Interview With Elizabeth Callanan

To bring Women's History Month to a close, TekMonks is thrilled to spotlight one of our very own, Senior Global Project Manager Elizabeth Callanan.

With an MBA in Finance and Marketing, Elizabeth didn’t always see herself joining the cybersecurity industry. She began her career in accounting, working at a small global AP automation company as its Finance Manager. When asked about how she transitioned from finance to tech, she explained, “Due to [the company’s] size, we got to wear a lot of hats. This is what got me interested in technology. From there, I moved to the technology department at Signet Jewelers.”?

Her following role was at a small company that provided a cloud-based electronic billing and payment solution. “We dealt with cyber security for financial data. It was fascinating to learn all about the rules and regulations surrounding data and how unsecure many companies are in regards to their confidential information.” The final position that transitioned Callanan into being a Project Manager was working at Salesforce. “I was able to see from a global standpoint again how projects in IT truly affect security, why it is important to have multi-factor authentication, encrypted data especially on laptops or transportable devices, and the consequences if we do not follow cyber safety standards.”?

Now, Elizabeth works at TekMonks, managing projects around the world. She described her favorite part about her job, saying, “I really enjoy the process of improving the implementation side. It allows me to help fix problems and be creative… I love that my workplace is inclusive of women and focuses on global team diversity as well.”

She talked about enjoying working in cyber because “one small thing can make all the difference.” She elaborated, “It's like a puzzle and once all the pieces come together, you have a beautiful picture. If one is out of place, the whole thing just doesn’t work right.”

While Elizabeth stated she has been lucky to have had a few amazing managers and work at a couple of companies focused on inclusion and diversity, she has previously run into issues with her male counterparts not being happy with a female being in a position of authority over them. “Oftentimes I had to work twice as hard to prove myself and spend more time working on things to be taken seriously. I had to consider my outfits, my words, my tone of voice more than any man had.” She explained having difficulties being taken seriously because of being a woman working in a field dominated by men. “If I raised issues to my subordinates about their work or informed my manager or leadership team of issues, I had to be careful not to be labeled as emotional or dramatic, whereas if my male counterparts did the same, they were viewed as insightful and authoritative.”?

She gave a specific example of workplace discrimination happening at a previous place of employment. “A new (male) employee joined the team and though he had the same qualification I had, he was immediately given multiple projects of mine despite not having any experience in the company. After several weeks, he was let go for not performing his basic job duties, including all my projects that he was given. My manager confided in me that they had assumed since he was a man in the tech field, he would have a stronger executive presence and apologized for working off this assumption rather than my proven track record.”

Rather than being embittered, Elizabeth described being passionate about helping close the workforce gaps between men and women. “It’s not just a technology thing, it’s a world thing. We need to break down the stereotypes everywhere.” Her best advice to women (and men) wanting to join a career field was, “Go for it! Do not let stereotypes bring you down or stop you from pursuing your dreams. The only person who can get in your way is yourself. Push yourself to be the best version of yourself you can be. Help us create more gender equality and show what girls can do!”

Behind every powerful woman are other women whose lives and footsteps impassioned those who followed. For Elizabeth, one of her biggest role models was her aunt, Christina Callanan. “She always told me to stay strong and work hard. She explained to me that no matter what field I decided to go into, I might have to work harder than others. She always encouraged me to strive to become the best version of myself rather than focus on what others expected of me. She helped me understand I can only control my own actions and feelings, not the feelings of others. She also showed me how to not stay down for long and always be willing to learn more, and from my mistakes––Fail Forward. Though she does not have a background in IT or marketing, she is helping my other aunt, Suzanne Kwilman, build a website, create marketing content, and help her run her realtor business! She is always leading by example and learning new skills while encouraging others to stretch their minds and diversify their skills.”

She also mentioned that Angela Hickle, Director of Program Management in Business Technology at Salesforce, was a “major inspiration and mentor” who helped her better understand how to push past various obstacles and biases. “Angela showed me that being a woman is a super power because we can be firm and get our point across without yelling or raising our voices yet still be compassionate and understanding. She was always encouraging and became a fantastic mentor and now that I have left the company she has become a great friend.”

Finally, Sunny Goldston, Compliance Officer at Clearwater Payments, helped Callanan understand some of the difficulties faced while working in technology companies around the world. She said, "She teaches yoga and yet was a force to be reckoned with when she wanted tasks to get done. She explained that just because you are feminine doesn’t mean you can’t be fierce."

Elizabeth’s ultimate goal is to become a COO in order to “help everyone become the best versions of themselves.” She continued, “Whether entry-level or senior executives, I want to help them pursue their passions and grow their skills.” Because of their determination, women like Callanan have helped pave the way for women everywhere to pursue their passions and thrive in the workforce, especially those working in tech, cyber, and other male-dominated fields.