Martha Githui on Life, Tech Career, and Playing Basketball!
Expect to hear more bold opinions within the tech industry, coming from women. In theory, we know how diversity and inclusion could lead to better work output and productivity, but how many are willing to take up that challenge and see it through? How many are willing to go over and beyond to ensure the girl-child earns her rightful seat at the table?? @Martha Githui, a senior product manager at Microsoft ADC, is one of those who have stepped up.?
In an interview with @Tabitha Maina, Marketing & Comms Lead at Microsoft ADC, Githui discusses her role in building products, promoting mental health, creating a better corporate culture for women in tech, while still finding time to throw some hoops! Yes, she’s an avid basketball player, and believes sports should be taken as seriously a career as we do other professions!?
Many women across the African continent can relate to Martha’s professional journey that was often marked with self-doubt and second guessing. Unfortunately, this sense of insecurity crept in even when she received a phone call for a job offer at Microsoft in late 2020. Despite being well qualified and up to the role, she still felt a bit of imposter syndrome.??
She remembers asking, “Are you guys sure that you want me?” but she now finds it somewhat hilarious when she thinks of it.?
On building Tech Products?
Once at Microsoft, Martha quickly got exposed to working with teams from halfway across of the world, which meant one thing: Her quality of work had to be top-notch because at the end of the day, she felt like she was representing Kenya and didn’t want to let the whole country down. She had to show up and show up correct!?
But that’s not all – she also got to understand that building products isn’t just about meeting deadlines and checking boxes.? It is about ensuring what you put out works well to meet the user’s needs. Living in a heavy digital world means that your target market is already spoilt for choice. Why would they choose you over the competitor??
On Mental Health?
While building all these groundbreaking products, especially at the height of the pandemic, Martha started investing heavily in her team by continuously checking on how they have been coping beyond work. According to her, people are the most important piece when working on any project. If the people are not well both, mentally and physically, then you can be sure that it will be projected in the results of whatever you are building.??
Therefore, she took it upon herself to ensure that her team members started to talk to each other more often, not about KPIs, targets or deadlines, but about life in general.??
“We really need to talk to one other and hear each other out. It’s the only way we can get everyone in a safe space mentally. Good thing is, the culture at Microsoft is open to try out new ideas that will promote wellbeing for the staff, and the support and leadership shown by @Jack Ngare has been nothing short of amazing” – Martha remarks.????
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On Accommodating More Women In STEM?
“From the outside looking in, Microsoft might seem like a very tech-focused corporation that does nothing else but build software programs and devices. But that’s not true,” Martha comments. It is only after she got the opportunity to work here, that she realized all the projects and activities that Microsoft is involved in, promote a more diverse and gender inclusive society.?
However, she believes that there is still more that needs to be done to get more women invested and working in tech. From an individual standpoint, she provides some advice:?
First, women who already have a leadership position in the tech eco-system, have gotten there because someone else did the legwork. The question is, “What are you to do for the next generation? How are you uplifting someone else??
Second, she does not buy complaints. Yes, the odds are stacked against the woman in many instances, but Martha believes women should be ready to roll their sleeves and get the work done. “Remember, how you show up as a woman is portrayed as though that’s how women generally are. It’s a sad way of looking at things, but that’s the reality. So, if you get an opportunity to work, do it and do it well. Especially for the other girls behind you. Remember you are showing up for all Women”?
Third, Martha advises women not to work in silos. Networking, building communities and putting up a united front, is a sure way to get more opportunities to be picked up by women. “When you are together, you can take a stand on certain issues, speak out and have them changed or corrected. Even more to that, there are many men who are allies to this course. We just need to communicate clearly what we’re looking to achieve, and they will be more than willing to support.”??
Playing Basketball?
It’s now 3:56 PM and Martha cannot wait to wrap up the interview because in a few minutes, she should be on the court playing basketball with friends and colleagues. “Taking care of yourself physically is the first step if you want to be successful at anything. Remember your body is the single most precious asset, so be active and exercise as much as you can” - She remarks.??
But before she concludes, she quickly shares that her next big agenda will definitely be skewed towards making sports a viable and lucrative career option for the youth.?
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