Women in STEM, particularly in information technology, face unique challenges in gender and gendered representation, and conference organizers Pax8 kicked off their second Beyond conference with a reception for women and their allies.
Pictured from left to right are Pax8 CMO Caroline Giles, Evergreen VP of M&A Sydney Hockett, 3rdmill CEO Natalia Scheidegger and Microsoft Worldwide Distribution Leader Michelle Curtis.
The annual Pax8 Beyond conference kicked off on Sunday evening with an inspiring Women in Tech happy hour and panel hosted by Pax8 CMO Caroline Giles. The event featured insightful discussions with notable channel leaders, including Sydney Hockett, VP of M&A at Evergreen, Natalia Scheidegger, CEO at 3rdmill, and Michelle Curtis, Worldwide Distribution Leader at Microsoft. They dug deep into the unique challenges women face in the technology and IT channel industry. Here are some key takeaways from their conversations:
The wage gap is real, and many people feel it.
A unique impact of gender disparities is the constant battle for leadership in engineering, software development, and technology. Women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, creating unique challenges for leaders in the field. According to the panelists, while some believe the battle is all in their heads, compensation equity and the gender pay gap is real.
“The reality is, you’re probably working for less,” Curtis said, encouraging women to call on male allies when negotiating new roles and responsibilities: “Take advantage of male mentors you respect to practice negotiating,” and don’t be afraid to ask for allies’ help.
When it comes to AI, the sci-fi gap is even wider: “Only 4% of AI startups are run by women,” Curtis says.
Building psychological safety
Scheidegger, CEO of Australia-based MSP 3rdmill, emphasized the need to “build community and build with people who want you to succeed.” She stressed that vulnerable moments can be a path to better leadership and more profitable business decisions. Scheidegger’s organization sets aside time each week to foster an environment where failure is tolerated and encouraged. “We rely on the value of psychological safety. Without it, you can’t build a culture of innovation,” Scheidegger concluded.
Hockett agreed with the need to increase psychological safety for women: “Create a safe space without dropping your expectations,” she said.
Scheidegger encouraged the men in the room to offer their allies and support, suggesting that we all “recognize the silent suffering that women experience because of their gender.”
Conclusion
The panel ended with each panelist sharing one piece of advice for women.
Hockett suggested the women expand their community: “Build a bench. Build a group of people who support you.”
Scheidegger told the audience, “Don’t be too scared. Men are probably [the fear] anyway.”
Curtis took a more philosophical approach, suggesting women seek out roles and opportunities that energize them: “If there’s something that’s really interesting and brings you joy, do it. Let it bloom where you’re planted.”
Finally, Giles said, “A career is a jungle gym, not a ladder. Don’t be afraid to jump around.”
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