Whatcha sipping on this break? I’m in need of a quad espresso. 🤪 

GETTING AHEAD

Confronting sexism head on

Ever been overlooked for a project that went to a male colleague instead? Is your company's leadership team a guys-only club? How about walking into a room where everyone's eager to greet your male boss but you might as well be invisible? Or, when your idea gets criticized while a guy’s suggestion gets all the praise? According to Pew Research, 50% of women in STEM fields have felt the sting of gender discrimination at work.

“But what can I do about it?”
We all need to speak up. 💪 Being a woman in tech is effing hard. And speaking up is HARD too. Especially when it’s your boss or someone of authority.

When dealing with workplace bias, it really boils down to what your boss is like and the situation. If your boss values inclusivity, speak up right then and there (even if it’s in a public setting). Prep and keep a few go-to lines handy to stay calm and get your point across without putting your boss on the defensive. Try to restate what they said and ask them to clarify. If they have any brain at all, they will realize their mistake. Try these:

• “You just said [sexist thing]. What did you mean by that?"

• “Could you explain your point? You mentioned [sexist thing].”

Now, they will try to backtrack by saying something else entirely or playing dumb (shocker!). If they do, try one of these:

• “When you said [sexist thing], it felt like assumptions were being made. It was hurtful and I wanted you to know.”

• “I felt uncomfortable when you said [sexist thing]. It would be much appreciated if you would refrain from addressing me or anyone in this manner moving forward.”

If you’re unsure about your boss’s values or worried about speaking up in a public setting, address the issue privately later, following the same approach. If your boss remains biased or retaliates, write an email documenting what happened and seek support from HR. This way, you’re covered if things escalate. BUT hopefully it does not come to that. Now, go get ‘em.

INCLUSIVITY CORNER

Aicha Evans – Zoox’s trailblazing CEO 🔥 

From her early days in Senegal and Paris, Aicha Evans had her sights set on being a big name in tech – and well, she’s certainly done that. 

Evans’ journey took her to Intel, where she had a v impressive career, spanning a decade. Then boom, in 2019, she lands the CEO role at Zoox, a self-driving car startup. And she immediately kills it at Zoox. Within less than a year, she played a pivotal role in navigating the company through its $1.2 billion acquisition by Amazon. 👀 And get this, she doesn’t just cash in and dash out. Evans maintained her leadership position, and under her direction, Zoox is not just a company working on autonomous vehicles; it's a beacon of innovation, leading the charge towards a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible future in urban travel. *Mic drop* 😛

PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS

Omg stop saying sorry

“Sorry, I’ll stop!”
Okay, shut up. Over-apologizing is not the same as over-complimenting. It sends the message that you lack confidence. It’s also hella annoying.

Here’s what you can say instead:

• Sorry for rescheduling → thanks for being flexible

• Sorry for bothering you → thanks for carving out time

• Sorry for venting → thanks for listening

• Sorry for running late → thanks so much for waiting

• Sorry I had to take that call → thanks for your patience

• Sorry for jumping in → I have an idea that may help

• Sorry for the mistake → thanks for catching that

• Sorry, I don’t get it → Could you repeat that? I just want to be clear

• Sorry, does that make sense? → I’m happy to answer any questions

FRESH DRIPS

I found the world’s best pants

These pants are actually the best 🤩. You can dress them up or down, and I PROMISE you’ll get compliments on them. I toned down the outfit with a henley, but you can certainly jazz it up with a tight mock neck or blouse tucked in.

• Utility barrel pant (color: black)
  Why we love it: roomy, can dress up/down, material gets softer the more you wear and wash, and they look SO good on everyone!

• Henley (color: washed black)

  Why we love it: perf for a loose tuck, makes the look more casual

*Take a screenshot and use Google Lens to find similar and more affordable options 🙌.

FOCUSED VIBES

Never thought I’d be an indie rock fan

Okay, I saw The Beth’s at the Music Hall of Williamsburg and freaked. They fuse pop-punk and indie-pop elements to create a sound that's both energetic and melodic. Check out their latest album, Expert In A Dying Field, during your next debugging sesh or when you’re drafting a boring stakeholder deck.

COMIC RELIEF

Me on LinkedIn lmao

@pasha

what your LinkedIn comments and phrases ACTUALLY MEAN…and here’re some extras for the real ones of you who read 🥰 “I’m currently exploring... See more

Thanks v much for reading, and if you have any ideas for upcoming newsletters (feedback, content, etc.), shoot it our way.

And if you liked this newsletter (or secretly love me 😇), drop it in your fave Discord server, subreddit, Slack channel, etc. – any support means A LOT!