Say hello to the true Renegades and celebrate women in the tech industry.
I want you to picture someone who works in the tech industry. Really, sit down and think about it. What sort of person are they? What do they look like?
Given that the blog title calls out Women in tech, the results are probably a little bit skewed, but if you were to go out into the world and ask anyone, the person they describe would probably be on the nerdy side, maybe a bit awkward, and chances are they are, surprise, a man.
To test my theory, I reached out to a small yet diverse sample of people and asked them to describe what someone in the tech industry looks like. Except for one person who asked me to specify if I wanted them to describe a man OR woman, everyone in this exercise described a man in some form. (In every single account of these fictional tech-dudes, they were all wearing glasses and khakis, which probably means something, but alas, we don’t have time to go down that rabbit hole today.) As a female writer who often interacts in the tech community, I was surprised by my own internal biases.
The first type of person that came to mind was an abomination combination of a stereotypical Silicon Valley tech bro mixed with a wiry nerd stuck in a basement call center fielding support calls. I shouldn’t have been that surprised with the overall results, as it is no secret that the tech industry is traditionally male-dominated, with only about 25% of professional tech positions being held by women.
Meet our True Renegades at Digital Renegades…
Sheena De Guzman
Social Media Manager at Digital Renegades for 1 Year
Have you seen any of Digital Renegades’ social posts in the wild or interacted with them personally? In this digital age, social media is often the first “face” that anyone might see when interacting with a company or brand.
Well, on the other side of that screen, as that first “face” of Digital Renegades, Sheena is hard at work and has set goals to drive brand awareness, enhance engagement, and maintain a solid online presence for the company. She is responsible for a handful of different aspects behind the curtain of social media. In her own words, this “includes creating engaging content tailored to our target audience, copywriting for posts, editing graphics to enhance visual appeal, and scheduling posts for optimal reach and engagement. Additionally, I monitor analytics to track performance metrics and stay updated with the latest trends in social media marketing.”
Not only is content creation involved in this position, but there is also a need for active engagement with an audience. Sheena strives and succeeds in creating a positive and unique interactive experience for followers that sets Digital Renegades apart.
A Week in the Life of…
My typical workday starts with checking social media notifications and reviewing scheduled content posts to ensure they align with our brand’s visual identity. I then edit graphics and reels for the next weeks and craft engaging stories on platforms like Facebook and Instagram to captivate our audience. I have meetings with Kevin and the team for future postings and update me with upcoming website launches. In addition to content creation, I analyze competitor strategies to stay ahead of industry trends and ensure our digital presence remains competitive. —Sheena
Follow Your Passion
What excites me most in the industry is the opportunity to connect people with their target audience and help bring their digital presence to life. I’m passionate about leveraging the power of social media and digital marketing strategies to create meaningful connections between businesses and their customers. Seeing brands thrive and succeed online due to our collaborative efforts is incredibly rewarding, and it’s what drives my passion for this work.
Nancy Marin
Executive Assistant at Digital Renegades for 2 Years
Nancy is the backbone of Digital Renegades, ensuring organization and structure for both employees and clients alike. With an education and background in HR, and Accounting, Nancy never saw herself as a tech-savvy person, but looking back on it now, it all makes sense. She has a passion for learning and has eagerly soaked up information and new tool sets that have catapulted her into a position of go-to personal for tech needs for her friends and family. She is genuinely excited to grow her skillset and knowledge, and she fosters this love of learning within the team across all levels while empowering the team to grow themselves.
A week in the life of…
Usually, the week starts with a meeting with leadership to discuss the week’s to-do’s. Then, it is time to review the emails and organize client requests, outstanding tasks, client communication, and relaying new client requests to the Digital Renegades team. Every week has a similar flow. However, every week requires flexibility, as most weeks include special client requests. These requests include recruitment activities, payroll preparation, social media, and blog post reviews. Not to mention new proposal preparation and, from time to time, completely new things like get a catering for an event or find someone to mow the lawn!
Follow Your Passion
“Something I like about the tech industry is that it is constantly evolving and improving. Nowadays, technology is almost everywhere, not only in our pockets( I.e., phones and computers), where we have almost everything a few clicks away, but also facilitating improvements in health, space exploration, and cleaner energies, to mention some things.” –Nancy
Hannah Nonan
Web designer at Digital Renegades for 3 Years
Hannah embraces her position in web design as an art. When presented with what essentially boils down to a blueprint or outline of what a website one day hopes to be, Hannah marries beauty and functionality through web design to bring digital spaces to life. Looking at her work, it is no surprise that Digital Renegades has won a handful of design awards.
