Do you have trouble believing compliments about your work? Shy away from applying to promotions? Avoid sharing your boldest ideas or taking the most impactful projects?

Your high standards may be undermining your confidence, trapping you in an Imposter Syndrome mindset. But you don’t have to choose between being underconfident and being overconfident, and you don’t have to “fake it till you make it.” You can discover your Authentic Confidence, and feel good in your role.

In this one-hour online workshop, you’ll learn:

• Why the most common advice for overcoming Imposter Syndrome isn’t that helpful

• How to stop holding yourself to impossible standards so you can see how well you’re actually doing, and

• How to discover your Authentic Confidence so that you don’t keep feeling like an imposter even when you know better.

Presley Pizzo is a software developer turned Productivity Coach at Parts with Presley. After struggling with Imposter Syndrome as a woman in academia and then in tech, she was drawn to become a coach to help people develop the confidence needed to fully show up in their careers.

For anyone quietly questioning whether the career path they’re on still fits -- this session is for you. 

We’ll explore what change can look like when it’s driven by you, thoughtful, intentional, and designed to help you reach your full potential, not settle for less. 

In this live session with Career and Leadership Coach Claire Campion, we’ll explore what to do when your career looks fine from the outside, but no longer feels quite right on the inside. You’ll get space to pause, reflect on where you are now, and explore what kind of shift might be calling. 

This isn’t about walking away from everything you’ve built or starting from scratch. It’s about moving forward with clarity -- and creating something that works on your own terms.

We're excited to announce our next WEST Leadership Talk on June 18, featuring clinical psychologist Dr. Marissa Alert! 

When was the last time you paused to reflect on your relationship with stress and how you manage it? Let's face it, dealing with stress is often easier said than done. You may have stumbled upon a few coping tips here and there, but when the chaos of life hits, those strategies typically go right out the window.   

In this interactive session, you will learn how to bridge the gap between wanting to cope better with stress and actually doing it. You will focus on becoming more aware of your triggers for stress and how you perceive and respond to them. We'll explore the impact of stress on your work, relationships, and behaviors, unveiling the invisible threads that weave stress into every aspect of your life. 

And, don’t worry, you won’t leave this session with just vague ideas about what to do. You will discover how to align your actions with your core values, paving the way for more effective stress management. You’ll learn simple yet powerful techniques to make stress management a habit and to create a practical, easy-to-implement plan tailored to your goals. No matter where you are on your self-care journey, you will gain valuable insights and tools to confidently manage stress and lead a more fulfilling life.

We're excited to announce our next WEST Leadership Talk on March 4, featuring career coach Carolyn Troyan!

Many women hit a point in their career where they just feel stuck. They don’t have the passion for their work anymore and that next assignment that always got them re-energized is not providing that boost.

In this interactive 1-hour session, we will explore how to get back in touch with your values, your passions, and chart a path forward to get to next actions that get you unstuck!

Welcome to 2025! We're excited to see everyone at our first Leadership Talk of the year happens on Jan 15, featuring career coach Nikoletta Bel.

Many women in tech struggle to get the recognition they deserve, often feeling uncomfortable speaking about their accomplishments or unsure how to showcase their impact authentically.

In this session, we’ll talk about why this happens and how to shift the narrative.

Through insights rooted in Women-Centered Coaching, we’ll explore the cultural aversion to self-promotion and how visibility can be reframed as a way to share your contributions as an act of service.

You’ll leave with simple ways to highlight your contributions, own your value, and share your impact with confidence—without feeling like you are bragging.

Do you have questions about today's tech job market?

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the current tech job market from seasoned tech recruiter Remy Schor! We'll be discussing current trends, practical job search tips, insider insights, and more.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to best leverage your skills, ace negotiating, and find your dream job sooner!

As a special bonus, this Leadership Talk will also be a live podcast recording for WEST's Engineer Your Career Podcast, so your questions will get a chance to be featured in this important discussion. We hope you will join us for this exciting event!

Are you struggling to meet increasing demands with limited resources? Discover how strategic reduction can lead to greater success!

