As we close out International Women’s Month, I want to reflect on a few pivotal moments in my career that made me realize being a woman often required more from me than my qualifications alone.
At twenty-one, I was told my skirt should be shorter while being considered for a promotion.
At twenty-eight, at a different company, I applied for a promotion only to be told I wasn’t eligible because I didn’t have a college degree—despite the fact that the male hiring manager didn’t have one either.
At thirty-five, while raising venture capital for my company, an investor I considered both a mentor and a friend arrived at my home with champagne and asked me to sleep with him.
I was told by a female CEO that another venture investor – who invested in my company – replaces female CEO’s. We were both replaced.
Women-led companies still receive about 2% of venture capital, the same as in 2000. ‼️
At thirty-seven, I invited a well-known venture capitalist to invest in my cyber company. Instead of discussing business, he spent the entire dinner—while introducing me to an angel investor—groping me under the table.
Women aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for our accomplishments to be recognized, for our voices to be heard, and for us to have the opportunity to reach our full potential.
At forty-eight, just after being sworn into public office, I went into the private ensuite bathroom attached to my office and found a magnet on the mirror that said, “SHE who must be obeyed.”
At forty-nine, the head of the governor’s transition team told me, “You’re aggressive,” and following a long pause where he seemed to reconsider his candor after seeing the expression on my face, added, “But in a good way.”
I enjoy working with men. And women. And honestly, I’m not angry. I just want us to acknowledge the reality women have faced, and understand that we still have a long way to go.
I know many women who have had amazing career support. We’re making progress but this recent news on 404’ing women and underrepresented groups is a setback.
Nicole Malachowski, former Commander of the 333rd Fighter Squadron, summed it up perfectly when she responded to being erased from the Department of Defense: “We mark ‘firsts’ to ensure we never go back, and to ensure we keep the door open for the ‘second,’ ‘third,’ and ‘fourth,’ etc.”
Let’s keep pushing forward. For all the women who follow.
hashtag#internationalwomensmonth #hashtag#womeninleadership hashtag#womeninbusiness
Define Yourself
“Her story attracts scrutiny.” That’s what a journalist once wrote about me — and he was right, though his reason
