In today’s episode of Women Who Lead, Teresa assembles women who’ve thrived in tech and STEM positions. Despite women accounting for just 28% of positions, these distinguished women discuss their experiences in real estate tech, overcoming obstacles in a male-dominated field, and their professional expertise in their fields.
Meet the Techies:
- Patty Smejkal, Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, HomeServices of America
- Katie Stephans, Technology Director, HomeServices of America
- Maggi Wiegert, Regional Marketing & IT Director, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate & HomeServices of Nebraska
How did they get started in real estate?
- Patty - Unplanned. At the time worked at Wells Fargo supporting their mortgage side, and once she left there was an opportunity at HomeServices, which she took. She learned the entire real estate industry and has been there for the last fifteen years.
- Katie - Unplanned. She was working in development when she met a guy whose wife was a top sales rep for a mortgage company. She got a referral to the company and started as a trainer. But she found a passion for the real estate process and enjoys continuing to learn.
- Maggi - Her mom was a real estate agent, she started there in college at HomeServices of Nebraska, and started as a help desk person who was the go-between explaining how to use technical applications.
What are some things we need to do to be wary of scams online?
- Maggi - If you have to ask the question “Is this legit?” it probably isn’t.
- Katie - Understand what you’re doing and what you’re putting out there about yourself, your life, and your finances. Find ways to protect yourself online.
- Patty - Make an effort to keep work and personal stuff separate. Keep your personal stuff out of a work email. Email platforms offer two-factor authentication that drastically reduces someone’s capability to steal your information.
Pivoting:
- Patty - She went to college and got a degree in sports medicine, worked in the field for a few years, and women in that field were not accepted. She left the job she had and went to a temp agency, and they were the ones who sent her to Wells Fargo in IT.
- Katie - One of her biggest risks was coming to HomeServices. She had worked at her prior team for over a decade and she ended up turning down the job she spent ten years working towards. It was one of the best decisions she ever made. She branched out, grew, and learned more about real estate and technology than she ever could’ve imagined.
- Maggi - She had been at CBS Home for a long time, and the pivot from a few hundred to over a thousand people to see the merge come to fruition was a risk. Familiarize yourself with new sales, new managers, new everything. It was worth the initial risk.
Salesforce was big on mentorship, and Teresa wants to mentor more women. Were you ever mentored/what do you believe in mentorship?
- Patty - Back when she started in IT, she had the opportunity to be mentored by some senior IT women, which were few and far between. She loves that (pre-covid) Microsoft had a program that offered all these different experiences to expose high school women to the tech world and the fields. It was cool to see these women, answer their questions, and explain what they would’ve done differently. They’d ask for advice, and Patty would always say “don’t be afraid to fail.” Fail stands for “First Attempt In Learning” and she continues to do that today.
- Katie - Mentoringship doesn’t have to be a big, program-driven event. As leaders, it’s being generous with your time and your experience with the people around you. Katie’s had amazing opportunities to learn more from the people around her, even if they’re in an informal setting, as long as she’s open to those opportunities.
Programs or thought processes in pursuing tech jobs:
- Patty - It’s not a formal program, but because it has exploded, it was areas that have become completely specialized. There are multiple specialties people might not realize, so try out the different areas and see which specializations interest and inspire you. Don’t lose sight of the personal relationships and communication skills you have.
- Katie - It’s not just about the STEM skills, because those can be taught. Mastering communication and your ability to work with others will be incredibly impactful to your success.
- Maggi - When she hires, she looks at customer service skills before IT experience. Bosses and hiring managers look for people who can communicate with others.
What would you recommend?
- Maggi - Cybersecurity, it’s a growing space that is necessary for almost any business.
- Katie - Data science is a big thing, especially with the growth of AI. Everything we do is online, which is communication and user experience - those “soft-skill” tech roles are a great opportunity for a lot of people.
Overcoming Biases:
- Maggi - She started right out of college and looked young. So now that she’s hiring people, they’re often shocked that she’s their boss. Nothing major. There have always been women in leadership roles and IT that she’s kinda seen and felt influenced by.
- Katie - When she started everyone called her kiddo. Coming from a male-dominated field, you have to find different ways to deal with people. That might mean adjusting her communication or style depending on who she was talking to. Know your stuff and be confident, because you’re going to have to prove yourself to them.
- Patty - That situation happened, especially in sports medicine. As a student trainer, she worked and there were not a lot of women standing on the sidelines of sports events. But push through, know your stuff, and be confident to earn their respect.
Book Recommendations:
Remember, always bring women up the ladder with you as you climb to the top. For more great content from Teresa, connect with her on LinkedIn, join her Women Who Lead Series on Facebook and subscribe to her YouTube channel.
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