For our next Leadership Talk on 7/18 at 12 PM PT, we are thrilled to be joined by Diana Stepner, a Product and Leadership Coach. With over 15 years of international product leadership experience, Diana has led numerous teams at companies such as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Kayak, Pearson, and more.

Diana will share techniques on how she learned to streamline processes, prioritize effectively, and empower her teams by learning to do less. Join us as we learn how to identify high-impact activities while fostering a culture of productivity, and come away feeling equipped with tools to excel in challenging times.

In this WEST panel discussion, experienced engineers will share what it really takes to grow from Senior to Staff and beyond. Learn how the role shifts in scope, how to build influence across teams, and why “soft skills” like communication and visibility are essential technical competencies at higher levels. Get actionable advice on building your engineering brand, identifying high-impact work, and finding sponsors who advocate for your growth. Watch the recording.

AJ Oxendine is the Tech Lead and Staff Software Engineer for the Home Feed product at Pinterest. She enjoys the creative process of building new things, figuring out how they work, and how she can make them better. This passion has led her to study music composition, art, graphic design. and now, software engineering.

Allison Liemhetcharat is generally interested in using artificial intelligence to solve real world problems. At DoorDash Labs, Allison is the technical lead manager of Simulation and Evaluation, and working to improve autonomy. Allison attained her Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. Allison cares deeply about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and mentorship, and has led employee resource groups (ERGs) and mentored over 40 people throughout her career.

Cathy Reilly is a Principal Engineer at Circle. Her 30-year career in tech has also included 14 years at Adobe.

Ei-Nyung Choi has worked in tech for almost 30 years, in roles as Sr Software Eng, Principal Staff Eng, Eng Manager, Software Architect, Co-founder, and CTO. She’s currently the Fractional CTO at tEQuitable.

Join three experienced technical leaders as they share their journeys from individual contributors to senior technical roles, discussing leadership styles, decision-making strategies, and communication tactics. This panel discussion will offer practical insights for anyone looking to grow their influence and effectiveness in technical leadership roles, whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your impact. Watch the recording.

Tina Wright is an Area Tech Lead at Grammarly and has worked as a software engineer at Coursera, TRI, and Google.

Joy Ebertz is a Principal Software Engineer, prolific blogger, avid ultrarunner, and an advocate for increasing the number of women and minorities in Computer Science.

Vanessa Towers is a technical leader with 18+ years of experience as a software developer, architect, and engineering leader in various domains such as government, retail, healthcare, financial services, energy and technology. Vanessa is VP, North America Head of Technology at Thoughtworks.

Tessa Jones is a senior backend software engineer with 8 years of experience working at large and small companies across media, health tech, and fintech.

Join Sri Koneru (Cloud Product Infrastructure Lead at Confluent) and Vibha Rathi (Climate Engineering Team Lead at MSCI) as they share their authentic journeys from senior engineers to engineering managers. This candid conversation will explore the challenges, opportunities, and key skills needed to successfully transition from coding to leading teams, offering practical advice for engineers considering the management path. Watch the recording.

Sri Koneru is a seasoned leader with a remarkable history of scaling teams, technical platforms, and products across diverse industries, encompassing more than 14 years of technical people management and leadership in e-commerce, payments, and cloud infrastructure.

Vibha Rathi is a hands-on engineering leader with more than five years of experience leading platform and product engineering teams including managing managers.

Heidi Williams is the Founder of WEST and CTO at Murmuration.

In this insightful discussion, three technology leaders will share practical strategies for effectively communicating with executives, securing their support, and advancing your career. Learn how to prepare for executive interactions, tailor your messaging, and confidently present your ideas to senior leadership. Watch the recording.

Emily Leathers is an executive and leadership coach and has managed teams from two people up through being a VP of Engineering at a startup and leading Trust and Safety Engineering for Pinterest. She’s the founder of Exceptional Leadership, where she helps ambitious leaders build impactful careers they love without sacrificing their authenticity, their values, or their life outside of work.

