An Interview With the Nimble Novice: Being a Woman in Tech, Setbacks and Failures, and Achievements

The HackerNoon editorial team has launched this interview series with women in tech to celebrate their achievements and share their struggles. We need more women in technology, and by sharing stories, we can encourage many girls to follow their dreams. Share your story today!

Tell us about yourself!

Hello there! My name is Natalie, and I’m currently working as a content specialist and strategist at OKX Chain. (Crypto and Blockchain).

As a content strategist, my role involves developing and executing a content strategy that aligns with the company's business objectives and target audience.

I research industry trends and developments, identify key topics and themes, and develop a content calendar that supports the company's marketing and communication goals.

Ultimately, I am involved in building the brand and growing its business by creating compelling, informative content that resonates with its target audience.

Why did you choose this field in the first place?

I do not have any prior knowledge in tech or finance, but I was interested in this “magic internet money”. I found it extremely difficult, but I decided to write about my experience trying out different protocols, tools, etc., and found that people were interested in what I had to say.

I chose this field because it welcomed me and gave me opportunities I would not have in traditional industries.

What tech are you most excited/passionate about right now and why?

AI in general and its impact on work is something that I am both excited about and a little scared by. As a content strategist, using tools like ChatGPT has spearheaded my productivity and taught me so much about various topics.

Of course, not everything is accurate, so due diligence still needs to be done-but thinking of the possibilities of automation is really exciting

What tech are you most worried about right now and why?

AI only because I’ve seen how certain jobs may lose their value. Even if we were to learn to use AI in our favor, we cannot deny that it may diminish our worth from a capitalistic perspective.

Just like how computers are cheaper today, basic digital literacy dictates our worth in each current day and age. As the tech advances, certain jobs will get phased out.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of tech?

I enjoy pole dancing and art! I go for lessons and have brunch with the girls after!

Let's talk about breaking the glass ceiling. What were the biggest challenges you faced as a woman in tech, and how did you deal with them?

As much as we are all about #girlpower, we have to acknowledge that for change to happen, one needs to be in a position of power. To be in a position of power, sometimes we have to play the game.

As far as the patriarchy goes, we need to know the rules so we can play the game in our favor.

The best way is to get men to champion you. Men who are your allies can help amplify women's voices, acknowledge their experiences – and take on the role of educating other men – in a way that inspires trust and respect;

Instead of being angry at men (this does not solve anything), I read The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by Bell Hooks- it taught me to readjust my perspective and think of ways women can help men reclaim the best part of themselves by not enabling toxic masculinity.

This essentially gets men on our side which in turn encourages them to openly show their allyship.

Any questionable misogynistic story/situation you faced/handled, and you want to share with the HackerNoon Fam?

Oh, where do we begin…welcome to crypto, I guess? Specifically for Crypto, misogyny is perpetuated because, to a certain extent, it is rewarded. To be crude, sex sells. By tapping into concepts like the male gaze, women have been financially rewarded.

Due to how common this is, there have been instances where men feel like it is okay to speak to women with innuendo weaved in, asking directly for sex, etc.

The guardrails for this industry are not fully up, so during the start when people were networking and promoting, you see quite a bit of toxicity behind the scenes.

There have been men hitting on women and assuming that any one part of the community would be open to engaging in certain activities that may be considered NSFW. Harassment is not uncommon.

Personally, I have been to many events and had men ask me if I did OnlyFans/had an NFT after the popularity of IreneDao. A compliment would have sufficed, but they felt the need to let me know that they were sexualizing me. I felt powerless and a little bit sad, but who do you complain to?

When this happens, it is easier to laugh it off, but standing your ground is important when you’re in an industry that undermines you.

What was the biggest setback/failure that you faced, and how did you manage it?

I think getting rejected numerous times was quite detrimental to my self-esteem. I rejected corporate entirely and wanted to freelance because at least I could rely on myself. I decided to put myself out there by writing, it was really just for my own records because I really liked writing and sharing my thoughts.

True enough, it led me to network with people in crypto, publishing my articles in crypto publications, meeting different people who wanted me to write for them, and of course, meeting my future colleagues at a networking event.

I overcame the setback by creating opportunities instead of waiting for opportunities.

What's your biggest achievement that you're really proud of?

I am proud of myself for acknowledging where I fall short and constantly improving my craft.

In your opinion, why do we see this huge gender gap in the tech industry, and how can we reduce it?

Get more girls in STEM, and encourage those who aren’t ready to take the leap and explore alternatives. I still feel imposter syndrome when I call myself a woman in tech- but I deserve to take up space in this arena as much as anyone else.

The role content plays in communicating, aggregating, and dissecting information is instrumental to education. Education is key to mass adoption, and there is much opportunity for women to be in tech- even if they are not exactly “technically trained”.

Besides, this foot in the door can give women a chance to get technically trained should they want to.

Who is your tech idol? Why?

Bumble CEO, ! What's especially inspiring about Herd is that she's been able to disrupt the male-dominated dating app industry with a female-focused app that gives women the power to make the first move.

It's amazing to see how Herd's vision has revolutionized the way people approach online dating. Bumble is also known to help girls find long-lasting female friendships, I really love that aspect.

Do you have any advice for aspiring girls who want to join the field?

The most important thing is to just network, apply and try even if you feel underqualified. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so take the shot because you’ll never know where it might land.