Curiosity Gets A Seat At The Table

Curiosity matters. Recognizing it, celebrating it, and encouraging an inquisitive nature in your employees is important for professional growth. But, sadly, too many young women still seem to be afraid to ask questions in the workplace. Whether it’s a fear of appearing uninformed or of saying the wrong thing, there is a tendency to remain silent versus speaking up. I believe it’s critical that anyone in a leadership position should be role modeling curiosity for our more junior peers.

Earlier this week, we had the privilege of hosting several panel discussions at SXSWEdu. In one of our panels, a University of Texas at Austin student named Allie spoke up about being afraid of expressing curiosity in her male-dominated computer engineering classes. It breaks my heart to hear a young woman hesitant to express her thoughts and opinions in class, just because of her gender. Her classmates are missing out on hearing a different point of view, one that only Allie has, and she is missing an opportunity to learn through a dialogue with her peers. Sadly, this scene is all too familiar and is carried beyond the classroom and right in to workplaces around the country. So, what can we do about it?

We must lead by example. Because leading by example really, really matters. It’s important to me that the young women in our office aren’t hesitant to ask questions - so I ask a lot of questions. Not having all of the information or not fully understanding something isn’t a position of weakness - it’s a position of strength to speak up and get clarity on whatever you are working on. I also encourage my team, regardless of gender, to take risks and have the confidence that, if and when they fail, they will have another opportunity to succeed. One of my favorite things at Chegg is when we celebrate failure. I mean, we properly celebrate it. Sometimes we even have cake! This is because we know trial and error are key to learning. It's all about asking - and testing - the right questions and embracing the answers.

Late last year, we were extremely proud to learn that Chegg was named by Fortune as one of the the top 25 Best Places to Work for Women. We have worked hard to create an environment that is inclusive and respectful of all people, regardless of nationality, sexual orientation, or their gender. One of the key components of our culture, that fosters an environment where all people can thrive, is encouraging curiosity in our employees - especially in our young women. As a woman in tech, I believe that encouraging a sense of inquisitiveness, and nurturing a mentality to ‘think-outside-of-the-box’ among the women at your company, doesn’t just open doors - it destroys the barriers that exist in the first place. If there is no box, there is nothing to hold you back from growth, opportunity, and success; not only individually but also for your team, your business, even your industry. Think about the many creative women currently innovating entire categories. Tina Sharkey in consumer goods. Arlan Hamilton in venture capital, and Jennifer Hyman in fashion. They were curious to find better, more efficient ways to do things, and dispelled the notion of “that’s just not how it’s done.” Encouraging that same curiosity in your employees will not only give them freedom to take risks, but also the opportunity to fail, learn, and try again. That’s just smart business.

So, ladies, take the risk. Do what people think you can’t do. Maybe it won’t work. But maybe it will. I have built a career doing things many people thought I couldn’t do. But I had a drive to constantly grow, improve, and add value to the team around me that persists to this day. And I asked a lot of questions along the way. (Still do, every single day!)

As we truly move in to a bright and progressive future, I hope young women continue to find their voice. I hope they don’t accept limits or the status-quo. I am encouraged by the change we are beginning to see, and by the meaningful dialogue, on a national scale, that we are having about issues that impact women in the workplace. I hope we keep having those discussions. And, on this International Women’s Day, I hope you encourage the women around you to be curious, to be confident, and to take risks.  Go innovate. Question. Create. And, girls, go change the world.