Shama Keskar is a CTO, Founder, and mentor with experience leading engineering teams at Amazon, Google, and LinkedIn.

Shareen Islam is an Engineering executive with 20+ years of experience scaling high-performance teams and delivering complex digital transformation programs across enterprise platforms. She is an industry leader in diversity, equity, inclusion, and allyship, serving as the GM Women+ Technology Ally Lead and mentoring young women and girls in STEM fields.

Ever been curious about leadership coaching and want to experience it for yourself? You are in luck! For our next Leadership Talk on May 1st at 11am PT, we are thrilled to be joined by Igor Zagre, a top leadership coach specializing in coaching women technologists.

We will run this talk as a leadership coaching session, so please bring your questions! Igor frequently coaches women technologists on the following topics: Career Development, Personal Growth, Confidence Building, Managing Fears, Work-Life Balance, Mental Well-being, Goal Setting, and Prioritization Strategies.

Happy Int'l Women's Day! Are you ready to confidently make a powerful first impression in work and life? 

Whether you're meeting a new manager, colleague, or future employer, how you present yourself sets the tone for future interactions. Join us for our FREE workshop, "Crafting Your Strong Intro," featuring Ei-Nyung Choi, Fractional CTO at tEQuitable and renowned technical advisor on Weds. March 20th at 12pm PT.

We'll dive into how to tailor your introductions for various scenarios, purposes, and more. During the session, you'll discover:

• The importance of adapting your introduction to different situations and objectives.

• Strategies for highlighting your strongest accomplishments to create an advantage.

• Proactive approaches to address misconceptions others may have about you.

It's time to make a lasting impression that accurately represents your skills and expertise. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your introduction skills and elevate your professional presence! 

You're invited to our upcoming Leadership Talk, "Embracing Change: How to Thrive in Today’s Tech Environment," on next Thurs. Feb 22nd, 12 pm PT.

In an era of rapid technological advancements, embracing change is both a necessary and a strategic advantage. Join us as we hear from Shelly A. Humphreys, veteran Global Telecommunications Executive and speaker, who will share how you can harness this skill to foster innovation and ignite newfound opportunities!

Our free Leadership Talks are a great way to connect with fellow women technologists and learn from industry experts. Click below to learn more about Shelly's career and sign up for our event.

Want to get recognized for your impact and break through to executive leadership at work?  

Join us as we delve into the crucial elements that define high-potential performance with our speakers, CTO Harshit Shah and VP of Provider Operations Kelsey Quick, next Tuesday, Dec 5th at 12pm PT.

Some topics they will be covering include: 

• How to Recognize the Standards of High Potential Performance (and Assess Where You Stand)

• Develop and Demonstrate Executive Presence

• Gain Executive Visibility and Engage Executive Sponsors

• Manage Your Promotion Process

• Taking Risks, Starting Value-Add Initiatives

• Role of Your Team, Manager, and Mentors

Don't miss this opportunity to take charge of your career and propel yourself towards executive leadership. Grab your spot here - colleagues and friends are welcome! 

Discover how Generative AI can fuel your career, unveil learning pathways, and empower you to navigate its evolution. 

We'll discuss how to:

🚀  Leverage generative AI for your career and make an impact

👩‍💻  Acquire the skills needed to thrive in this evolving field 

👯 Foster collaboration among women in tech to drive innovation in AI

Eileen Quan is Senior Director of Data, Product Analytics at 2U.

In today's environment, reorgs are now the new normal, and adapting to change is essential. How do you navigate these changes while advancing your initiatives and ideas?

In this session, you'll discuss how to:

👀 Recognize your work style

🤔 Assess your colleagues' work styles

💡 Formulate strategies for personal adjustment to advance your work

Megan Yee is a people leader and health tech evangelizer with 20 years of healthcare experience in Product Management and Digital Transformation with Data Analytics, ERP, and CRM products.

