Stephanie Geno - From Imposter to Impact: Advancing Tech Inclusion from the Inside

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From Imposter to Impact: Advancing Tech Conclusion from the Inside

Hello everyone! I'm Stephanie Gino, the Chief Marketing Officer at Innovid, one of the largest independent advertising technology companies in the market. In this blog, we will talk about inclusion in the tech and advertising sector, highlighting my journey as a black woman navigating through this space. Despite several challenges, I have been successful in my 16-year career and I hope my journey will guide and inspire others facing similar hurdles.

My Professional Journey

My journey has been filled with ups and downs, from graduating with an advertising degree from the University of Florida to fruitless job applications in Chicago. My first corporate job was in human resources, far from the field I desired. However, I managed to transition into the advertising and tech space three years later, which was no small feat. Over the course of this journey, I have discovered my passion lies in eliminating obstacles for underrepresented groups in the tech industry.

Challenges in the Advertising and Tech Space

Despite the rise of female representation in leadership, it is disheartening to find that minority representation in the industry remains low. According to a study of the A NAS' 900 members, only 12% of top marketers are diverse, with just 3% being black.

The industry experiences common barriers such as access to opportunities, compensation bias, and the presumption of unnecessary administrative duties falling on the underrepresented groups. As a community, it is essential to openly discuss these issues, identify our shortcomings, and put into place actionable solutions.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome, a sense of self-limiting doubt, is unfortunately, disproportionately experienced by women, particularly women of color in the industry. Individuals often feel out of place when they realize they represent a small fraction of the industry leaders. However, it is important to match your confidence with your competence; pride and self-love are crucial tools in overcoming such obstacles.

The Importance of Building Professional Relationships

  • One key piece of advice: relationships matter. It's challenging to succeed alone, so having a generally supportive network is crucial in the industry. Furthermore, the statistics have shown that mentored individuals, especially women, are more likely to be successful in their careers than those without mentors. Mentees tend to get promoted five times more often and have better retention rates. Thus, never be afraid to seek support.
  • Networking events are invaluable for expanding your career horizons and meeting like-minded individuals. Remember, networking does not have to be formal—it can be as simple as joining a softball team.

Pushing for Increased Representation in Leadership Roles

At Innovid, we affirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, establishing mentorship and internship programs and promoting women in tech. As leaders, it's not just beneficial to guide others; it's also rewarding on a personal level. There are several ways leaders can effect change:

  1. Reflect to make room for growth.
  2. Empower internal advocates.
  3. Set realistic goals.
  4. Focus on progress, not perfection.

Achieving inclusion and diversity in the tech world is about small steps. Besides basic practices such as auditing compensation regularly, encouraging mentoring, offering unbiased training, and ensuring equal access to career opportunities, we should strive to recruit a diverse workforce and cultivate internal growth.

In conclusion, the heightened focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion is spawning change in the tech industry. The increasing number of tech companies crafting diversity plans gives hope for an inclusive future. The technology industry’s dedication to innovation and improvement will, hopefully, result in a brighter, more equitable future for us all.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts or responding to your queries regarding this indispensable topic!


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