Women in Tech event highlights tech experts, addresses key issues and draws large audience

Building trust, authenticity, mentoring and networking were a few of the topics discussed by panelists at the first Women in Tech event at the University of Kentucky. Organized by women from across UK’s campus including Information Technology Services (UK ITS), UK ITS - HealthCare and IT departments, the Celebrating Women in Tech panel event drew an audience of over 150 attendees in person and online.

Led by women with decades of experience within a variety of tech industries, the panel participants reflected on their individual experiences and career journeys. Panelists were asked a series of questions moderated by Mary Kathryn Starkey, analytics director for Institutional Research, Analytics and Decision Support (IRADS).

From work-life balance to salary negotiations, panelists offered distinct advice garnered from their experience throughout their careers. Panelists included Katie Dickens, Chief Digital and Information Officer, UK ITS - HealthCare; Rosalynn King, Data Management & Data Quality Manager, UK HealthCare; Tracy Peck, Computer Support Specialist, UK Research Information Services; Retta Ritchie, UX Specialist, UK Information Technology Services and Heather Stout, Executive Director of Information Technology, KY Transportation Cabinet.

For some, the key to maintaining a work-life balance begins with redefining its meaning.

“There are times when I found extreme happiness in pouring a lot of extra hours and timing to work, and others where I needed to be able to say let me make sure that I’m taking time for myself personally,” said UK HealthCare Chief and Digital Information Officer Katie Dickens. “So, it really isn't just one size fits all, it's really about how each of you as an individual can find that harmonization that works the best.”

Another work-life balance perspective prioritizes building a trustworthy team. Heather Stout is the executive director of information technology at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and spent time building a trustworthy team.

“If there's an emergency issue that arises that we know in technology, that happens all the time, that you have a team of people that you can rely upon and you don't have to stop everything you're doing to kind of address that,” Stout said. “Building that team really has helped me to be able to have a better work-life balance.”

Data Management & Data Quality Manager of UK HealthCare Rosalynn King discussed her experience when she first began looking for a mentor and was indirectly told “no.”

 “It took me a while to process that and not internalize that as rejection,” King said. Now as a mentor, King says finding what she was looking for in a mentor has informed her mentorship journey.

“I want for somebody to be genuine, and they didn’t necessarily have to look like me, but just be genuine with me as far as your experience…so somebody who was authentic because that helps to build trust,” King said.

Finding an informal mentor is something UX Specialist with UK ITS Retta Richie did by learning more about people in the industry she admires.

“Find people in the industry that you really admire. Why do you admire them and then understand that reading their articles, reading their books, that kind of thing, is going to help inform you: ‘What do I like? What don’t I like? How do I want my career to progress?” Richie said. “So, I think that is important too — you can find mentor in different ways."

Richie also touched on salary negotiation and said it’s good to know not only what you are worth, but what public and private tech sectors are paying.

“I feel like having your champions within the organization that see your work and value your work, and then when it comes time for you to possibly get that raise or get a new position, they're there telling people what you've done,” Richie said.

UK Research Information Services Computer Support Specialist Tracy Peck shared her experience about how she learned to trust herself and be more confident.

“As my career progressed and I started traveling, and I was doing rollouts and deployments and such and started working with the guys, and I was like, I know just as much as they do,” Peck said. “Why am I selling myself short or not speaking up to my capabilities because I know just as much as they know—that really helped instill a lot of confidence.”

Women in Tech will host an informal coffee hour on Friday, Sept. 6 from 8:30. Everyone is welcome. For more information about WIT, visit their website. Sign up for UK ITS news, alerts and tech tips here. You can also follow UK ITS on social media — now including TikTok.