There are some antiquated laws that are still on the books when it comes to gender equality throughout the United States.
In Carrizozo, New Mexico, appearing “unshaven” is illegal for women. This is also the state where a law technically prevents women from pumping their own gas or changing a flat tire.
Supposedly, there is still a law in Michigan that doesn’t allow a woman to get a haircut unless her husband signs off.
In Carmel, California, there’s a law that prevents anyone from wearing a shoe with a heel over 2 inches without a permit from City Hall; although this one applies to anyone, not just women.
While most of these laws are not regularly enforced, they are still a glimpse into the legal protections that are still lacking — or were only recently changed — for women in the United States.
Unfortunately, there are numerous examples.
The Washington Post reported that in nearly half of U.S. states a rape conviction is required in order to terminate parental rights; this is a legal conviction that sticks less than 1 percent of the time. In Michigan it was only in 2023 that employers and schools were barred from discriminating against a Black employee or student for wearing a natural hairstyle — which disproportionately impacts Black women who are more than twice as likely to experience discrimination due to their hair.
There are still miles to go when it comes to women’s rights, especially in the workplace.
Women are still frequently passed over for promotions and experience a significant gap in pay, compared to male counterparts. They also often receive retribution for attending to needs, like domestic labor and childcare, that disproportionately fall to women.
On this Women’s Equality Day, it’s especially important to highlight the workplaces that make a concerted effort to provide women in tech equitable support. Built In New York spoke with four women in tech about the challenges they have faced in the workplace and how they overcame them.
Zocdoc is a healthtech company that builds products and offers services that simplify and streamline the overall healthcare journey for patients and providers.
Describe your experience as a woman in tech. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?
After becoming accustomed to being one of the only women in most of my college math classes and presenting to male-dominated leadership teams during most of my internships and early professional roles, I unconsciously accepted that was the status quo.
However, it wasn’t until I began working at Glossier, a female-founded unicorn startup, that I began to challenge my assumptions and beliefs. Walking around the office and seeing conference rooms named after some of the most influential women in the world and working alongside an all-women executive team opened my eyes that there is a place for women to be unapologetically themselves in the workforce. So many women second-guess their place in the professional world, continuing to think they have to go above and beyond to prove themselves to their employers, but that does not have to be the case. Women are uniquely talented and deserve to have an equal seat at the table.
“So many women second-guess their place in the professional world, continuing to think they have to go above and beyond to prove themselves, but that does not have to be the case.”
What are your professional goals, and how has Zocdoc enabled you to pursue them?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been passionate about two things — connecting with people and mathematics. As my professional career has developed, I have found myself feeling most at home informing strategic decisions with the use of data. I love distilling down a complicated problem into a series of analytical questions and uncovering actionable insights that help drive business strategy.
After honing my craft at a few different organizations, I was thrilled to join the analytics team at Zocdoc. There was so much opportunity, and I was eager to help lead the team and uncover new ways for them to make an even larger impact for the organization. As a leader at Zocdoc, the company has given me space to expand my scope, grow my team and invest in their development. I have been able to spend the necessary time to really understand each individual’s career goals and motivate them to excel. From mentorship programs to learning and development opportunities, Zocdoc takes career development seriously and makes decisions that demonstrate that people really are their greatest asset.
How does Zocdoc celebrate and empower women?
Zocdoc women support each other through community. The company supports a variety of employee resource groups, which are employee-led groups that aim to bring people together around shared beliefs, identity, social issues, experiences and perspectives.
Women@Zocdoc is an ERG with a mission to create opportunities within the workplace for all members and allies across the organization. This group aims to foster connections, develop professional skills and amplify its members’ work externally. Women in Tech, another of Zocdoc’s ERGs, aims to encourage the connection and development of women and gender-diverse technologists. This ERG is committed to uplifting those who have been historically excluded from the technology ecosystem and to building a diverse community where employees of all technological backgrounds can find support. Both of these ERGs sponsor various networking events, organize programming to celebrate Women’s History Month and coordinate volunteer opportunities for its members.
ROKT is an e-commerce technology company that helps companies like Uber, Live Nation, AMC Theatres, PayPal, Hulu, Staples and Lands’ End grow revenue and acquire new customers at scale.
Describe your experience as a woman in tech. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?
As a woman in tech, my journey has been rewarding and challenging. I love what I do; the software engineering space is dynamic, innovative and offers endless growth opportunities. I get to tackle interesting problems in complex spaces and work with fascinating technologies alongside brilliant teammates.
However, the gender imbalance is apparent and has led to the occasional sense of isolation and imposter syndrome. There’s often extra effort required of women to achieve the same outcomes as others.
What’s helped the most is building a strong support network. Finding female mentors and joining women-in-tech communities has been a game-changer. They’ve provided a valuable sense of belonging and a platform to receive and share experiences and advice. I’ve learned effective ways to demonstrate my expertise and gain recognition, and I’ve also learned to advocate for myself and make sure my achievements are visible.
“What’s helped the most is building a strong support network. Finding female mentors and joining women-in-tech communities has been a game-changer.”
It’s been fulfilling to pay it forward by mentoring and creating inclusive environments for women starting out in tech. My hope is to make tech a more welcoming place where everyone can navigate and thrive.
What are your professional goals, and how has Rokt enabled you to pursue them?
When I started at Rokt, I aimed to grow as an engineer both technically and beyond. The technical mentorship here is phenomenal — I’m surrounded by talented engineers eager to share their knowledge through lunch-and-learn and pairing sessions. What’s truly special is the agency I’ve been given to lead and deliver key projects, providing invaluable technical experience that I couldn’t have gained elsewhere in twice the time.
