Do women need to act like men to be successful Women in Tech?

Leslie: No. However, women in general need to do a better job of speaking up, declaring themselves and being their own advocates. Perception is huge, so speaking and acting confidently – and mentally acting as our own cheerleaders – are important for all of us.

How do you get your inner voice out, without negative self-talk?

Leslie: There were moments that I was the biggest critic of myself and ended up self-sabotaging. I soon realized the little voices in each of our heads don’t let up. There is a reason why they are there – to bring awareness to situations and thoughts around those situations. However, we need to ignore destructive voices. Instead, we need to speak to ourselves with kindness and respect. Of course, that’s easier said than done. But I realized that if I empower myself and practice positive internal dialogue, that definitely resonates internally and externally. And that leads to positivity, progression and success.

What is the biggest challenge for the next generation of women? And how can we be strong role models for them?

Leslie: One of the biggest challenges, at least in the tech world, is progressing you career to the point of your true capability. Oftentimes, however, women have been pushed aside or told they don’t belong at the table. It’s not easy to be bullied or taken advantage of, but there is a way to get past it. My advice is to for women to build healthy relationships with advocates, establish guidelines before each project, create a strong personal brand, position themselves as experts in their field, and communicate with confidence.

What advice do you have for women in technology experiencing Impostor Syndrome?

Leslie: Code switching is a skill I developed as a first-generation immigrant trying to fit into the community, friendships and school. I further honed this skill in my professional career while working and operating in the largely male ecosystems of technology, healthcare systems, and business. Due to this so-called imposter syndrome, the demand to perform is constant, and it can be quite taxing physically, mentally and emotionally. After almost two decades as a professional, I realized that it’s best just to be my authentic self. There is little hope of creating a better future so long as I over-accommodate myself to suit others.

What has been your biggest success? And what was your biggest learning opportunity?

Leslie: I was in human resources for years when I got an opportunity to implement SAP HCM. That’s how I started dabbling in technology. Later, when I started at AntWorks, I was in charge of creating and developing business partnerships and technology alliances in North America, India and APAC. Instead of running away from these enormous challenges, I embraced them. Whenever a new opportunity such as a new role comes up, the important thing is to push fears aside and embrace every new role as a learning process. The secret sauce is treating challenges as opportunities – they are key to improving your game.

What changes should be made to high school and undergraduate curriculum and culture to encourage more women to stay in tech?

Leslie: Believe it or not, teasing is still a big issue in high school. Even at the high school level, teachers and classmates sometimes stereotype women who are interested in or good at advanced physics and math. One of my best friends was one of only three girls in her AP physics course in high school. I remember her telling me that she was teased by the other boys in the class about it. Instead of putting a stop to that, the teacher just brushed it off. What’s needed is a holistic approach at both the high school and undergraduate levels to help girls cope with the misconceptions and biases that stand in the way of STEM engagement. And educators and caregivers should be mindful of their behavior and biases.

Who are some of the women you find most inspiring?

Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook and founder of Lean in Foundation, a non-profit that works to support women in achieving their goals, is an inspiration. There’s also Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. Through her various verdicts supporting women’s rights, LGBT and racial equality, she proved to be worthy of the title Notorious RBG. Besides, I love the movie about her. Speaking of movies, I am also inspired by Judy Garland. Judy was the youngest recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in the film industry. She was a superstar on stage and screen even though she suffered a lot of personal tragedies. But she taught me the value of showing your authentic self. She once famously said, “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”