How to Navigate Career Transitions as an African American Woman in Tech
Women have faced underrepresentation in tech for decades. In 2015, women made up only 25 percent of the total computing workforce — and these numbers are even lower for women of color. According to the NCWIT, just three percent of IT workers are Black women. There are various reasons for these discrepancies, from unconscious racial bias to a lack of mentorship opportunities for people of color.
At CDW, we’re starting the conversation so we can break down barriers and build a better future for all coworkers. We talked to LaTonyia Wade, Senior Professional Services Manager at CDW, to learn more about her transition from an individual contributor to manager.
Overcoming Leadership Challenges
As an African American woman in tech, LaTonyia has experienced underrepresentation throughout her career. “In the beginning when I walked into the room, I was one of a kind, the only African American and only woman. Believe it or not, this actually still happens today,” LaTonyia shared.
“We would attend sales meetings and before introductions, oftentimes the customer would ask, ‘Why didn’t you bring your engineer to the meeting?’ Or I received a strange look when I introduced myself as the product engineer and the subject matter expert,” recalled LaTonyia. “The default was I was someone other than the engineer. I became very good at being an ambassador for myself and articulating my role and making my presence known.”
No one can be better at being you than yourself. Bring those different traits and make sure that you advocate for your presence in the world.
– LaTonyia Wade, Senior Professional Services Manager at CDW
During the early stages of her leadership journey, LaTonyia found comfort in roles that allowed her to lead from behind. “I allowed or supported members of my team to lead innovative ideas and projects, creating a framework that is viewed as a space for collective leadership.”
Emerging as an IT Leader
During the next phase of her journey, LaTonyia shifted from leading from behind to being out front. “For me, I realized that I was hiding behind fear and I simply wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and try a different leadership style. So, a decade ago I joined CDW as a professional services manager. This role would be unique from anything that I’d ever done before,” shared LaTonyia.
LaTonyia reached out to friends and mentors who were already serving and working in roles that led out front. “Over time, I gained more confidence and eventually I began to soar. The moral of the story is to keep developing your leadership style, skills and capabilities.”
LaTonyia’s Career Tips for Women in Tech
As LaTonyia achieves her professional goals, she wants others to learn from her experience so the tech industry will continue to diversify and build diverse leaders. Here are some key tips from LaTonyia for navigating career moves as a woman of color in IT.
Be confident as a woman. Be okay with your femininity and who you are. Sometimes as women, we doubt ourselves and we tell ourselves no before we actually ask the question. Let the others tell you no. But assume the yes until you are told differently.
Establish your presence. Whether you lead from behind or out front, speak in an authoritative manner and own your voice. I think it comes with building your confidence and being able to speak up. Oftentimes we're in a room and say the exact same thing that a male counterpart says, and it’s okay for you to come right back and say, ‘I just said that’ in a respectful tone. Just continue to repeat what it is that you know to be true and continue to occupy that space. I almost feel like it’s a battle sometimes. You get knocked down, you get back up, you get knocked down, you get back up and you just keep putting yourself forward.
Be authentic to yourself. When I first walked into a meeting with my male counterparts, I typically would wear black grays and blues because I didn’t want to stand out. Now that I have gained that confidence, I’ll wear red and pink. When you look good and you feel good, you show up that way. No one can be better at being you than yourself. Bring those different traits and make sure that you advocate for your presence in the world.
Share your ambition and intention. You should have conversations with your direct manager. A good manager is preparing you to take his or her job. And so, it shouldn’t be a surprise that you’re asking for more opportunities for an opportunity to lead out front. Begin having conversations with your managers and project team leads, it’s a matter of having conversations with them as well. It all starts with communication. If you ask not, you have not.
Obtain a mentor and a sponsor. A mentor is a person in any position with experience and advice desirable to others. A sponsor is someone personally involved in your career success and will utilize their network to provide opportunities you couldn’t get on your own. They’re the ones who will speak your name when you’re not present in a room. You need both! Effective communication; communicate and communicate regularly.
Lastly, empower and encourage coworkers who work for you. If you keep them engaged, show your support, you will find that they will be efficient, effective, and happy coworkers.
At CDW, our definition of leadership doesn’t exclude anyone based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or ability. We’re purposefully stepping up our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to build a culture where everyone feels like they belong.
