Canada’s technology hub, ventureLAB, is determined to bring greater representation of women CEOs in tech. Beyond technology and business support, Tech Undivided’s vision is to reduce unconscious bias and create an inclusive tech ecosystem that increases representation and access to capital.

To wrap up our International Women’s Day editorial series that has emphasized this year’s theme, #BreakTheBias, I asked seven women tech executives – all participants in Tech Undivided – to share a personal tip to help women advance their leadership skills and entrepreneurial savvy in tech-based businesses.

I found their responses insightful testaments to these talented tech women, and hope that their ingenuity, persistence, and voice will help #BreakTheBias in tech in Canada.

Advice to Succeed as Women in Tech

Sumathi Pundit, Founder and CEO, Kaitongo – an insights platform for law firms.

“In [nearly] 15 years of being an entrepreneur, grit, perseverance, and passion have been the name of the game.  I stayed on in my first business during difficult times even while receiving several lucrative safe job offers and this ultimately paid off.”

Amy Ding, Founder and CEO, Requity Homes – Provider of alternative paths to home ownership.

“I think the biggest thing about entrepreneurship really comes down to execution. There are so many ideas out there, so the question you need to ask yourself is what are you doing to actually make it happen? An idea only has value once you take steps to make it a reality.”

Brenda Ahenkorah, Founder & CEO, My Well Self – An online wellness platform.

“When it comes to leading and managing a team, let the passion that you feel towards your venture transfer to your team. This will empower them to be their own motivation and have a closer connection to the overall business mission.”

Meaghan Daly, Founder, Forward Vision Games – Provider of game-based financial literacy training.

“Evaluate your choices not just by the size of the potential outcome but also by the distance to the first moment you can evaluate that your solution (or part of your solution)
works. Pick pathways that have a short distance to being “proven”. The hardest part of getting a company started is the pile of assumptions you have. The faster you can move key items from an assumption to a proven fact, the faster you can grow.”

 

Linsay Moran, Co-Founder, Unwrapit – Sustainable Corporate Giving

“’If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.’ When things feel tough, I remind myself of that! And lean on my co-founders as we all are having the same experience.”

Megan Takeda-Tully, Founder & CEO, Suppli – Provider of reusable takeout containers for restaurant meals.

“When you’re still in the early days of your venture, your first product should likely be <insert your name> as a service.  Everything will and should be duct-taped in the back-end, and your painstaking need to do things manually in the beginning will give you a treasure chest of insights. Then consider actually building.”

Sahar Sam, Chief Science Officer, Solaires Enterprises Inc. – A cleantech company innovating photovoltaic solutions for a cleaner world.

“One advice I received and found very helpful as a woman in a leadership role was to use your empathy to connect with people to inspire and empower them.”