Hello, everyone, and welcome to our session, how to use the power of the pack, women supporting women.I am Wendy Nicholson, a vice president technology and product, leading mergers and acquisitions integration at Salesforce. Previously, I spent a few rewarding years at Equifax where I had the privilege of co leading a women's technology employee resource group. First, it was called WISE, Women Inspiring Solutions at Equifax, and later evolving to WATT, w a t t, Women Advancing Technology Together. My career path in tech from individual contributor to leadership really opened my eyes to the unique landscape and challenges for women. I realized mid career that while individual talent and excellence is essential, collective support is transformative.

This sparked a deep passion in me to actively create environments where women can rise and thrive together. Seeing the impact of women supporting women became a driving force in my work. And someone who has truly amplified that impact on a global scale while also being a fellow coleader for of WISE and WATT is Alejandra Tortia, my buddy. Alejandra, please share your journey and your perspective.

Thank you, Wendy. Hola todos. I am Alejandra Tortilla. As a former senior VP global tech leader at Equifax, I have the privilege of leading both wise and what in collaboration with a great team of women. I am also a passionate multilingual facilitator of the I Am Remarkable initiatives dedicated to empowering women across different cultures and languages to recognize and celebrate their achievements. Being an advocate for women in tech globally, I focus mentorship and community, my journey, both within a global tech organization and through initiatives like I Am Remarkable, has been centered on the belief that mentorship and strong communities are vital for women in technology worldwide.

I've seen firsthand how connecting women, sharing our experiences, and offering guidance can dismantle barriers and create a more equitable and thriving tech industry for all. Wendy, let's start talking about the key topic of today's conversation, the power of the pack.

Thank you so much, Ale. We could talk on and on. We only got a few minutes. But I will say the power of the pack, simply put, women who actively support each other are not just better supported. They achieve greater success, greater confidence, and greater joy in what they do. And when we champion each other, when we share opportunities and experiences, when we talk about our challenges and and challenge each other to be better, you know, we also offer advice and and guidance and support. Then we can create that rising tide that lifts us all. Think of it this way. Your network becomes your net worth, and a network of supportive women is an incredibly powerful asset.

You know, when we did wise, it was definitely a grassroots passionate response for the women in tech who really wanted an environment to support each other, address our and then address our clear need, to connect meaningfully. We focused on building genuine relationships through networking events and not just exchanging cards, but fostering real conversations. Not just exchanging, like I said, cards, but, you know, not just all breakfast and happy hours. Now, frankly, they are fun, and we did do those too. We had sessions on business, conversations on working a room, technical sessions on things like data and cloud engineering. We also had informal mentorship opportunities connecting women across different levels to share their career experiences and insights and then to navigating our corporate environment. Eventually, you know, we established a very strong communication effort, you know, with our own branding and style guide.

It was amazing, these women that took on this kind of roles. Podcast, communications, we prepared quarterly metrics, just to show our leadership the impact that we were making at the company and with these women. And and as we matured, we became the standard for what an ERG looks like, both internally and externally. And, inherently, it increased our company brand by creating these spaces where women were celebrated. You know, that initial groundwork of connection and mentorship within Wise, you know, laid a strong foundation for future growth. Alejandra, can you tell us how an unexpected rebrand became the perfect opportunity to evolve and strengthen these efforts into what became what?

Sure, Wendy. Thank you. And you know what? Women advancing technology together emerged stronger than ever marked by introduction of strategic new pillars, the energy of new volunteers, and a focused communication strategy that highlighted our tangible achievements and impact with supporting metrics. Building this new foundation, our ambition expanded. The we moved towards more structured support system with 600 members Yeah. Launching formal mentorship programs that purse senior leaders with emerging talent. This allow us to more directly address and break down specific barriers women face in tech roles, increasing their visibility and access to opportunities. As an example, what introduced the emotional intelligence pillar in response to profound challenges experienced during COVID-nineteen pandemic? As we witnessed widespread isolation, our center our uncertainties, workplace transformation, we recognize an opportunity to focus on holistic well-being beyond traditional professional development.

This pillar was designed to help our members develop critical skills for navigating complex emotions, building resilience, fostering authentic connections, and achieving greater work life harmony. By incorporating emotional intelligence into our core programming, we empower our community with essential tools to thrive personally and professionally, creating more compassionate and effective leaders in technology. For that pillar, we contract with a coach that help us. Hopefully, she's in in this meeting today, and we did great things together. Right? Right. The another thing is the growth and impact of what were intrinsically linked to our commitment to diversity and inclusion. By actively seeking out and valuing the perspective of women for from various backgrounds, technical expertise, and experiences. We enrich our discussions, gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, and ultimately foster a stronger sense of belonging and more effective solutions for everyone.

That diverse voices fuel our progress. But the challenge always you know, the challenge at this time point was how to create more engagement and have a global impact being a global company. Right? So this is where the empowerment through global initiatives gain visibility and importance, having as a catalyst the I Am Remarkable workshop. My experience as I Am Remarkable goal facilitator, leading workshops in both English and Spanish across numerous countries has underscore a fundamental challenge. Women often struggle to internalize and articulate their accomplishments. This initiative provides a powerful framework to other states. I Am Remarkable empowers women to recognize their value and share their success and apoligetically.

It's about dismantling self doubt and societal norms that can hinder us from claiming our achievements with confidence. It's about understanding that acknowledging your contributions is essential for growth and recognition. And you know, Wendy, having run multiple workshops with more than 400 people across the globe, I heard many times the same issues in Australia, Latin, Europe, US, Canada, lack of confidence in recognizing and articulating their accomplishments, which significantly hinders their career progress.