When do you know you're ready to step into engineering directorship, or if that's a role you would want to step into at all? While the director role varies significantly from company to company, generally a successful leader in this role is expected to:

• Effectively manage an organization of several teams

• Advocate for funding and resources to enable successful execution of deliverables

• Expertly navigate their teams through seasons of change

In this talk, we will discuss how developing proficiency in downward, upward, and lateral communication is the key to setting the foundation for stepping into a director role.

Karen Lo is Director of Engineering at JLL Technologies.

Are you ready to advance in your engineering career but feeling stuck on how?

Join us next Thurs. Oct 5 for an invigorating conversation about the career ladder and how to level up on your software engineering journey with Rebecca Murphey, Head of Engagement & Insights at Swarmia!

In this interactive session, we will:

🚀 Explore the Typical Career Ladder: Understand the structure and expectations of the corporate career ladder for software engineers.

💡 Decode the Lower Rungs: Delve into the gritty realities of the early stages, where code is the dominant currency, and discover strategies to thrive.

🌟 Unleash Your Potential: Learn how to break free from the traditional ladder, if that's what you desire, and pave your unique path in the software engineering world.

We will have lots of time for Q&A at the end, so come with questions and we'll see you there!

Tackle burnout before it happens. We’ll explore the ins and outs of burnout, how it affects both employees and organizations, and provide actionable tips for managing up and improving communication with superiors.

Are you interested in creating a healthier work culture for you or your team? Don't miss this important session as we discuss tactical tips to prioritize well-being through managing up.

Dr. Marilyn Garman teaches Strategic Planning, Project Management, Marketing, and Negotiation at Ringling College of Art and Design's Business Major. She recently earned her Doctorate in Business Administration and runs an independent consulting business, Meraki Business Consulting Group, LLC.

Have you ever felt imposter syndrome or surprise when it came to your end-of-year performance review? Want to become more self-aware of your progress and find confidence in your achievements? 

If you said yes to any of the above - our Leadership Talk next week is for you! 

Join us next Thurs. 8/10 at 12pm PT as we discuss how to actively track and take charge of your accomplishments with Kathleen Hein! Kathleen has done a previous talk with our community on executive presence and we are thrilled to welcome Kathleen back for this discussion. 

Feedback is a loaded term, but something that is critical for growth. Join us next Thurs. 7/27 at 12pm PT to learn about ways to navigate feedback from the cringeworthy unwelcome kind to the kind that motivates, as well as ways to give feedback to see the results you want!

We will be hearing from Lara McCaskill, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Enterprise Agility, at Atlassian.

Are you interested in driving product strategy at your organization? Join us next Tues. July 11th at 12pm PT for an interactive conversation as we discuss the critical skills and mindsets necessary to unlock senior product leadership roles!  

Shayani Roy, Director of Product Management at Meta, will share stories and strategies that led her down the road of senior product leadership. We'll discuss lessons and tactical tips she's learned along the way, and answer questions from our attendees. Prepared to leave empowered! 

Want to hone your communication skills and drive meaningful conversations? Join us for our interactive leadership talk today at 12pm PT that will empower you to ask better questions and unlock new levels of understanding and impact!

About our Speaker:

Jenny Van is a WEST mentor and Senior Manager of Data Science at Brilliant.org where she leads the Data team and helps generate the learnings and insights that inspire people to achieve their goals in STEM. Prior to Brilliant, Jenny spent 4 years working on both credit and fraud risk in the fintech industry. She graduated from MIT with a degree in Biological Engineering.

Join us this Thurs. June 22nd at 12pm PT for a transformative conversation that will unveil the secrets of influence without authority! 

Anne Spalding, US Program Director at Trillium Technologies, will share stories and strategies to effectively influence in your personal and professional life, regardless of your position. We'll discuss how to foster collaborative relationships, inspire and motivate others, and drive positive change through the art of influence. Prepared to leave empowered!  

More about our Speaker: Anne Spalding is the US Program Director at Trillium Technologies. With deep experience in the education and technical training sectors, Anne encompasses a combination of skills in team leadership, learning and development and program management, which she brings to the climate sector.

