When You Notice You’re One of the Only Women at the Table

I’ll never forget the first programming class I took my freshman year at Rutgers. It was a required course for all computer science majors like me. They held it in large theater-like classrooms with stadium seating. I got there early; I always made sure I was early to all my classes. This was the first day of the class and as the hour approached, the room filled up.?

I was thumbing through the textbook, not paying close attention. As the professor entered the room, I closed the textbook and looked around. There were about 100 students in the room. I looked for familiar faces. I recognized? 8 or 9 students. But that was more than the number of female students in the class. It made me survey the classroom again. I counted five women in the class, including me.?

Five out of 100.

And only one of them was a woman of color.

That was me.?

I felt both blessed and honored to be one of the women in this modern tech world, and being “the only woman in the room” in many of my classes fueled my resolve to make a difference.

Fortunately for me, I enjoyed school. My English was getting better every day (I still carried that Webster English/Spanish dictionary with me and looked up every word I didn’t understand). I applied myself to my coursework. The four years of college went by pretty fast.?

On graduation day on a sunny afternoon in June 1991, I became the first college graduate in my family. My mom and step-dad were there to celebrate this huge milestone for our family. They were so happy and proud of me–it was one of my happiest days too!?

And I was proud of myself!!

During my junior and senior years of college, I had worked as an intern at Prudential Insurance. My manager, Steve, had offered me a job a few months before graduation. I worked there as a programmer and programming analyst for three years.?

In 1992, I also started attending graduate school at night to earn my MBA (Pru paid 85% of the tuition! That was a no-brainer for me. I could learn and finish debt-free, Win-Win).?

Pru kept giving me more and more responsibilities-and promotions. Soon, I was traveling across the country delivering user training on the system my team had developed, and later, once I earned my MBA, became a Systems Manager.

My career was on the rise! Hard work, curiosity, and a willingness to help others was paying off!

I’ll let you know about the rest of my journey in my next newsletter.? I enjoy sharing these stories to encourage other women in technology to lean in and embrace the challenges and opportunities we face as women in predominantly male industries.

The Highest Good Includes Yourself and the Good of Others

After 25 years entrenched in a successful corporate career and navigating challenging work environments in corporate America, Dr. Ginny Baro decided she needed a change that supported her family, leadership ambitions, and the impact she wanted to have in her industry.?

She became a Certified Professional Coach and started coaching colleagues for free. Soon, however, she began to gain referrals and paying clients.?

Now she has a full calendar of clients who seek her insight, wisdom and expertise.?

After 25 years working in very competitive corporate environments, Dr. Ginny Baro founded ExecutiveBound, an innovative leadership development and career advancement company dedicated to transforming the lives of over 1 million women and leaders who have felt underestimated, like they've clawed their way to the top, and who want to claim their seats at the table without burning out. The company's record of success encompasses impactful keynotes, immersive coaching and leadership programs, rejuvenating retreats, #1 best-selling books, and results-focused consulting services. As a trusted partner, ExecutiveBound proudly collaborates with visionary organizations, business groups, and Fortune 500 companies across diverse industries.

In January 2020, she launched the Women's Fearless Leadership Mastermind, a solution for organizations seeking to develop female leaders to gain critical leadership skills to advance into senior leadership positions and deliver business growth, high-performing teams, and personal well-being.

To connect with Dr. Ginny Baro, email [email protected] or access her online calendar here.