Women in Technology

Overcoming challenges associated with a male-dominated industry came with many hurdles. Industries associated with technology, especially in the ‘80s and ‘90s, was vastly run by male ownership and operations. It was difficult to gain respect as a leader and successful business owner as a woman in the field of information technology. There were significant challenges being taken seriously with sales to clients, developing partnership with telecom vendors, attracting dedicated employees and involvement in making a difference with industry associations. 

Luckily, I learned a lot from my mom who started a business in a male dominated world. There’s a lot I wish I would have known as a woman starting a business in technology. Here’s what I would say to all those courageous women jumping into a business owner role:

Be confident and assertive.

You will gain respect by being knowledgeable and by communicating effectively. Listening to the needs of your clients or customers and unwaveringly championing your cause, purpose or “why” is really important to providing a solid foundation for growth.

Once you solidify your plan through market research, having the necessary capital to get you through the lean years will allow you to reinvest and grow. Establishing values – your purpose and vision– will provide the framework for everything you do and the people you work with.

Prior to starting my business, my male colleagues made bets as to how long it would be before my new venture failed. By using this approach, I was able to succeed for 30 years and look where we are today! I should follow up with them and collect my earnings from their bets! 😉

Industry Statistics

Women have been making a come back in male dominated industries such as tech and healthcare. Even with with progress made, we have a long way to go. According to a 2019 article by the SVB, there are several programs in place that companies can utilize to help increase the number of women in leadership positions. These programs include:

• Flexible work environments

• Recruiting/interview techniques

• Leadership development

• Support for female-focused organizations

• Promotion/hiring goals company wide

• Unconscious bias in hiring & promotions training

• Goals to add female board members

• Promotion/hiring goals for c-level positions only

I hope that one day all companies will have a plan in place to provide their employees, men and women, the opportunity to develop the skills to take on leadership roles.

“Women in Technology Leadership 2019” also highlights the percentage of women founders in technology vs men. The image below shows that 28% of startup founders have at least one woman on their team, where as 72% of founding teams are made up of all males.

We believe diversity is key to having a success company and culture. A wide range of beautiful minds is how we take our efforts to the next level.

Strength in diversity

Here is a quote I love…

“We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”

— Max de Pree

Valicom is a certified women-owned business enterprise (WBE) through WBENC. Valicom promtes Supplier Diversity programs and also holds a federal woman owned small business (WOSB) certification. 

Diversity is the art of thinking independently, together.

If you would like to learn more about Valicom or the services we provide, please email us at sales@valicomcorp.com or call 608.274.3515.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: NANCY PECKHAM

Nancy began her career in telecommunications in 1983 as an account executive with Republic Telecom, a regional long distance carrier. She was named district sales manager for the Wisconsin region in 1987 when Republic Telecom was acquired by Mid American Communications. She recognized a need for independent, objective telecommunications consulting which led her founding Valicom. Since its launch in 1991, Valicom has been a leader in providing telecom expense management solutions and serves enterprise and mid-market clients in a variety of industries and verticals across the U.S. Nancy earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, founded and served as president of the Telecommunications Professionals of Wisconsin (TPW) from 1989-1992, and was executive vice president on