TL;DR - Are you interviewing for PM roles? Join us on Weds. June 21st at 10am PT for everything you need to know to tackle your next product manager interview with confidence! 

 Join us next Weds June 21st at 10am PT as our guest speaker, Prachi Wadekar, Senior Product Manager at Pinterest, talks through how to tackle the various rounds in a PM interview, as well as share her framework on how to answer questions on product sense, and more. 

Having worked at a number of tech companies such as Meta, Mixpanel, BlackRock, and now Pinterest, Prachi has deep experience when it comes to both interviewing and coaching others through PM interviews. When not working, she is busy being the CEO to her toddler and is passionate about wellness, nutrition, and fitness.

Please bring your questions and invite colleagues who are also actively interviewing for PM roles! The more the merrier! 

Have you ever wondered what executive presence is, and how to enhance your presence at work? If yes, you're in luck!  

Join us for our Leadership Talk this Thurs, June 8th at 12pm PT, for "Tactical Tips for Maintaining Executive Presence at Any Stage of your Career," led by Kathleen Hein, MBA, CSM, CSPO, Director at World Surf League. Learn tactical tips you can implement this week during our hour-long session and take this opportunity to ask the questions you might not feel comfortable asking at work!  

More about our speaker: Kathleen Hein is a Director of Product at the World Surf League. She has over 15 years of experience working in technology in a variety of industries, including Automotive, Entertainment, E-commerce, Non-Profit and Education. Her resume includes both the Sony Pictures hack of 2014 and the 2019 Fox/Disney merger. Kathleen is passionate about fostering Diversity and Inclusion in direct teams and organization-wide programs.

TL;DR - Stand out in your next interview! Join us this Friday for insider interviewing tips direct from hiring manager and analytics leader, Hojeong Kim. Bring your questions!

Next up in our "Hack Your Job Search" event series is an interactive session on how to ace your interviews, from the hiring manager's perspective!

Having interviewed over 500 candidates and hiring 20+ individuals over the span of her professional career, analytics leader Hojeong Kim knows a thing or two about interviews.

Join us THIS Friday, June 2nd at 2pm PT for your all-access pass on how to ace your interviews with Hojeong and get your questions answered! Space is limited for this session, so RSVP early to save your seat. If there are other women technologists in your network who might benefit from attending our job search events or subscribing to our jobs list, please feel free to share with them. We are stronger together!

Conflicts are a natural part of any organization. When left unaddressed or mishandled, however, they can lead to decreased productivity, strained relationships, or an unhealthy work environment. 😬

If you are looking for strategies to address and de-escalate conflict, join us for our leadership talk TOMORROW Fri. Jun 2nd at 12pm PT on "Conflict Management in Organizations" where we will delve into the art of navigating and resolving conflicts within a workplace setting with Suguna Mannepalli, Certified Coach and Sr. Manager of Software Engineering at UnitedHealth Group. This discussion aims to equip participants with the necessary skills and strategies to effectively manage conflicts, fostering a positive and collaborative workplace culture.

Bring your questions and I hope to see you there!

Are you a Manager interested in advancing into a Director level role in the next year or two? Gain the knowledge and guidance you need to expedite your journey from Manager to Director through our upcoming Leadership Talk in two days!

You are invited to our leadership conversation this Weds May 24th at 12pm PT, "Making the Move from Senior Manager to Director," led by Demetrius Comes, Chief Technology Officer at Sovrn. Discover actionable strategies in our hour-long session to surpass your current limitations and fast-track towards reaching the coveted Director level!

More about our speaker: Demetrius Comes is currently the CTO of Sovrn, an online advertising platform. He previously worked as the CISO and VP of Engineering at GoDaddy, and Executive Director of Engineering at Warner Brothers Games - Turbine. A product-minded executive leader with extensive experience in management, software development/architecture, and cyber security, Demetrius thrives on leading multi-discipline teams that develop multi-tiered systems working at internet scale. He has an extensive technical background in distributed architectures, micro-services, C/C++, Java, Cyber Security, databases, running on prem or on the public cloud (AWS/GCP).