The WTIA’s first Executive Women in Technology (EWiT) Event of 2015 was held January 27th at Deloitte’s downtown Seattle space. Panelists included Chaitra Dutt, CMO of Meylah, Beth Naczowski, Director of Worldwide Customer Education at F5 Networks, and Jessie Woolley Wilson, Chair, President and CEO of Dreambox Learning Inc. A conversation on the topics of coaching, mentoring, and sponsorship was led by event moderator Gillian Crossan, Client Relationship Exec. Director at Deloitte, the event’s sponsor.

EWiT events bring together women holding director/C-level positions at technology companies. The panel started with Crossan stating the distinction amongst the three topics: “a coach talks to you, a mentor talks with you, a sponsor talks about you.”

Between the three incredibly accomplished panelists, there was quite a bit of wisdom and advice being thrown at event attendees.

On mentorship:

“Do your work so people will say, ‘I want to do what she did.” (Beth Naczowski)

“Mentoring is a partnership; it’s leading them to an answer, not showing them how to do it.” (Chaitra Dutt)

“[Mentorship] I savor that, that is about fostering possibilities. Its about the promise, their promise and their possibilities.” (Jessie Woolley Wilson)

On failure:

“Build courage around this idea of failure; its really just learning.” (Wilson)

“I love to fail. It makes you feel humble and you get to reflect on it and learn from it.” (Dutt)

On finding a Coach/Mentor:

“Always ask, ‘what is the impact I want to have? If you know your impact you will find the right kinds of people.’” (Dutt)

“Look beyond your immediate circle of influence because there is a whole world out there that is waiting to meet you.” (Wilson)

With over forty women registered for the event, the WTIA team facilitated a round of word-pairing networking; winners Copy and Paste, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Tweedledee and Tweedledum went home with Mission Ridge Ski Resort lift tickets and signed copies of Spare Parts by Joshua Davis.

Throughout the night, the room was a jumble of nodding heads as attendees intently listened in agreement to the wisdom and knowledge being shared by the panel. As the event drew to a close, Jessie ended the evening with these closing comments: “People always want to know what is the rubric for success—forget all that. Life is so short, feed your passion. And you will find something that is worth the deep sacrifice that provides with you the benefits. Feed your passion.”

The next WTIA event will be Tech in Focus: Hybridization & Migrating Data, on February 4^th, hope to see our members there!