The Power of Authenticity with Elaine Montilla AVP CIO The Graduate Center, CUNY

Let’s talk about the power of mentoring POC within the ranks of corporate America to bring about change. Women of color can’t stand in line to be picked for leadership roles, we have to ask for the opportunities and not be afraid to take that step. Elaine Montilla has put that power into her TEDx Talk, The Value of Mentoring Women and Minorities in Tech. and also stating that staying feisty in tech is a strength. In this podcast, we talk about the journey into tech, coming from the Dominican Republic at age 16 not knowing English, to the lack of leadership within ERG’s groups at big tech, which Elaine has written about on her website, 5xminority.com, as a Forbes Technology Forum contributor writer. As strong women in tech, our challenges to our ascent into leadership roles, C-Suite or just starting our business, is so exhausting that we need to find our support communities that are led by mentors or internal leadership that are not always within your company, University or household! As she has stated, “we need new voices at the table or bring the table you built with you!” YES! We are both aligned in this purpose as our path, to keep building the confidence bridge and to be mentors to those who have a hard time seeing themselves going into leadership roles or opportunities that are not reflected in the tech industry or in STEM. We ended on Elaine’s poetry “How Dare You Get Angry”, which summed up our whole conversation, be your authentic self and challenge the status quo! We agreed that we need to trust ourselves more and that you can do what you put your mind to, and ask for support in those larger opportunities. We See YOU and keep going! We got you!  Gracias.