Seeing people who look like you in the roles you aspire to have is truly a game-changer.
How is that? Well, it all began when I first fell in love with writing code and solving problems. I remember in 7th grade, back when I was in the Philippines, we were learning about the history of Computer Science. The stories of Grace Hopper, Ada Lovelace, and their brilliance were awe-inspiring; they overcame a tremendous amount of challenges to advance technology. Learning about their experiences gave me a boost of confidence and validation that I can also be a woman in tech.
I have been surrounded by amazing women all my life, from my mom and grandmothers to my aunts and cousins. When I entered the workforce in high school, that's when I realized that I can also be one of the superhero women that I look up to. It started with my manager and supervisors when I was working in the food industry, then to the Masters student I was working with on a research study, then to my managers when I was working in my university's Students' Union, and then again to my manager, other developers, and everyone in my first Software co-op placement. Every step of the way, I learned from all these amazing women. My aspirations that might have seemed like distant stars started to become closer, more reachable.
Then, about 3 months ago, I joined Arcurve! Within this small time frame, I've met so many inspiring women from interns, developers, QA analysts all the way to business analysts, managers, and directors. Seeing them goes beyond representation and inspiration – it's also about knocking down these invisible barriers that can make various areas in tech feel off-limits. It's like saying, "Hey, these spaces are open for you too. Break out your uniqueness and bring it to the table!"
Now, let's talk about diversity and confidence. As a Filipino immigrant, seeing and talking with one of Arcurve's directors, Dina de Belen, is something that I'll always cherish and remember. Her outstanding achievements instill a sense of self-assuredness in me; it's a promise to myself that my goals are, indeed, achievable.
I would also like to give a big shout-out to Anthea Maxwell, Arcurve's Talent Acquisition Manager, for spearheading the Women of Arcurve movement. As a company, Arcurve has taken an active role in promoting and instilling DEI initiatives through partnering with organizations like Women in Tech, Chic Geek, and GEDI Hub to understand how to support women in technology, participating in Workforce Forward, a career fair focused on Indigenous inclusion strategies, partnering with multiple post-secondary colleges and universities, and many more! Recently, Arcurve facilitated an #IamRemarkable workshop for all the remarkable women in the company, which is where the picture is from! Admittedly, there is still a lot of work to be done; however, I truly believe that Arcurve is on the right path for inclusivity.
So, this type of representation isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a powerhouse of empowerment, a megaphone for one's potential. As I witness people who look like me and who've walked a path I can relate to in the industry that I want to be in, it feels like the universe is giving me a nod of approval for everything I've done to be where I am now. And for that, thank you.
