dough CEO Kristi Ross was recently named "Tech Woman of the Year" at the Built in Chicago Moxie Awards. The award came just weeks after Techweek Chicago was criticized for sending a sexist ad to a black tie rave, a move that had many in the Chicago tech community furious and caused Crain's Chicago to drop its sponsorship of the conference. It ignited a conversation about how women are perceived in the tech industry and the challenges they face in a field that is dominated by men.
Ross took some time today for a quick Q&A with Chicago Inno about her experience climbing the tech ladder, and she offered some advice for other women entering the industry.
What did it mean for you to win Tech Woman of the Year at last week's Moxie Awards?
It was a huge privilege to be honored as the Tech Woman of the Year by the Moxie Awards. The leaders in the Chicago startup community have made great strides to provide an equal playing field for all women in the technology industry. I’m honored to be chosen among such strong female leaders and mentors in our community, and I’m grateful to Built-In-Chicago and the Moxie Awards for the award.
As the co-CEO of dough, Inc., which includes dough.com and tastytrade, I manage two passionate, driven and hardworking teams. This year, we launched dough, an innovative and educational trading platform, added excellent new informative and entertaining programming on tastytrade, and merged tastytrade and dough.com together to form dough, Inc. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to grow both companies, and it’s great to be recognized for our efforts to educate and inform more people on finance and investing, while keeping them entertained.
What do you think are the biggest challenges today for women in tech?
As a woman who has spent my entire career in finance and technology, I’ve often been the only female in a room full of strong male voices. One of the biggest challenges for women in tech is that they are often perceived as less definitive as males. Because women tend to be multi-taskers, more thorough, and pay attention to important details, they make decisions differently than men. Men make decisions based on high-level insights, and they are often quicker to draw conclusions. However, thoughtfulness and attention to detail are extremely important skills – especially at startups where decisions can make or break an early stage company. Women need to feel confident in their skills, ideas and values, and believe their approach to problem solving is just as effective as men’s.
What advice do you have for young women who are entering the tech industry?
Early in my career, I learned I needed to have an opinion, and just as importantly, speak up and voice it. Too often, women assume the other people in the room are more knowledgeable. Or they sit silently and don’t ask their question, not realizing that many others in the room may not know either. Never assume the people around you are smarter or more knowledgeable. I encourage all women in technology to let their voice be heard. You are in the room for a reason – show your value.
From speaking up often and sharing my opinion, I also learned to have a thick skin when counter opinions rolled back at me. These experiences helped me grow as an employee and ultimately, a CEO, even if they were difficult at the time. Whether it’s asking a question, or sharing an idea, speak up, challenge yourself and put yourself in situations where you grow. Opportunity is all around you. Keep your eyes open for new challenges and opportunities to solve problems. Find your passion and look for a career where you can add value every day.
Photo via tastytrade
