Empowering women in tech: Paving the way for the next generation

I have been a woman in tech for all 30 years of my career. I started in law and in the defense space, and I was almost always the only woman in the room. It has been a fantastic journey to get here, but it has also been a challenging one. I genuinely believe that our job is to help pave the way forward for the next generation of women. I am mom to two awesome little girls—6 and 8 years old. My husband is also in technology. I was born into a world that still must do a lot of work to get women where they need to be, and I owe it to my two little girls to do everything I can to help that world happen. This is why it is such an important topic area for me. 

Since June 2024, I’ve been leading NetApp’s commercial business—one of our fastest growing businesses. I am excited to be here. I firmly believe that NetApp will be better, stronger, and more successful as we make diversity and inclusion a core tenet of who we are and how we act every day. We will have more opinions and perspectives on how to do things differently, and we will be a happier place for people to work and bring the best version of themselves every day to every task. And that is how you win.

I am privileged to serve as a leader for the NetApp Women in Technology (WIT) group, one of our largest enterprise resource groups. WIT is dedicated to promoting allyship in leadership and supporting women in their professional growth. Together with our human resources teams, we are actively working to make practical and measurable changes that will improve the experiences of women in our organization. 

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a NetApp INSIGHT^® event where we had an inspiring WIT meetup. We had some fantastic women in the room! It was also heartwarming to see the number of male allies in the room who recognize that supporting women in tech is part of their job. As one of the attendees eloquently put it, “My role is not only to pass the ball, but to help tackle.” That tells you a lot about our DNA as a company.

We need more allies like them—both men and women—to ensure that women have equal access to opportunities and the necessary support to succeed. By increasing attendance and participation in events like these, we can foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. We will keep pushing for more in-person and virtual events of this kind to strengthen this bond with our allies and provide tools and ideas for women across the company to thrive in their roles and grow.

Still, we have also received feedback that we have a lot to do. And so we will also be looking into how we create more measurable KPIs across critical metrics to track how we make progress. Finally, with the help of our amazing human resources team, we will be looking to see how to better train and equip leaders at all levels to understand the value of diversity and inclusion and make it a part of their teams’ day-to-day reality.

Part of our role as a community is to make sure our members are thriving and healthy. We will talk more about that this year. This month of October has been designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States, and it serves as an annual reminder that no one is untouched by breast cancer. Although this disease mainly targets women, cancer knows no gender—and affects men as well. 

This is the hardest part: Women tend to take care of everyone but themselves. But if we test and take care of ourselves in a timely fashion, survivability improves. We need to hold each other accountable for testing, celebrate survivors, remember the women who didn’t survive, and above all, call to action to go get tested—that’s the margin of difference. Cancer treatments are not what they used to be—early diagnosis often means life. We need to celebrate the progress brought about by technological advances. 

Recognition of the importance of this month and this awareness couldn’t be more personal for me. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and I must be tested regularly as a result. I know the emotional toll it takes just to schedule an appointment, but the alternative is not an option. Please go get tested!  

As we move forward, I am proud to be part of NetApp and the Women in Tech community. I am excited about the upcoming year filled with activities and awareness events where women from all over the world can connect and empower each other. Together, we can create a better world and a more inclusive landscape for the next generation of girls and women in technology. 

Join us in this incredible journey of empowerment! Follow NetApp Women in Tech on social media and see the many activities in which we strive to make the world of technology better for all.