[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ur newest board member is Diana Dumitrascu, and she has a great perspective on life. She offers this key advice to young women interested in a career in technology: bStop waiting for perfection. It doesnbt exist. Get out there, do your best, and go for it. Itbs very important to believe in your capabilities and skills. If you work hard every day and become a little better than you were yesterday, you are ready!b
Baan Alsinawi, Girls in Tech (GIT) Washington, D.C., Managing Director, was fortunate enough to chat with Diana recently and get her thoughts on GIT and how it can help other women. Read the full interview below, and feel free to ask Diana some of your own questions at our next event on September 24!
What interested you in joining the D.C. Girls in Tech board?
Girls in Tech is a great nonprofit organization that supports women all around the world in feeling confident and represented in the tech world. Working with such an organization is a privilege.B Therebs something very special about connecting women to help and learn from one another. I joined the GIT board because I wanted to contribute to organizing events that help women grow.
Tell us about yourself and what you hope to accomplish with GIT.
I am a data engineer with a background in computer science and data analytics. I grew up in Romania and Canada. I love traveling and learning from different cultures and people. I believe that every single one of us has something to offer, and thatbs why I think itbs so important to learn from one another. My goal for this GIT chapter is to become a place where women can come together to build and be part of a network of women passionate about technology and entrepreneurship. I want to organize events that connect mentors to mentees, instructors to learners, and groups of friends with other groups of friends.
Have you been involved in other leadership roles outside of work?
In the past, I initiated and organized a program that introduced middle school and high school students in my local community to computer science concepts. Not enough students choose to take computer science classes or think about a technical career. Thatbs why I took the initiative to organize bootcamps where young students in my community have the opportunity to learn and understand what computer science is all about.
If you were able to give advice to your younger self, what would that be?
Stop waiting for perfection. It doesnbt exist. Work hard. Get out there, do your best, and go for it. When I was younger, I missed many opportunities just because I didnbt think I was ready, or well qualified, or perfect enough. Now I realize that itbs very important to believe in your capabilities and skills. If you work hard every day and become a little better than you were yesterday, you are ready.
What do you love most about working in the tech world?
The tech industry is fast, high impact, and always changing. Technology continues to change every industry around us. It feels very empowering to be part of an exciting industry that has such a high impact on our society. There are a lot of opportunities to grow and learn new things.
What do you believe is the biggest hurdle women face in pursuing a career in technology?
Quite simply, feeling like an outsider as a result of being underrepresented in the field. I think being part of a group that supports and encourages each other will help overcome that feeling, and thatbs one area where I think an organization such as GIT can play a critical role.
