Your career isn’t stuck - you’re playing by the wrong rules
Discover what true inclusion means by exploring practical ways to support neurodivergent colleagues and create genuinely diverse teams.
Think you’re stuck in your career? You’re not. You’re just following the wrong rules. This talk will show you how to get noticed, grow your influence, and finally get the recognition you deserve. Are you working hard, hitting your goals, and still not getting the recognition or growth you deserve? You’re not alone – and you’re not broken. You’re just playing by rules that were never designed for you. In this talk, I’ll share the unspoken truths about career growth in tech, especially for women, introverts, and hidden leaders who feel like they’re doing everything “right” but still getting overlooked. From my experience as a Director of Engineering and now an executive coach for women in tech, I’ll walk you through what actually moves the needle – how to build visibility, influence decisions, and shape your path without selling your soul or burning out. You’ll get a practical and honest framework for driving your career forward on your terms – and stop waiting for permission to lead. This isn’t another “just be confident” pep talk. It’s a real conversation about what works, what doesn’t, and how you can start leading now – even if no one handed you the title yet.
I’m a former Director of Engineering at DigitalOcean with 20+ years in tech, specializing in scalable engineering leadership, decision-making, and high-performance team culture. Today, I speak globally on the patterns that help technical leaders grow from execution to strategic influence. I also host ‘From a Woman to a Leader,’ a podcast dedicated to discussing women’s unique challenges in tech leadership.
I started my tech career as a software engineer and grew into Director of Engineering at DigitalOcean, leading platform and infrastructure teams and scaling organizations through high-stakes growth. Along the way, I learned that strong technical outcomes come from strong leadership patterns, not louder voices or bigger titles. Today, I speak about the shifts that help engineers become influential leaders and help teams operate with clarity, trust, and strategic impact.