What's your perspective, Wendy, on this?

So amazing, Ali. And Ali is a gold facilitator. I'm silver. I'm working on it. I remember the day, during the height of the pandemic when the wise leadership team came into the office and took the first IamRemarkable session with the Google rep, Claudia. It was incredibly powerful. The confidence cultivated through IamRemarkable has a tangible impact on career progression. You know, I was able to carry that over to Salesforce, where Salesforce actually has the largest number of certified, I am remarkable facilitators. And last year, we won company of the year with remarkability. You know, we witnessed women becoming more empowered to advocate for themselves, pursuing promotions, negotiating effectively, and taking on leadership opportunities.

It was about building that internal belief that trans translates into external action. We should share our successes without feeling like we were bragging. It is based on facts. It's practice. It's a muscle you have to build. Integrating I Am Remarkable workshops at Equifax amplified the effectiveness of WISE and WATT. It equipped our members with the personal tools to leverage the support systems we had established, leading increased visibility and representation of women lead in leadership roles within the organization. The interconnectedness is so vital. It's the spirit of community extends beyond local initiatives, to our local engagement. It's time to explain, you know, why the local connection with our local wit is so crucial. Locally, you know, the engagement with women in technology based in Atlanta is a natural extension of the principles driving wise and what.

You know, we understood that building strong a strong ecosystem for women, you know, in tech in tech requires collaboration beyond company boundaries, which focus on education, community, and advocacy directly aligns with our mission of empowering women at all career stages.

Local organizations like WID are vital to creating pathways to opportunity for women in the tech sector within their specific communities. They provide crucial networking connections, mentorship pairings, and skill building resources that can directly can be directly accessed and utilized for career development with the local tech landscape. WIT has programs from high school to the boardroom. One call out is our single mothers program, which is a six month cybersecurity program at Interim University. And then support the the support those women to find tech roles beyond their graduation. Hearing women and the impact is incredibly moving and inspiring. I play a local leadership role with WIT as cochair, in the advisory council, and Alejandra has been nominated for WIT's woman of the year, which is quite an honor. You know? Additionally, today, we're here, at this Women Tech Network for women in tech. Right?

It fosters this experience and allows us to learn, share our experiences, and give everybody exposure to women leaders, in tech globally.

It's so inspiring to see that ripple effect, Wendy. I want to also share my perspective on why it's important to be part of an organization as with for individuals and organizations. Right? So participating in with and similar local initiatives allow us to broaden the bridge of mentorship significantly. Experience women can connect with and guide individuals who may not have access to robust internal mentorship programs, fostering a more supportive and interconnected tech community overall. Our engagement went far beyond mere affiliation. It was about active participation and fostering real connections, from what enthusiastically supporting witch Shadow programs offering for high school girls, a glimpse into the tech world, to representing Equifax at WithConnect event to raise crucial funds for their initiatives, we believe in being hands on.

Personally, attending numerous with events allow me to connect with a vibrant community of women, build a strong network of peers and mentors, and directly support a cause I deeply believe in. This active involvement underscores the vital importance of embedding ourselves within the local tech ecosystem, not just to support the next generation, but to build a stronger, more interconnected community for all of us. WIT and similar programs are instrumental in inspiring the next wave of women in tech by showcasing diverse roles models, offering educational programs that spark interest in STEAM fields and creative a supportive community that encourages young women to envision themselves as future leaders and innovators.

With all that said, Wendy, what are the key takeaways that we can share with these people in order to, power the pack?

Yeah. I'm a quickly do this. I know we're running out of time. You know, one is network with purpose. You know, genuinely cultivate connections with women who inspire you and whose growth you wanna champion. Focus on building a network based on a mutual support and shared goals where you actively seek to elevate those around you. And and if you don't have one, build it just like Anna has with women net tech network. They will come. Second is mentorship and coaching are essential. Actively seek out opportunities to mentor and be mentors. Find a coach. Actively find a coach. Share your expertise and insights. Sharing your and insights are is a is powerful, and receiving guidance from experienced leaders can provide invaluable perspectives and support on your journey. Empower self advocacy is number three.

Speak up and celebrate wins. Confidently articulate your accomplishments and actively celebrate achievements of your female colleagues. By making your successes visible, rechallenge biases and culture and a culture of recognition and environment. Ale, your takeaways?

I have three as well. Number one, global perspective matters. Embrace a global perspective. Connect with and support women in tech internationally to build stronger bonds and foster a more inclusive community through diverse insights. Fuel your local ecosystem. Invest your time and energy in organizations like WIT, Women in Tech, through volunteering, mentoring, or attendance to build a stronger support network for women in tech in your community. And the number three, cultivate deep connections. Seek out trusted individuals who will both support and challenge you, fostering your growth and helping you reach your full potential, like you and me, Wendy. Our time is over. Let's close this out.

You're so right, Ali. Ultimately, you know, the strength of our pack is what will propel us forward. Take a minute right now to write down three things to to do related to networking and finding your pack and then finding accountability partner just like I have with Alejandra. I thank all the women and men who really supported us through this, and I thank you all for being here.

Your action starts now. Identify one way you can be a better ally this week and commit to it. Let's build that powerful pack together. Women Tech Network for allowing us this space to share, and thanks to all people in the session for attending and being open to listen. You can click in the QR for question. Have a great day and great sessions.