March 8th is International Women’s Day. The mission of IWD for Women in Tech is to celebrate digital advancement and champion women forging innovation through technology. CleanSlate is celebrating by recognizing the women on our team all week long. Follow along each day to learn more about them, their roles, and why they believe celebrating IWD is important.
WOMEN OF CLEANSLATE
Name: Vanessa Avila
City: Raleigh, NC
Occupation: Demand Generation Lead & Sales Ops Specialist
Tell us about yourself:
I’m the Demand Generation Lead and Sales Operations Specialist at Cleanslate. I am originally from New York and moved to North Carolina late last year. I am recently engaged and a dog mom to two pups, Ben and Leo. In my free time, I like to try new restaurants and explore my new city.
Who is your biggest influence?
My mom is my biggest influence. She’s been my rock and best friend since the beginning. She provides the best advice and helps guide me to make the best life decisions. She has taught me to dance to the beat of my own drum and to always put my mental health before anything.
How would you define women’s empowerment?
Developing or creating opportunities that uplift women personally and professionally
What did you want to be growing up?
I wanted to be everything when I was growing up… A vet, pediatrician, hair dresser, a restaurant owner.
If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t let what others say about you influence how you view yourself
What do you enjoy most about your role and working at CleanSlate?
I enjoy working with everyone on the team. Cleanslate has a welcoming and inclusive culture so it makes working with everyone come easily. I love my role because I get to work with people across all our departments, meet our partners, and help grow the company. Every day is different and challenging in the best way possible.
Is it important to celebrate IWD?
Yes, I think it’s great to celebrate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. This year specifically, the theme is to create a gender-equal world.
Why do you think it is important for young girls to consider roles in STEM?
There is a huge lack of diversity and most STEM roles are led by males. Encouraging young girls to pursue a career in STEM, helps narrow many gaps.
What are the main challenges facing women in IT presently? How do we overcome them?
Women in tech feel that their voices are not being heard, they do not fit in, and the pressure of balancing work life and family life. Organizations need to be flexible and make it a point to help nurture and grow women into leadership positions. Finding a sponsor and a supportive network will also help immensely.