Women of Color in Tech

CHAPTER 9When Times Get Tough

“You may shoot me with your words

You may cut me with your eyes

You may kill me with your hatefulness

But still, like air, I rise”

—“Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou

I feel it is important to openly address issues that may make your journey more challenging. It is not my intention to suggest that every woman of color's personal story is filled with hardships and strife or that the issues raised in this chapter are ones you will face. In fact, I would be incredibly happy if none of these issues comes up for you ever—it is my hope that you're in supportive, nurturing environments with people who want you to succeed.

Unfortunately, women of color are more likely to be dealing with several unique situations at home, school, and work than any other group. In this chapter, I will attempt to outline strategies to help you through.

The Need for Grit

It's no secret that women of color have a lot on their shoulders. In addition to dealing with common, everyday issues, we're often contending with more demands on our time and energy, with few resources and support.

Many of the people interviewed for this book did not have a mentorship or someone to give them guidance on how to start and navigate their career.

Many juggled the demands of work, school, and family to complete or advance their education. Angela Dogan is pursuing her doctorate degree in information technology, assurance, and cybersecurity while working full-time. In her path to working for a Fortune ...