How to Navigate a Male-Dominated Space:
A Gift from 4 Leading Immigrant Women in Tech
To conclude Women’s History Month, Scale Without Borders asked 4 immigrant women leaders in tech about navigating male-dominated spaces. Through the lens of being both women and immigrants, we delve into their remarkable journeys and candid insights.
We’re joined by a founder hailing from Brazil, turned venture capitalist now funding other immigrant founders, the ex-president of one of Canada’s historic tech success stories, the editor-in-chief of Canada’s business and tech newsroom, and a founder who raised a sizeable funding round shortly after landing in Canada and starting her business! Their common trait? They’ve all successfully navigated the male-dominated tech space as immigrants and women.
Our guests are:
Purva Gupta is the co-founder and CTO of Daily Blends AI, which offers convenient, affordable, delicious, and healthy food through smart vending machines. With a few successful funding rounds under her belt as a newcomer woman hailing from India, Purva has a thing or two to say about navigating the world of venture capital. Purva is also big on all things artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Jeanne Lam advises growth-stage startups and was president of Wattpad. For those of you who don’t know Wattpad, it is the go-to platform that connects a global community of millions of readers and writers through the power of story. It is also one of the largest tech acquisitions in Canada, with a successful exit in a transaction valued at more than C$700M. Jeanne also serves on multiple for-profit and not-for-profit boards.
Ingrid Polini is the founder of SafetyDocs Global where she managed the development of client-centered solutions and optimized the efficiency of operations globally. Following success with SafetyDocs, she is now a Partner at Maple Bridge Ventures, which invests in game-changing Canadian immigrant founders. Talk about giving back.
April Fong is the executive editor of The Logic, Canada’s business and tech newsroom. She has a keen interest in mentoring aspiring journalists and teaches business journalism at her alma mater, Carleton University. A veteran in media, April previously led BNN Bloomberg's digital news team, served as a digital producer at Financial Post, and was an editor at China Economic Review in Shanghai.
Team Scale: What is it like to work in your space as an immigrant woman in tech? Have there been any challenges (and/or any upsides) to being a woman and an immigrant in tech?
Jeanne: Unfortunately for me, I don’t follow sports, I don’t drink beer... top two ways to fit in at work. I didn't realize how much of a mental load this put on me, until 15 years into my career when I got to Wattpad, where 50% of the employees were people of color and 50% identified as women, and I felt I could thrive as myself. On the other hand, as an Asian woman with its own set of stereotypes, people have underestimated me. So when I show up with my stuff together, sometimes people don’t know what hit them.
Ingrid: I would say that I have had a fortunate experience in the space and know a lot of others who have not been as lucky unfortunately. For me, I feel that there is a sense of being an outsider. Getting questions all the time about your accent or feeling like you are geared towards talking about your personal life when you don’t necessarily want to can leave a feeling of not belonging (i.e. being asked why I moved here, etc). I can understand it comes from a place of curiosity, but it can get exhausting. I would also like to highlight that people will still judge you based on your eloquence in English. And although I don’t experience this as often, I have seen immigrants having their intelligence misjudged due to a stronger accent or wrong pronunciation.
April: There is a lack of diversity in Canadian media. As a female news leader covering business and tech, over the years I’ve learned—and embraced—that my lived experience brings a particularly valuable voice to a newsroom. I’m able to bring another lens to a story, or vouch for a new voice on the cover of a publication. That kind of storytelling is powerful. It not only better reflects the business and tech ecosystem—it can also inspire newcomers to take the plunge into the industry if they see people like themselves, too.
Purva: Working as an immigrant woman in the tech industry is a unique experience that comes with both challenges and upsides. Navigating through the intricacies of establishing a startup in a foreign land while simultaneously breaking barriers in a predominantly male-driven industry has propelled me to cultivate adaptability, resourcefulness, and unwavering determination in pursuit of our company's vision. One notable challenge lies in confronting inherent biases and stereotypes prevalent within the tech community, but being able to inject fresh perspectives into problem-solving and augment the team's ability to devise innovative solutions has helped me overcome hurdles- each obstacle has served as a catalyst for growth and transformation. Furthermore, being part of a diverse community of immigrant women in tech has been a huge source of strength and inspiration. We share our experiences, offer mentorship, and celebrate each other's successes, creating a network of solidarity that helps us navigate and thrive in the industry.
Team Scale: How did your cultural upbringing influence your journey in tech? Were there any specific values that were taught to you that helped and how did you leverage them?
