Session: Four key skills to career success for & by women of color
2023 has been a tumultuous year so far, and as we step into it, we see roles come and go, companies come and go, but what’s imperative is – “To build yourself”. Numbers show that in the tech layoffs, the impacted constitute women with 70% of representation, which hurts!!
Over the course of my career of 8+ years, I have switched roles and organizations only to see commonalities and differences in what a woman in tech and product performs to be.
As a woman of color from a minority, underrepresented community, that is, as a south Asian Muslim woman, an immigrant in the country, it takes a toll to adapt to a new culture, new people, and new ways of working and this might result in self-question and self-doubt. I have learned a few lessons the hard way, which are prerequisites for your growth. And unfortunately, these skills are not taught in any official academics and are seldom spoken about, but these are
the ones that help you the most to grow. So I would like to share these lessons, which are most required for early to mid-career, specifically women of color - for you to be a stronger woman and a PM in times of certainty and uncertainty.
Key takeaways –
1. Tactics to embrace and overcome imposter as an immigrant, women of color community.
2. Take away strategies to speak up and get visibility!
3. Tactics to seek mentors, build a support system around you as a woman of color
4. How to self-promote that lack to practice as women and especially as women of color
Bio
I am a Senior Product Manager at Yelp. I am in the Consumer growth team building Yelp to
connect users to small businesses. We emphasis tons on customer trust. About myself, I am
Indian born, a South Asian Muslim first-generation immigrant. I moved to the US a few years
back to pursue my master’s at Cornell University in Computer and Information Science. I started
my journey as Software Engineer and transitioned into Product where my mind and heart lie,
and there’s been no turning back. I get to solve customer problems firsthand and look at the
results and impact firsthand, and I do it passionately. I moved to Canada from the US recently in
lieu of immigration constraints. I have experience in the travel industry, E-commerce, and
consumer space.
I mentor women of color and women from minority communities. This is my way of giving back
to the community to help build a strong women’s community. I wish to help girls and women with
any open product or career growth questions. As I enter the next phase in my life, I want to
move stronger into it by building the community stronger.