On International Women’s Day, let’s embrace equity together
There are so many women out there who make a difference – to other women, to their professions, and to the world. This International Women’s Day, when I was asked what women inspire me, I realized that I couldn’t narrow it down to just one. There are so many!
However, I did manage to narrow it down to four:
The first is Hedy Lamarr, who was a great actress and an inventor. During World War II, she and composer George Antheil developed a frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology that is now widely used in modern wireless communication systems, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
And while her story is not ideal (she wasn’t recognized for her genius as an inventor until very late in her life), her story is inspiring because it shows how much of an impact a woman can have, even when she's underestimated. I especially admire her because she came to technology from a completely different field, which is something I can relate to as a developer who started off teaching English.
I also find Swedish blogger Johna Jinton very inspiring. I just love how she's always out in nature, and the way she uses her art to share her experiences is so cool. She's always pushing herself to try new things and follow her dreams, no matter what obstacles she faces. Honestly, she's just a total inspiration to me! Check out her blog on YouTube.
Another woman (a little closer to home) that I admire is my friend Maria. She's a lifestyle blogger and a solo mom who has accomplished a lot, despite facing many challenges along the way. I'm inspired by her ability to reach people all over the world through her writing and her positive attitude. She's a supportive friend and a great person, and I admire her for all that she's achieved.
Finally, there's my mom. She's had to rebuild her career several times, but each time she's become even more successful than she was before. She's taught me that success is about people and communication, and that it's important to remain optimistic even when things are difficult. I admire her for her strength, her perseverance, and her ability to find joy and fulfillment in her work and her life. She's not afraid to admit when she's wrong, and I love her for that.
All of those women inspire me to make a difference. As a full-stack developer, I spend a lot of time troubleshooting and figuring out how to make things work. But it's all worth it when I get to help someone out and solve an issue that's been bugging them for a while. I love being able to use my skills to make a real difference in people's lives. Whether it's developing a cool new feature our agents love or fixing an annoying bug that's been causing issues, there's nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that my work is making a positive impact.
My message for International Women’s Day
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #embraceequity. This is especially important to me in light of my experience growing up in Russia, where I saw a real disconnect between the formal celebration of International Women's Day and the reality of gender inequality and discrimination.
Embracing equity means acknowledging the reality of unequal treatment and opportunity for different groups of people, and actively working to create a more equitable society. And it means not only advocating for equal rights and opportunities for women, but also for people of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and other identities. It’s also about being willing to listen to and learn from people whose experiences and perspectives are different from our own, and using that knowledge to create more inclusive communities and workplaces.
I believe that embracing equity requires a commitment to honesty with oneself and with others, to acknowledging the ways in which different groups of people are treated unfairly, and to taking action to create a more just and equitable world.
As a woman in the tech industry, I take pride in sharing my unique perspective and experiences with the CRM team. I strongly believe that having a diverse team is critical in the tech industry, as it promotes innovation and creativity. And of course I am committed to making sure everyone feels valued and included at work, and I believe that every individual's contributions and opinions matter.
Embracing change can be daunting, but it's important to remember that it can lead to positive and constructive outcomes. Throughout history, women have made significant impacts by challenging the status quo and introducing new and innovative ideas. By being open to trying new things and exploring different paths, we too can affect meaningful change in our lives and the lives of others.
On International Women's Day, let's celebrate these women and their contributions, and commit ourselves to pursuing positive and constructive changes. Remember, every small step counts, and together, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.