Kathy Caprino at Forbes.com wrote a great article called The Unvarnished Truth About Being A Female Leader In Tech (May 17, 2019). The article profiled Rachel Mushahwar, a senior executive at Intel. Mushahwar discussed the challenges of being a woman in the technology field and the related sacrifices and career choices .
The Truth of a Twisted Career Path
Mushahwar comments on her career path – wishing she could say that building a career as a woman in technology was easy or guilt free:
But those aren’t the unvarnished truths. The truth is hard to hear, harder to accept, and harder yet to change. A rewarding career seldom follows a straight path. There are always sacrifices along the way.
Rachel Mushahwar as cited in The Unvarnished Truth About Being a Female Leader in Tech by Kathy Caprino
Balancing Family and Work
As the mother of four young children, Mushahwar must balance family needs with a rigorous executive role and extensive travel. She relates a story of frequently being asked how she balances kids and travel and work. Men, on the other hand, never get asked the same questions.
Research of Work and Family Solutions
The research covered in Equal Opportunity In Work And Family Solutions reinforced Mushahwar’s experience. Work and family balance affects both men and women. But women continue to bear the brunt of the responsibilities – especially in dual career relationships.
Gender Equity Progress at Intel
Mushahwar also acknowledges the progress that Intel is making toward gender equity in their organization. According to Mushahwar, Intel hit equal representation of women and minorities in October 2018. They also provide financial support to the next generation of women by supporting programs that expose girls to STEM and coding. Intel stands out from other technology organizations that have a poor track record with diversity and gender equity.
Mushahwar provides a realistic view of the challenges faced by a woman in technology. She acts as a role model for how to make it all work.
