BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Tech Women Triumph: From IBM And AT&T To Tomorrow's Startups, Stereotypes Are Out

This article is more than 7 years old.

August brought us another array of powerful women in tech whose stories were enlightening and enormously inspiring.

From the IBM and AT&T female execs fantastically taking apart stereotypes, to the brilliant young women transforming tomorrow, there have been huge breakthroughs.

Here are some of the highlights from the month.

Breaking Down Barriers

Harriet Green, general manager of IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT), commerce and education, told me her belief that women in business and in tech industries ought to be willing to make waves and dismantle the stereotypes that have characterized corporate structures for too long.

“The more uncomfortable something is, the more we know we are driving change,” she insists.

LGBTQ: Standing Up To Be Counted

As a lead member of technical staff at AT&T, Ginger Chien is familiar with the challenges of working in a tough tech environment but she also has a lot to say about the experiences of LBGTQ professionals in the field.

Chien told us this month some of what it takes to pursue a career in the tech industry while dealing with gender identity issues - and how important it is to support LGBTQ employees.

The Richest Women in Tech

In August, Forbes revealed the names of the world’s 100 richest technology professionals and entrepreneurs and the fact that only five of the people on that list of billionaires were women.

Nonetheless, the details of precisely who the five wealthiest tech industry women are made for very interesting reading.

Innovation With A Purpose

Elsewhere we heard from two young women whose innovations and fledgling business is aiming to save thousands of lives in developing countries.

Award-winning Sona Shah and Teresa Cauvel from Neopenda explained how their monitoring devices could soon be significantly improving the survival prospects of seriously unwell newborn babies around the world.

Startups And The Fight On Fear

In other startup news this month - a fascinating new film, 'Startup Generation', takes a brilliant look at young female and male entrepreneurs in the US, and the issues they face.

Self doubt is the first thought they act strongly against, in their pursuit of great success.

Taking a Leap Into The Unknown 

There was also the story this month of two women who seized an opportunity - to build their own business based on their experiences and knowledge gained while working in the digital marketing sector in Arizona.

Christine Vieira and Jamie Reardon told Forbes contributor Laura K Inamedinova about the leap into the unknown that saw them create Find Your Influence, a SaaS marketing technology platform and now an ambitious and growing startup company.

Driving Analytics Startup Hires Warrior

Finally, we learned in that the driving analytics startup Zendrive has secured a high profile addition to its boardroom with the US CEO of the Chinese electric car company NextEV - and former CTO at Cisco - having committed her services.

Padmasree Warrior is among the most highly respected female business leaders currently working in the tech industry, and she told told Recode her plans for the future.

 

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedInCheck out my website