Hannah has an extensive background in technology and web design, and while she spent some time in other career capacities, she could not escape the siren song of web design.
“Tech never fails to amaze me. It’s beautiful and makes our everyday lives easier. That’s something I want to be part of,” Hannah confesses.
A week in the life of…
A typical work week generally starts with Monday meetings, general site maintenance, and updates. The rest of the week involves building sites and handling support tickets. Committed to educating and empowering the team, some days creating video recordings and feedback to help grow and develop skillsets for the entire team.
Follow Your Passion
I am passionate about building interactive sites. As much as I love Front-End Development, I also love building solid relationships through superior support as I find fulfillment in handling client support tickets – addressing concerns and ensuring they are resolved effectively not only demonstrates my commitment to client satisfaction but also allows me to showcase my problem-solving skills. –Hannah
March 8th is International Women’s Day!
This day of celebration has a history dating back to 1911, when across Europe, women joined together to promote equal rights and women’s right to vote. It wasn’t until 1977 that the United Nations adopted the holiday, the day to promote women’s rights and world peace. For some more fun trivia and an interesting read on International Women’s Day, read here.
Empowerment, Experience, and What Comes Next
Sheena
As a woman in tech, I’ve found it empowering to break away from traditional gender roles and be part of something wonderful in the tech industry. While it’s true that men have historically dominated this field, I’ve witnessed a shift towards greater inclusivity and diversity, which has been inspiring to see.
Since joining the tech industry, I’ve noticed positive shifts toward greater gender diversity and inclusivity. More women are taking on roles across various tech sectors, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives. There’s also been a noticeable push for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in companies, which is fantastic. But, of course, there’s still room for improvement. I’d like to see more efforts to close the gender pay gap and ensure equal opportunities for women to advance in their careers. Additionally, I think investing in STEM education and mentorship programs for girls is crucial. Overall, I’m hopeful that with continued advocacy and action, we can create a tech industry where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.
Nancy
One thing that stands out is the incredible organization and efficiency many women bring to their work in tech. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside talented and driven women who know exactly what they’re doing and how to get things done smoothly and productively. It’s truly inspiring to see how they balance their professional responsibilities with other aspects of their lives, such as supporting their families, managing household tasks, and still dedicating themselves to their careers.
I would love to see more Latino representation, especially more women, in the tech industry as developers, coders, designers, and beyond!
Hannah
As a woman in tech, I often encounter surprise when I share my profession in casual conversations. While these reactions are unexpected, they create opportunities for connection with others with similar interests. But the most memorable experience for me was when my sibling expressed interest in pursuing a tech-related education, inspired by my example.
Since joining the tech industry, I’ve noticed a positive shift with more women entering the field, which brings me joy. However, I believe there’s still room for improvement in promoting diversity and inclusion. I’m passionate about encouraging more women and younger generations to join this thriving industry.
Why Digital Renegades?
One of Digital Renegades’ founders is a woman. Shelly Abrams still holds an active leadership role within Digital Renegades and is instrumental in cultivating an environment of authentic camaraderie and professional development.
All team members are given opportunities for professional development, leadership opportunities, flexibility, and a healthy work-life balance.
Aren’t words wonderful? Take the word renegade, for one.
Renegade (ren.e.gade), adjective: having rejected tradition SEE UNCONVENTIONAL. This International Women’s Day and every day, Digital Renegades is committed to disrupting tradition, empowering women, and promoting diversity in the tech industry.
For Women Looking to Break Into Tech
Our advice for women looking to join the tech industry is simple: believe in yourself and your capabilities. Get to know yourself. Are you into problem-solving, or do you prefer colors and patterns? Know what interests you most in the tech industry, and harness your superpower.
Don’t let anyone or anything convince you that you’re not cut out for it just because of your gender. You are powerful, capable, and worthy of success in this field.
Embrace your strengths, be confident in your abilities, and don’t be afraid to pursue your passions. Read, be informed, stay current, and don’t feel intimidated. Keep on trying until it works.
So, go ahead and chase your dreams with determination and resilience. Remember that diversity brings innovation, and your unique perspective is invaluable.
You’ve got this!
Looking for more resources on how to support and empower women in the tech industry?
Check out these other resources here:
International Women’s Day Education Kit
Organizations Leading in Women’s Leadership Development
STEM Grants and Education for Women-Owned Businesses
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