As women account for more and more leadership positions across the title industry and technology sector, a trio of them shared their experiences with The Title Report.
Interviewees offer advice on breaking through glass ceilings, getting proper messaging out to young girls with title or tech aspirations, and finding proper support channels.
Progress in women’s representation across the title industry and technology sector is allowing for countless success stories and breaking of glass ceilings once thought to be impenetrable.
A few of those women sat down with The Title Report to share their own journeys as well as ways for young girls to cast aside preconceived notions of tech leadership positions being a man’s world.
According to the 2021 State of the Title Industry Report from PropLogix, women make up more than 80-percent of total title workers. However, when the study looked at the top-earning and decision-making roles within organizations like owners, partners, VPs, or executives, 48-percent were female.
Even with women making up just under 50 percent of the total U.S. workforce, they currently account for just 27 percent of computing and mathematical jobs, according to employment data aggregator Zippia.
Despite advancements made in certain areas, women also still face more barriers to promotions and career growth, a 2022 study from McKinsey & Co. said. Those findings point to 86 women being promoted to management roles for every 100 men across every industry. When isolated to technology positions, that result dropped to 52 women for every 100 men.
“Even with a lot of work left to do, there are a lot of female executives in our industry right now,” Aparo said. “Those female executives should be open to mentoring other women and encouraging them to make their own leap, follow their dreams. I’m also seeing many, many more women-owned businesses than when I started 36 years ago. That’s very encouraging and inspirational.”
“I always hope women are surrounded by people who encourage them,” Aparo said. “Having a role model is so huge. I’d tell them, ‘You are bigger than you think. Learn how to code. You can do whatever you want to do. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt, CEO and founder of New Jersey-based IT firm TechWerxe, said young women students constantly hearing about technology jobs being male dominated can create a self-fulfilling prophecy dynamic.
“Who ever told women that they can’t be scientists, tech leaders or mathematicians?” Lakhani-Bhatt asked. “It’s hard to comprehend what kind of mindset it takes to tell someone that. In general, women have to recognize challenges unique to them but also those that exist for men and women. It’s very important to recognize that difference.”
Earlier this year, Sonya Rarey established Birchway Title Agency near Cleveland, leaving behind a previous long-time industry role.
“We need to keep sharing success stories with young women,” Rarey said. “I just had a conversation with one of them last weekend. She said, ‘I’m looking at pivoting to another career.’ I told her, ‘No matter what you’re trying to accomplish, we are our only limits. Our own mentality is all that limits us.’ I encourage every candidate out there to seek clarity on what aligns with their internal desires. If you’re working in the field you love, that you have passion for, it can be truly great and very rewarding.”
“Never stop learning and finding new ways to do things,” Rarey said about advice for young women with title industry- or technology-related aspirations. “I want to be a resource for whoever wants to break into this business or start their own business. Being someone in that position, and getting genuine, honest support from just one person can make a huge difference.”
Full article here, https://www.thetitlereport.com/Articles/Women-in-title-tech-detail-progress-offer-advice-88599.aspx