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March is Women’s History Month. While March is a great reminder to celebrate women’s accomplishments through history, women’s accomplishments should be celebrated year-round! As a woman in leadership and a woman in technology, it’s imperative that I mentor the next generation of women leaders.
We’ve all heard of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Larry Ellison, but very few have heard of Ada Lovelace. Ada’s work on the “Analytical Engine” has regarded her as one of the first computer programmers. In learning about Ada’s life and career, there are some key take a ways for today’s women in tech.
Start Early – Ada’s father was mostly out of the picture. As a mechanism to focus her daughter’s energy, her mother encouraged Ada to study Math and Science. At the age of 12, Ada decided she wanted to fly! She channeled this passion into creating various size and shaped wings and writing a book with her discoveries. As women, we should encourage the children in our lives to love math and science. Instead of responding to your child’s math homework with apprehension (I know, it’s been a while since long division), get excited about math and the doors it opens!
Don’t forget the Human Element – Ada’s extensive notes around the Analytical Engine showed her ability to understand the human element of technology. She was known for her “poetical science” mindset which highlighted how people and sociality relate to the collaborative nature of technology. In the day of Social Media, it is hard to imagine a world where technology was not viewed as a tool to bring people together. As women in technology, it’s critical we continue to put humans at the forefront of our discoveries.
Think out of the Box – Ada was able to view the Analytical Engine in a way others did not. She saw the application of the engine outside of just mathematics, but also to letters, music notes, and symbols. This out of the box thinking expanded the possible uses of the Analytical Engine and changed the way we thought of future computers. Her ability to apply creative thinking and marrying left and right brain logic forever changed the technology landscape. As women, we are always thinking of ways to do more faster, and more efficiently. Continue to think outside of the box, and the future is limitless.
As Women’s History Month closes this week, we should all make a conscious effort to celebrate women in our lives. Encourage, mentor, and empower the women in your life to fulfill their greatness. The world will be a better place for it!
Photo by ThisIsEngineering