Beyond technical skills, Rokt stands out in supporting career growth by enabling engineers to drive impact through their work. The collaborative work style across teams and functions has been instrumental in my development. I’ve honed skills in assessing and delivering business value, product-oriented thinking and driving alignment across stakeholders.
Rokt is also sponsoring our women in tech community to attend The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing this year. That’s on top of our LevelUp allowance, which provides $5,000 annually to go towards training and development programs of our choosing. These initiatives help fast-track career growth, underscoring engineering leadership’s commitment to helping us pursue and achieve our professional goals.
How does Rokt celebrate and empower women?
At Rokt, we started an amazing Women in Engineering group this year and it’s quickly become a supportive and vibrant community. This group is a space to connect, share experiences, and support each other’s growth. Our employee resource group, Womxn Who Rokt, also does the same on a broader scale with panels and events that are spectacular.
Our strong female leadership is also clearly celebrated and valued. In the research product and development organization, we have inspiring leaders across the board who not only drive business impact but also bring up the women around them. Their presence and active mentorship has been instrumental in creating an environment where women feel engaged and empowered.
Most importantly, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a team that proactively makes me feel seen, heard, appreciated and valued. All the engineers I work with understand the importance of inclusion and the impact of even the smallest intentional actions. I’ve found that the values at Rokt cultivate strong allyship and a winning team culture where women can thrive.
LeafLink is a B2B cannabis platform that provides licensed cannabis brands and retailers across North America with the tools and technology they need to streamline ordering, payments and logistics.
Describe your experience as a woman in tech. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?
My journey in tech has been a blend of rewarding achievements and significant challenges. Starting as a senior QA engineer at LeafLink and progressing to software development engineer in test manager, I’ve navigated a male-dominated industry while proving my technical expertise and leadership skills.
One of the main challenges has been balancing career advancement with personal life commitments, especially in a demanding field. To address this, I’ve consistently focused on delivering high-quality work, staying updated with the latest industry trends and pursuing continuous learning. Building a supportive network of mentors and peers within and outside the company has been crucial.
What are your professional goals, and how has LeafLink enabled you to pursue them?
My professional goals include advancing in leadership roles within the tech industry, contributing to innovative projects and mentoring the next generation of women in tech. LeafLink has been instrumental in helping me achieve these goals. The company provides numerous career growth resources, including advanced training programs and leadership development workshops.
The mentorship programs at LeafLink have been particularly invaluable. Sharon Hoiland, an engineering manager, provides biweekly coaching that allows me to gain insights from experienced leaders. Additionally, Stevie Palmateer, our CTO, offers feedback on communications — an essential skill for leadership success. These opportunities have equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to grow and excel in my career.
“These opportunities have equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to grow and excel in my career.”
How does LeafLink celebrate and empower women?
LeafLink’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in its initiatives and policies to celebrate and empower women. The company hosts regular events such as Women in Tech panels, networking sessions and workshops focused on skill development and career advancement. These events provide platforms for women to share their experiences, gain new insights and build supportive networks.
Additionally, LeafLink has implemented policies that support work-life balance, such as flexible work hours and parental leave, which are crucial for retaining female talent. The company also supports employee resource groups that focus on advocating for and empowering women, providing a space for dialogue and collaboration on issues affecting women in the workplace. LeafLink ensures women feel valued, supported and equipped to thrive in their careers through these efforts.
Finch is an HR software company that unifies employer systems such as HR, payroll, benefits and employee identity under a single API.
Describe your experience as a woman in tech. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?
I started my career in tech within operations, later moving into product operations, and most recently transitioning into product management. In my experience, these career transitions have involved shifting from a woman-led environment to one where the gender ratio is predominantly male. One of the key factors that supported my ability to step into these new environments was my previous experience in operations, where every level of leadership above me was held by women. Having role models from my direct manager to the C-suite offered invaluable lessons in engaging in conversations, leading with empathy and collaborating effectively. These experiences were instrumental in preparing me for the shift into the research and development space.
“Having role models from my direct manager to the C-suite offered invaluable lessons in engaging in conversations, leading with empathy and collaborating effectively.”
One consistent challenge, regardless of the space I’m operating in, has been navigating the learning curve and building confidence in my abilities. Ensuring that this confidence is present in every customer call, strategy session, etc. is an ongoing journey. Learning to reframe my ever-present imposter syndrome as a strength and an opportunity for growth is an ongoing process, and it has been one of the most valuable mindsets for me as I’ve navigated my career.
What are your professional goals, and how has Finch enabled you to pursue them?
My professional goals are focused on continuous growth as a leader and collaborator. Since joining Finch in November 2021 as part of the product operations team, Finch has continuously provided me with opportunities to expand my scope and impact. After managing the product ops team for over a year, I decided I wanted to try something new. Finch supported this transition by offering me the chance to do a trial run in the product manager role, allowing both the company and me to assess the fit and determine my interest in the role.
This kind of flexibility is rare and I am so grateful to have had that opportunity. As a first-time product manager, my goals are to continue building the skills necessary to drive significant impact for the organization. Elevating my presence not just as a product manager but also as a woman leader and collaborator is something I continuously aspire to do. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to learn from and grow under our new vice president of product, who happens to be a woman.
How does Finch celebrate and empower women?
We have an incredible employee resource group for women at Finch, led by our incredible senior partnership manager, Alaina. During one of our annual company off-site meetings, the women at Finch collectively defined the goals and vision for this ERG. Since then, we’ve held monthly sessions with activities ranging from astrology-reading social hours to, most recently, a professional development workshop with an executive coach.
Beyond the organized events and activities, what I find so special about Finch is the way women here celebrate and empower one another. As I navigate the recent changes in my career, I am so grateful for the supportive and safe space I have within this group of amazing women. I feel so genuinely supported and rooted for.