– LaTonyia Wade
Learn more about our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Women have faced underrepresentation in tech for decades. In 2015, women made up only 25 percent of the total computing workforce — and these numbers are even lower for women of color. According to the NCWIT, just three percent of IT workers are Black women. There are various reasons for these discrepancies, from unconscious racial bias to a lack of mentorship opportunities for people of color.
At CDW, we’re starting the conversation so we can break down barriers and build a better future for all coworkers. We talked to LaTonyia Wade, Senior Professional Services Manager at CDW, to learn more about her transition from an individual contributor to manager.
Overcoming Leadership Challenges
As an African American woman in tech, LaTonyia has experienced underrepresentation throughout her career. “In the beginning when I walked into the room, I was one of a kind, the only African American and only woman. Believe it or not, this actually still happens today,” LaTonyia shared.
“We would attend sales meetings and before introductions, oftentimes the customer would ask, ‘Why didn’t you bring your engineer to the meeting?’ Or I received a strange look when I introduced myself as the product engineer and the subject matter expert,” recalled LaTonyia. “The default was I was someone other than the engineer. I became very good at being an ambassador for myself and articulating my role and making my presence known.”
No one can be better at being you than yourself. Bring those different traits and make sure that you advocate for your presence in the world.
– LaTonyia Wade, Senior Professional Services Manager at CDW
During the early stages of her leadership journey, LaTonyia found comfort in roles that allowed her to lead from behind. “I allowed or supported members of my team to lead innovative ideas and projects, creating a framework that is viewed as a space for collective leadership.”
Emerging as an IT Leader
During the next phase of her journey, LaTonyia shifted from leading from behind to being out front. “For me, I realized that I was hiding behind fear and I simply wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and try a different leadership style. So, a decade ago I joined CDW as a professional services manager. This role would be unique from anything that I’d ever done before,” shared LaTonyia.
LaTonyia reached out to friends and mentors who were already serving and working in roles that led out front. “Over time, I gained more confidence and eventually I began to soar. The moral of the story is to keep developing your leadership style, skills and capabilities.”
LaTonyia’s Career Tips for Women in Tech
As LaTonyia achieves her professional goals, she wants others to learn from her experience so the tech industry will continue to diversify and build diverse leaders. Here are some key tips from LaTonyia for navigating career moves as a woman of color in IT.
Be confident as a woman. Be okay with your femininity and who you are. Sometimes as women, we doubt ourselves and we tell ourselves no before we actually ask the question. Let the others tell you no. But assume the yes until you are told differently.
Establish your presence. Whether you lead from behind or out front, speak in an authoritative manner and own your voice. I think it comes with building your confidence and being able to speak up. Oftentimes we're in a room and say the exact same thing that a male counterpart says, and it’s okay for you to come right back and say, ‘I just said that’ in a respectful tone. Just continue to repeat what it is that you know to be true and continue to occupy that space. I almost feel like it’s a battle sometimes. You get knocked down, you get back up, you get knocked down, you get back up and you just keep putting yourself forward.
Be authentic to yourself. When I first walked into a meeting with my male counterparts, I typically would wear black grays and blues because I didn’t want to stand out. Now that I have gained that confidence, I’ll wear red and pink. When you look good and you feel good, you show up that way. No one can be better at being you than yourself. Bring those different traits and make sure that you advocate for your presence in the world.
Share your ambition and intention. You should have conversations with your direct manager. A good manager is preparing you to take his or her job. And so, it shouldn’t be a surprise that you’re asking for more opportunities for an opportunity to lead out front. Begin having conversations with your managers and project team leads, it’s a matter of having conversations with them as well. It all starts with communication. If you ask not, you have not.
Obtain a mentor and a sponsor. A mentor is a person in any position with experience and advice desirable to others. A sponsor is someone personally involved in your career success and will utilize their network to provide opportunities you couldn’t get on your own. They’re the ones who will speak your name when you’re not present in a room. You need both! Effective communication; communicate and communicate regularly.
Lastly, empower and encourage coworkers who work for you. If you keep them engaged, show your support, you will find that they will be efficient, effective, and happy coworkers.
At CDW, our definition of leadership doesn’t exclude anyone based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or ability. We’re purposefully stepping up our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to build a culture where everyone feels like they belong.
– LaTonyia Wade
