposter syndrome, and receiving mentorship from peers and leaders.
Read also: Four leaders redefine boundaries at work
Following are some edited highlights from the discussion:
“Looking back, my skills naturally fit into tech roles. If someone had highlighted how many business roles involve technology, I would have embraced it sooner. Once I found my way into tech, I stayed, gained new skills, and realized that technology is fascinating.”
— Rachel Becker, Senior Director of Business Solutions, EAB
“Soft skills, emotional intelligence, attention to detail, and big-picture thinking have guided me throughout my career. As the environment shifted from on-premise to cloud, my tech-business skills helped me operate within meetings and professional relationships, understand what’s being asked, and anticipate needs, all of which helped me in my career.”
— Kristy Owen, Director of Financial Systems and Training, UPenn
“Technology wasn’t big when I finished high school, but I loved computers. I found a mentor who taught me to learn and discover what I love and, sometimes, things I didn’t even know I loved. With 15 years of experience in leadership roles, I now enjoy leading conversations about women in leadership and how to find comfort in traditionally male-dominated spaces.”
— Maureen McLaughlin, Director of ITSM, Curaleaf
For more on these topics, here’s a reading list culled from the panelists, or join the Freshworks Community to keep the conversation going.
“Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg
“Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown
“Radical Candor” by Kim Scott
“Grit” by Angela Duckworth
“The Confidence Code” by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek
