HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — When Sandra Lopez, North American co-chair of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance, and founder and investor with Ambi Ventures, first broke into the technology industry, she made a decision: she would try to be like one of the guys.
Lose the dresses, lose the feminine shoes, wear suits, play golf with the men, hit up every happy hour.
It was a decision made with facts in mind, she said, speaking Nov. 8 at the SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit, presented by Women in Technology Hollywood (WiTH): women account for a mere 15 percent of those in technology leadership roles, a worse figure than the 25 percent of those in Hollywood top jobs.
But after a few years, it had become apparent: “I am a walking costume,” Lopez said during her opening keynote presentation “Technology as a Leadership Driver for Women.” She could dress and act like the guys, but they still saw a Latina, a woman. So, instead, she stepped out of the costume, and embraced being a women in technology, and all that entails.
“Don’t let your fear get in the way of acquiring your goals,” she said, noting that every rung of the ladder climbed is likely to come with increasing levels of loneliness. “Over 60 percent of women leaders say they feel lonely and depressed.”
The solution? In a word, community.
Women in technology fields today should do everything in their power to surround themselves with mentors, sponsors, and their own personal board of advisors, Lopez said. And be sure to make yourself as visible as possible, she added.
“Say yes to the meeting, say yes to the project, say yes to being part of the community group,” she said. “You’re going to learn, and you’re going to expand your influence. Cultivate connections and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“And when you make it to the top, send the elevator down to bring other people up.”
Christina Aguilera, VP of product, enterprise technology for Crunchyroll, and president of the WiTH Foundation, kicked off the event by noting the SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit marks the 10th anniversary for WiTH.
“This day every year is special to me,” she said. “For the past 10 years we’ve brought together the most talented, driven and brilliant people. What we do is so incredibly impactful. WiTH is truly a group of community allies who open doors for each other.”
Aguilera called on attendees to make connections with each other throughout the day, “because you never know what doors that will unlock.”
The SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit, which serves as the tent-pole fundraiser for WiTH and its associated charities, was dedicated to Cass Warner, the visionary and influential granddaughter of Warner Bros. co-founder Harry Warner.
A renowned filmmaker, author, and advocate for women in the industry, Cass Warner dedicated her life to preserving the Warner family legacy and championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.
She passed away March 14, at the age of 76.
“She was a refreshing representative of our industry,” Aguilera said. “Her passion for empowering women and advancing inclusivity lives on.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Gretchen Libby, director of media and entertainment specialists for AWS Media & