Women in Tech Square: Where Their Confidence Comes From
Thanks to the advocacy of women by strong women, the month of March was proclaimed by the U.S. Government as National Women’s History Month in the late 1980s. What originated as a week of recognizing the vital role of women in American history grew into a month-long celebration after wide-range support by politicians, national leaders, and advocates.
On our social platforms throughout the month, we celebrated this monumental occasion by highlighting strong women in our community right here at Tech Square. And as Women’s History Month comes to a close, we connected with them – and a few more exceptional women in our community – because we wanted to know: Where does their confidence come from?
“My confidence comes from watching generations of women before me ‘make due’ and overcome obstacles effortlessly. My parents, grandparents, and other elders have always reminded me to strive for the best, and that I am always one choice away from having what I want. [This] taught me to choose my path wisely and persevere through challenges. [It also instilled] enough confidence [in me] to be brave and to try things without fear of consequences or failure.”
— Asha Morton, Founder, Launch Advocacy Brand
“I would say confidence for me comes from within and through self-love and care. I find self-confidence by being aware of the role I play in everyday interactions and recognizing my contributions to collaborative efforts.”
— Soniya Bhagat, Researcher, Georgia Tech Structural Engineering and Materials Laboratory
“My confidence comes from believing in myself and knowing my worth, aside from the achievements and accomplishments I’ve earned throughout my life. I haven’t always been confident when it comes to the work I do, but I have focused on changing my attitude and mindset – and now I know that the things I am creating are worthy. From getting into SCAD, moving here from another country, and adapting to life on my own, I feel more and more confident in each decision I make. And my hard work has paid off – I recently was presented with the Shark Tank of Wellness award and an ADDY award for my work on a Spotify app extension and campaign that focused on uniting Americans through music.”
— Krysta Silva, Program and Content Development, Tech Square ATL Social Club
“My confidence comes from surrounding myself with people who believe in me and repeating positive affirmations to myself (as needed). Sometimes I give myself a little pep talk, like ‘You got this.’ I'm so grateful to have positive people in my life (especially my husband, Paul Dunn), who have my back. On the flip side, I've had to shed toxic people from my life as well. Live. Laugh. Learn.”
— Caroline Dunn, VP of Marketing, Wahsega
“My confidence has come from different influences throughout various stages of my life. As a child, my parents initiated my confidence by instilling in me that I could be anyone or do anything I wanted, as long as I put my mind to it and worked hard. As an adolescent, my confidence came from my strong circle of friends who were thoughtful sounding boards and provided me with a great sense of security, especially in those pivotal years. As I matured into a young adult, my teachers, mentors, and peers were sources of confidence for me, as I was often and repeatedly encouraged to pursue my ideas and obtain my goals – no matter what they were. And now my confidence shines from within – I have the fortitude and wherewithal to be the person I've always aspired to be and it's all in part to the many amazing people in my life who have helped support and nurture me along the way.”
— Lorin Willen, Marketing Director, Collaborative Real Estate
“My confidence comes from my upbringing, recognizing my own accomplishments, and the support of my community. Thanks to my parents, I spent parts of my childhood in different cities across continents, which taught me how to work productively with other people from diverse backgrounds and ways of thinking. In navigating my career path in technology, I know I can always lean on my peers, allies, and mentors in this community for support.”
— Cathleen Madrona, Partnerships and Member Experience, Tech Square ATL Social Club
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Fortune, startups founded by a woman or a group of women received 2.7 percent of the total venture capital funding in 2019, which is a record high. Additionally, only 37 of the CEOs in Fortune 500 companies are women as of 2020, which is also a record high.
So, who are some women in history you know of whose accomplishments aren’t getting the recognition they deserve? Additionally, who are some of the strong women in your life and how have they made a difference in your career or life in general? Let us know in the comments below.