By Chelsea Dixon, Policy Fellow, SVLG
Three days into my first week with SVLG, I joined Women in Tech Connect with my colleague Isabel. The event, hosted by the Bay Area Women’s Employee Network (BayWEN) at Texas Instruments, was supported by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the Society of Women Engineers, Santa Clara Valley. It was part of SVLG’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) Consortium, which aims to connect employee groups from across Silicon Valley companies to share best practices, build community, and advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This particular event brought together women in the regional technology sector to share experiences and practical advice for building careers in the industry.
First, we started with TI BayWEN Bingo, an icebreaker which encouraged us to meet people with similar professional and personal interests, or who had unique experiences to share. I met women who have lived in more than one country, volunteer for causes they care about, enjoy spicy cuisine, love to dance, and love to bake desserts. It was an easy, lighthearted way to start conversations and find common ground before moving on to more focused conversations.
The main program then featured roundtable sessions on five topics: imposter syndrome, handling failure, being part of an underrepresented group in tech, mentorship and allyship, and owning your career. Isabel and I rotated through three tables, each led by facilitators from the ERG Consortium who encouraged sharing and practical takeaways.
At the imposter syndrome table, our skilled facilitator identified specific ways imposter syndrome can show up, and led us through cognitive, behavioural, and mindfulness strategies to manage these challenges. The mentorship and allyship discussion explored how being a mentor or mentee differs from being an ally, and how both roles can contribute to professional growth and stronger networks. In the owning your career discussion, facilitators and co-participants alike offered advice on goal setting, communicating priorities with managers, advocating for fair compensation and work-life balance, and applying the briefcase method during negotiations.
As part of SVLG’s ERG Consortium programming, this event was a great introduction to the kind of collaboration and knowledge-sharing that shape Silicon Valley’s work and learning culture. It brought together participants at many stages of their careers, from first-year university students interning for the summer to senior directors with two decades of experience, each offering their own perspective. By the end of the evening, I left with new contacts, practical strategies, and a better understanding of the many ways women in tech are supporting each other. It was also a reminder of how spaces like this can help participants share knowledge and encourage one another to take the next step in their careers.
