How Identity Has Influenced a Global ISV Operations Supervisor at ServiceNow's Career
As a woman in a male-dominated tech field, Allison's career progression required cultivating confidence to assert oneself in meetings ("keep your place...you're meant to be there"), and seeking mentorship from other women to navigate office dynamics and challenging situations ("how do I handle this?"). This involved building a supportive network for mutual feedback and advice on handling workplace complexities.
Overcoming Challenges, Mentorship, Networking, Workplace Dynamics, Confidence
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Allison Kulp
Global ISV Operations Supervisor
ServiceNow, Inc.
Loyola University Maryland , 2009
University of California Los Angeles -Executive MBA anticipated 2024
Business Management & Admin
Technology
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Overcoming challenges as a woman in tech: Allison highlights the importance of assertiveness and confidence in meetings, even when facing interruptions. She emphasizes the need to hold your ground and ensure your voice is heard.
2. Seeking mentorship and networking: Allison stresses the value of finding mentors, both within and outside of your immediate team, to gain advice on navigating office politics and handling challenging situations. This includes learning from more experienced colleagues and building a supportive network.
3. Building a supportive network: Allison recommends joining groups and building a peer network of women in tech to share experiences and gain mutual support. This collaborative approach helps in navigating various professional challenges and learning from others' experiences.
Transcript
Allison, as a woman in tech, how has that impacted the way you navigate your career?
Tech can be very diverse, but there are times when you might be the only woman in a meeting or call. You just have to hold your ground and know that you belong there. You are meant to be in that room, on that call, and leading that team.
Anyone can get interrupted. Sometimes, it depends on who it is. You want to be assertive, but also convey that you had something to say.
It's important to have a certain level of professionalism and a certain level of assertiveness. Know that you have authority in that room. You are meant to be there if you are on that call.
If you're on a team where you might be the only woman, find a mentor in another team. Have lunch or coffee with them and see how they handle their role. Ask for feedback, like how to handle an argument with a manager, especially if it felt like they were being rude.
This is especially helpful if they've been at the company or in their role longer, or are older than you. They might have good ways of handling conversations and navigating office politics. They can help you navigate situations that aren't going well.
Most importantly, know that you have a place and possess that confidence. For many people, this doesn't come naturally. Having mentors, other women in tech or business, and joining a group is beneficial. It's about mutual feedback on how others handle situations you might be experiencing.
Having that peer network is really good advice.