Ingrid: As a Brazilian, I tended to be very averse to debt of any kind. I had to deconstruct my belief that debt should only be seen as a bad thing but rather can be used strategically to the benefit of companies. Additionally, coming from a country that values collectivism, we don’t tend to talk about our accomplishments and a lot of the time it is frowned upon to talk about what you have achieved. In Canada, as a country defined by its “individualistic” culture, I feel like I had to learn to talk more openly about my achievements and the things I have done.
Jeanne: It took me a long time to realize that cultural upbringing shows up intensely at work. My grandfather used to slam his hand on the table if I spoke out of turn. You can imagine how that translates to speaking up to authority years later, and the work it takes to recognize and separate what is culturally created from my natural disposition. I was lucky early in my career to have had a manager who told me to treat everyone in the room of execs as if they were my peers - that permission was invaluable to how I showed up that day. I only wish I had carried it with me to every other room since.
April: My parents left Hong Kong to complete their high school and university studies in Canada. It was not an easy road. Their stories of personal and financial sacrifice (and of course, what they modeled in their work and family life as I grew up) helped instill values of excellence and hard work in me.
Team Scale: What are some non-negotiable personal boundaries that you are committed to setting when it comes to your work and why? How do these boundaries serve you?
Ingrid: My boundaries around my “recharging” time. I love to exercise but I also know it makes me a better professional and person, so having the time to get my training in is definitely a boundary that I have established early on. It can get challenging when managing many different time zones as well as working at all hours of the day. But I do believe that a rested mind is a more productive one. The other boundary that I established early on was not staying on too late at events. I am my most productive in the mornings, need my hours of sleep, and don’t drink any alcohol. I do not see the point of overextending myself and compromising my sleep. I will often go to night work events but leave early to be rested for the next day.
Jeanne: I’ll be very curious to hear what other people say. One that I find helpful in managing the guilt that we feel as working caregivers is that I put away my phone after I’m done with my workday until my kids are in bed. It means that I have dedicated quality time with them even if only for an hour or two, but I don’t allow any work distractions to get in the way, and I prioritize making time for them in that way.
Purva: One non-negotiable personal boundary I maintain is setting aside dedicated time for self-care and personal development. I prioritize allocating specific time each week for activities that nurture my physical, mental, and emotional health. This may include regular exercise, meditation, reading, or pursuing hobbies that bring me joy and fulfillment. Additionally, I invest in continuous learning and development by attending workshops, seminars, or online courses relevant to my field.
Team Scale: What advice would you give to newcomer women looking to break into a male-dominated space?
Ingrid: Get sounding boards. The experiences we go through can be quite isolating, and if you don’t have people that are going through the same things you might start internalizing it and feeling like it is your fault. When you have other women who understand what you are going through, you can share your challenges and feel less alone.
April: You have two worlds at your feet. Use that advantage to expand your network, and share your unique story and gifts with the world.
Purva: Breaking into a male-dominated space as a newcomer woman in tech can be daunting at times and here are some things that have helped me: 1) Enhance your skills: Prioritize honing your technical expertise to bolster confidence and credibility. Utilize online resources and workshops to stay abreast of industry advancements. 2) Network strategically: Actively engage in networking events and professional circles to connect with peers, mentors, and potential advocates who can offer guidance and support. 3) Find allies and mentors: Identify allies and mentors who can advocate for you, provide advice, and help navigate the nuances of the industry. 4) Speak up and assert yourself: Don't be afraid to voice your opinions, ideas, and accomplishments in meetings and discussions. 5) Take risks: Don't be afraid to take calculated risks and pursue opportunities that may stretch your comfort zone. Whether it's volunteering for a challenging project, applying for a new role, or speaking at a conference, taking initiative can lead to new experiences and career advancement. 6) Stay persistent and resilient: Embrace setbacks as learning opportunities, stay focused on your goals, and never lose sight of your worth and potential.
Team Scale: In a few words, what are some traits you believe can help immigrant women advance in tech?
Ingrid: Boldness, Self-Confidence, and Discipline.
Jeanne: Curiosity, Community, and Generosity.
Purva: Resilience, Tenacity, Adaptability.
April: You are not an imposter.
There we have it, a gift from 4 immigrant women leaders in tech. It is thanks to women like them who have paved the way that we’re able to continue to successfully navigate spaces that have been largely dominated by one group. Happy Women’s History Month to all women - including newcomer and immigrant women. We see you.
Scale Without Borders is North America’s leading network for immigrants in tech. It’s a one stop shop that helps newcomers access resources they need to succeed in tech, and employers and partners access brilliant immigrant tech talent and founders.