Meet NCWIT research staff and learn more about the NCWIT Workforce Alliance in this new series of Q&As! Member representatives meet with researchers on a quarterly basis for engaging meetings on timely topics. Learn more and find information on how to become a member at ncwit.org/workforce/.
What is your role at NCWIT, and how does your expertise support member organizations in the Workforce Alliance?
I am the Director of Organizational Research & Change at NCWIT and a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Colorado. I’ve overseen our research and advising with our Workforce Alliance members for well, more years than I’m allowed to say out loud! My research focuses on how gender, race, class, and sexuality shape our identities, educational and workplace environments and society at large…especially when it comes to contexts related to tech and popular culture.
Can you share an example of a recent project or research initiative you’ve worked on and its impact?
Helping organizations implement the Tech Inclusion Journey — our research-based platform that helps technical teams implement strategic culture change — is probably one of my favorite projects. It’s been exciting to see teams really transform their cultures using this unique approach that breaks the mold when it comes to most attempts at culture change.
What do you find most rewarding about working with Workforce Alliance member companies?
I love the energy and sincerity of many of our partner companies. Their dedication to creating better workplaces is inspiring and partnering with them has helped us make better tools for change.
What’s one actionable insight or tool you’d recommend to companies looking to improve their recruitment and retention efforts?
Well, it’s hard not to recommend our NCWIT’s Tech Inclusion Journey® and Powertilt tools — they are unique and incredibly effective when it comes to creating real change in an organization or team. .
What inspired you to pursue a career in social science, particularly within the tech workforce?
Probably my earlier experiences as a middle and high school teacher inspired me to pursue this career. Watching my students and other youth in my life, I became particularly interested in how youth navigated issues related to gender, race and sexuality, how this shaped their identities and future life trajectories, and the ultimate effect this has on shaping society and how we live our lives.
What’s a fun fact about you that Workforce Alliance members might be surprised to learn?
Hmmmm, well maybe that I play piano and taught it all through graduate school — and it turned out to be the most lucrative thing I did at the time lol
If you weren’t a social scientist, what career path would you choose?
Despite the piano confession, I think I’d want to be a travel writer — blends my love of visiting new places, seeing new things, eating good food, putting together social events and writing all in one fell swoop 😉
