Back in the 1990s during my Junior College days, I was the only female computer science student in class. I had a brother, so being a class rep for a dozen playful boys wasn’t any too different for me, I played Street Fighter in class too.
There were also more males in technology, whether in University or when I joined the workforce. Working with them, there were ups and downs, but it didn’t quite bothered me if I went out with girl friends for lunch, and the guys went for theirs. My managers gave me opportunities to grow and lead a team, and I was in a comfortable place where people know I can code well.
When I changed jobs, things were harder. I once went to an interview with a panel of male architects and engineers. Some of them couldn’t look at me in the eye, even before I speak. While I was in my 30s already, and have led major technology platform changes, they don’t want a young looking female technical lead, their “eyes” told me.
Then I joined Microsoft. It was a shock, how well I was treated as an Asian, and a female developer, with my not-so-perfect English. My managers were encouraging, and they did not doubt me, they taught me a lot of stuff. I had an interesting job where I could work with Art, Human Interactions and User Experience. It was eye-opening, where my long-lost skills in these areas come into play. They told me it was very rare to find developers like me who could do what I can do. I loved the work, it opens up my mind to embrace UX design, and how I can build software that was better for people.
When I returned home to Singapore, gender bias was again obvious. While I can map out directions in my head without rotating paper maps, my manager would say to me that typically females are lacking in spatial orientation skills. That was when I was proposing a software design to help people with difficulty in this area.
While there were more such cases when I was meeting clients in consulting, I would not be able to change mindsets overnight. Instead, I took a different route, I learnt a lot and took certification exams to prove that I can master subjects in technology easily. Where I cannot change biasness in society, there are paths to achieve the same, but alas sometimes a longer path. Young female engineers told me they want to be like me, that is encouraging.
Joining Microsoft again, I was very appreciative and grateful that Satya built a culture for diversity and inclusiveness. Leaders recognize that having a diverse and inclusive workforce would make the company so much better! Looking back at my career, I have lost a lot of time where opportunities were lacking in a society that is bias.
If you are an outstanding woman in technology, come join Microsoft where you can be treated fairly.
Thoughts 