Peer to Peer Magazine

26 M ore and more women are obtaining roles in traditionally male-dominated fields of legal technolo – but representation doesn't automatically translate into success. Women must be able to successfully advocate for their skills and abilities in today's competitive work environment. As two women in the tech field, we will use this article to draw on our own experiences and provide practical advice on how to speak up, earn and amplify respect from colleagues, and most importantly, feel powerful in our roles as innovators and leaders. Know your stuff The legal tech world is constantly evolving – keeping up with the latest applications and software, although challenging, is essential to stay competitive in today's tech work environment. The second you get left behind, you put yourself at a significant disadvantage. Not only in terms of career growth but also how you are perceived in your firm and among your peers. Ask for projects that will help you (or force you) to learn something new. Continuous learning will set you up for future opportunities. Immerse yourself in the latest trends. When you learn a new skill, take that opportunity to educate others around you. Knowledge sharing is a crucial skill that will help reinforce your reputation as the expert in the room – not only does learning new skills benefit you, but also those around you. It also helps make the case for you to attend conferences and training; you have proven yourself to be the person who doesn't horde knowledge but shares it with the team. The other significant component of "knowing your stuff " is simply being confident. Confidence stems from a combination of self- awareness and knowledge. If you are the expert in the room, flaunt it. At the end of the day, competence leads to confidence. Be the bearer Knowing how to deliver bad news is such a critical tool to have in your back pocket. Even the most seasoned professionals may find this task difficult; no one wants to be the bearer of bad news to attorneys – especially when it involves a court- ordered deadline. Women In Tech: Be Heard, Be Respected, Be Powerful B Y D A W N S H E R I D A N A N D M I R I A M P A R R I S H

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