Girl Geeks & Opinions
Kate CarruthersApril 2009
April 2009 1© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
The Problem
Gorillas in our midst …
That is old fashioned ideas about women, their capabilities, & their place in the world
April 2009 2© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
From a site called The Minority Report:“Personally, I’ve been meaning to dedicate a
blog post or two to the incredible hotness of Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Search Product and User Experience at Google. Aside from her yummy gorgeousness, she must be incredibly intelligent to have been one of the first twenty employees of Google and still be there. I’d throw one up there…”
Source: Toni Bowers http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=696
April 2009 3© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
From a discussion on a CNET piece by Caroline McCarthy:
“Caroline… I think you’re a pretty girl and all, but, really, who cares?”
Source: Toni Bowers http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=696
April 2009 4© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
Fact
People will have pre-conceptions about you & what you like or want to do
April 2009 5© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
The solution
Get clear in your mind what you:• Like to do• Want to do• Can do
April 2009 6© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
The solution
• Get a plan• Find people who are willing help• Work out who is not willing to help
Ignore people who are part of the problem & not part of the solution
April 2009 7© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
The solution
Gilmore’s law is your friend:
“The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.” – John Gilmore
When you can’t solve a problem by confrontation simply route around it
April 2009 8© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
The Solution
Choose your battles wisely
Better to win the war
Not everyone has to agree with or like you for you to win
April 2009 9© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
The solution
• Build your support networks (here’s one I prepared earlier )
• People who listen, understand, sympathise & have ideas to help
Source: @trib
April 2009 10© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
Above all …
April 2009 11
© Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com
Some more ideas on this topic…
http://katecarruthers.com/blog/2009/04/girl-geeks-opinions/
April 2009 © Kate Carruthers www.katecarruthers.com 12