Be the Women in Tech

Although nearly 40% of all privately held firms in the United States are founded by women, only 2% of U.S. venture capital financing is allocated to female-founded firms, according to Harvard Research.

Women in tech are not a rare thing anymore, but the gender gap sometimes is still visible. I was fortunate during my time at Facebook and Instagram, I hardly noticed any gender differences due to gender-balanced teams. My first encounter with gender stereotypes was when I returned to Taiwan to start a business. When my co-founder and I were seeking investments or chatting with mentors, people often assumed I was my co-founder's girlfriend or assistant, directing their conversations solely at my male co-founder. You could clearly feel the difference in the level of attention you received. Fortunately, I had a fantastic co-founder who would immediately clarify that I was the company's co-founder and expected the same level of respect for me. This is important because it allows others to see you. However, I believe that after being seen, it's even more crucial to express yourself confidently and meaningfully, as this is the primary reason you'll gain their respect and attention.

😎 Express yourself confidently and meaningfully +
🔮 Build internal confidence
= 💯

As long as you maintain your confidence and know that your contributions are valuable, you don't need to fear the pressure from your environment. Internal confidence is much more important and valuable than external recognition. Remember, you can't control external factors; the only thing you can change and maintain is your attitude.