“Motivation comes from working on things we care about. It also comes from working with people we care about.” — Sheryl Sandberg, COO @ Facebook
Being your authentic self is the foundation of who Facebook is as a company. Bringing your true self to work helps inspire those around you, to show vulnerability is brave. Facebook has worked hard at creating an inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds can thrive and succeed. Read more here.
Through personal stories and moments of adversity, Facebook is inspired by its female colleagues and how they manage to bring their authentic self to work.
We caught up with Pearl Oguchi, Quality Assurance Lead @ Facebook, ahead of Women in Tech Africa, here's what she had to say:
“Before Facebook, I wasn’t comfortable being my authentic self at work. And as the only woman on my team, I felt like an outsider and was extremely withdrawn. I just existed. I knew I needed a significant change but I wasn't sure what to change. They say when a woman changes her hair she changes her life, and that’s exactly what I did. I left that company, cut my hair to a small afro and decided to change careers. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next, but I applied for a position at Facebook. When I interviewed, I was a bit nervous I might be judged for my afro, but no one batted an eyelid.
Now as a Quality Assurance Lead at Facebook, I’m given the freedom to express myself in Facebook’s 'be bold' environment. I’m no longer the only woman in the room or worried about my appearance. This has allowed me to focus on my strengths and ultimately rediscover myself. With this new-found self-assurance, I’ve been able to join different resource groups at Facebook. I’m an active participant in Women@, Black@, and Differently Abled@.
Women@ has a very strong presence, and women at Facebook have a voice and are treated equally to men. But, black women are still underrepresented in the tech industry at large and I want to help change this. As a black woman, I worry that if I ever left the tech industry there would be a void. I feel a responsibility to represent my community, do my part in bridging the diversity gap, and bring as many black women into tech as I can.”
Interested in mastering the art of disruption like Pearl has?
Women in Tech Africa is taking place 18th – 19th March in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to speeches and workshops, there will be a MEETUP stage so that attendees can converse with prominent tech innovators from across Africa on a range of subjects. This includes AI, cloud computing, blockchain, tech career paths and empowering female leadership in male-heavy industries.
Facebook is a proud sponsor of the conference.
