Skip navigation
Women of Color in Tech
Book

Women of Color in Tech

A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators

Wiley, 2020 more...

Buy the book


Editorial Rating

7

getAbstract Rating

  • Well Structured
  • For Beginners
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

This youth-oriented self-help guide will appeal to anyone considering a career in tech – especially those just launching their careers, and, of course, women of color. As technical specialist Susanne Tedrick explains in the opening and concluding chapters, the “standard career advice” genre doesn’t speak to the experiences of women like her. Nevertheless, the bulk of the book does the service of focusing on contemporary skills-building and job-seeking advice applicable to all women – and men too – at the start of their careers.

Summary

Tech careers offer enormous rewards, but also challenges – especially for women of color.

Women constitute only about 25% of the US tech workforce – a number that hasn’t budged since 2007. Within this group, Black women make up a small minority, and find themselves mostly in support and administrative roles. Nearly all employees of color are forced to deal with bias. Regular microaggressions, bullying, pay inequities, and the stigmas of tokenism and affirmative action often erode Black women’s resolve to pursue or continue tech careers. The number of Black women in tech has declined by 13% since 2007. 

Parents, teachers and society in general still subtly discourage women from science, tech, engineering and math (STEM) professions – whether consciously or not. For women of color who do gravitate toward tech, private grants and loans often prove more difficult to obtain. Women of color, in general, have less time to prepare for college, are more likely to juggle work with studies and/or face other external pressures not endured by their white counterparts. Only&#...

About the Author

Northwestern University graduate Susanne Tedrick works as a technical specialist for a Fortune 500 firm. In addition to writing and speaking about women of color in the tech field, she volunteers with organizations that help women of color succeed.


Comment on this summary

More on this topic

Related Skills

Advance Your Career
Be Emotionally Intelligent
Become a Self-Driven Learner
Communicate Effectively
Digital Transformation
Agriculture Industry
Automotive Industry
Construction
Discover Economy
Finance Industry
Healthcare Industry
Manufacturing Industry
Media and Entertainment Industry
Retail Industry
Telecommunications Industry
Enable Digital Organization
Executive Leadership
Generate and Qualify Leads
Human Resources
Lead Yourself
Leadership
Live Well
Manage Learning and Development
Market Insights by Industry
Master Interpersonal Skills
Personal Growth
Sales
Soft Skills
Understand AI
Future of Construction
Tech Impact on Economy
Plan Your Career
Tech Impact on Ethics
Succeed in a New Job
Discover AI Use Cases in the Food and Beverage Industry
Discover AI Use Cases in the Media and Entertainment Industry
Adopt a Learning Habit
Discover AI Use Cases in the Agriculture Industry
Discover AI Use Cases in the Telecommunications Industry
AI Transformation
Future of Healthcare
Future of Manufacturing
Career
Navigate Career as a Woman
Discover and Understand Internet of Things
Understand AI Impact on Work
Discover AI Use Cases in the Automotive Industry
Tech Impact on Work
Future of Automotive
Become a Mentee
Future of Work
Discover AI Use Cases
Tech Industry Challenges
Build Your Presence
Future of Telecommunications
Technology Industry
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Ace Job Interviews
Future of Finance Industry
Tech Industry Case Studies
Discover and Understand Robotics and Automation
Manage Remuneration
Build Strong Relationships
Develop Your Personal Brand
Craft a Personal Elevator Pitch
Reskill and Upskill Employees
Tech Industry Best Practices
Enhance Your Skill Set
Tech Industry Regulation
Future of Media and Entertainment
Discover AI Use Cases in the Technology Industry
Future of Agriculture
Future of Retail
Identify Your Development Needs
Search for a Job
Discover and Understand Digital Technologies
Discover Latest AI Advances
Network Strategically
Emerging Work Technologies
Future of Tech Industry
Update Resume and Portfolio
Negotiate Job Offers