In This Story
At "Strategies for Success in Navigating Male-Dominated Industries,” an event hosted last week by Break Through Tech Mason, students asked a panel of four women working in the tech industry about their experiences in various roles and companies. The panelists, Jocelyn Juarez, Nora Marcos, Christina Tran, and Daphne Wotherspoon represented Lockheed Martin, Cisco, CACI International Inc., and Akkodis, respectively, and shared insights drawn from their experiences in risk and compliance, service delivery, cybersecurity, and IT sales, respectively.
During the event, the panelists discussed various aspects of success in male-dominated industries, from handling microaggressions to addressing apparent pay gaps, said Kamberi. She noted panelists emphasized “achieving work-life balance, effectively communicating with leadership, and honing leadership skills, including addressing personal weaknesses.” They also touched on the importance of self-confidence and delegating tasks when pursuing new opportunities.
Break Through Tech Mason peer leaders led the event, with Information Sciences and Technology major Anushri Baskar moderating the panel.
Computer science professor Shahnaz Kaberi, who leads Break Through Tech Mason, extended her gratitude to each of the panelists, saying they “provided invaluable insights, answering questions and offering great advice to our undergraduate women studying computer science and information sciences and technology.”
One noteworthy part of the discussion surrounded how men can actively support women in the workplace through both affirmation and ensuring equal opportunities. Marcos underscored the power of collective affirmation, which can foster an inclusive environment where everyone's contributions are valued.
“Themes of language mindfulness, mentorship, and self-advocacy resonated throughout the discussion,” said Kamberi. “Overall, the session encouraged proactive engagement, mutual support, and continuous learning to thrive in challenging environments.”
Break Through Tech Mason extends thanks to the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Northern Node for helping reach potential panelists as well as to the panelists, listed below:
- Jocelyn Juarez, a senior analyst in Cyber Governance Risk and Compliance at Lockheed Martin, works in her company’s Rotary Mission and Systems vertical.
- Nora Marcos, Director of Service Delivery at Cisco, leads a team of sixty-five people. Marcos is responsible for delivering advanced services supporting the U.S. Army, defense agencies, SOF units, and DoD organizations in Germany. She served in the army for 30 years as a Signal Officer.
- George Mason senior Christina Tran will work for CACI International Inc. After graduating in May with a bachelor’s in information sciences and technology with a concentration in cybersecurity.
- George Mason alumna Daphne Wotherspoon is Akkodis’ Director of Sales for U.S. markets and the DC region and has over two decades of experience in the information technology field.