Meet Amber Xu, Senior Engineering Manager at Iterable

Today, we're celebrating #WomensEqualityDay, commemorating the passage of the 19th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote! Women's Equality Day honors the women's suffrage movement in the U.S. and remembers the hurdles women had to overcome in their stride towards progress.

Now, over 100 years past this milestone, it's safe to say that we have come a long way towards building a more equitable world. But we need to do more.

Today, we're celebrating this milestone by introducing one of the incredible women at Iterable: Amber Xu, Senior Engineering Manager at Iterable.

Amber is a talented engineer, and is leading the charge for women in tech. She was nominated for this feature by Senior Vice President of Engineering, Bill Press, an active advocate and ally of DE&I. Today, Bill shares:

To be successful, a team needs to be agile, smart, creative and forward thinking. This is only possible if the members of your team are diverse in thought, perspective, background, and experience. I approach hiring with this in mind, and I work to build a team that is representative of our communities and culturally rich. It’s also incumbent on me, as a leader at Iterable, to create a culture of inclusivity and foster a sense of belonging, empowering my team-members to feel safe, valued, and heard.?Prioritizing DE&I in this sense is not only a priority for me, but also for Iterable. Together, we hope to lead in a more equitable future in tech.

In celebration of Women's Equality Day, read this Q&A with Amber:

Iterable: Why is it important for companies to push for more equity in tech?

Amber: Tech companies have incredible reach and impact. But they are led primarily by men. Without women represented in tech roles, especially in tech leadership positions, the decisions made and?products developed are missing the perspective of 50% of the population. Lack of women represented also means the values and culture that are built?in tech are naturally skewed.

The most successful teams I have been a part of leveraged the diverse experiences of its members, especially women, to build a more supportive work culture. Another value of incorporating diverse and inclusive perspective? Products developed will better fit the needs of?all?users.

Iterable: What can companies do to lead in a more equitable future for women?

Amber: Embrace data. I encourage companies to take a look at their numbers, be transparent about where they stand, and hold themselves accountable to improving?over time.

More companies profess their support of DE&I, and their commitment to leading in a more equitable future in tech, than actually taking action on the topic. On top of action, leaders?also?need to make their commitment?more holistic?than just hiring more women.?Set an example?by leading in programs, policies, and processes that prioritize?listening to, retaining, and supporting the career growth of women at their company.

What would you say to encourage women/girls to enter a STEM field?

Find mentors around you, but also be a mentor to others - look out for other women/girls around you and recognize that you have a perspective that is valuable regardless of your level of experience!

Explore other avenues for celebration and action:

1. Per Amber's suggestion, introduce a Mentoring Program! Guidance helps make a difference and encourages female workers to strive for success. Here at Iterable, we have an active mentorship program, which focuses on cultivating leadership skills in both mentees and mentors, leveraging existing leaders to help prepare aspiring leaders for future challenges. The mentee-mentor relationship will foster consistency in leadership strategy, style, and embodiment of Iterable values.
2. Create a community for women at your company! Here at Iterable, we have Affinity Groups, which are created and run by employees who share a common community or identity, and they play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued and empowered to succeed.?The Women's Affinity Group (known as the Women's Network), supports women's professional development and success at Iterable. Of course, male allies are welcome and encouraged! The current AG group leaders are Tasmin Singh and Stephanie Griffin!
3. Give back to the community: If you’re financially equipped as a company or a business, please donate to the cause. Here are a list of organization that you should feel empowered to rightfully give: Center for Health and Gender Equity, Global Fund for Women, Equal Rights Advocates, Gender Justice, International Center for Research on Women, League of Women Voters, National Women’s Law Center, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Equality Now, National Organization for Women.
4. Celebrate Women's Equality Day year-round.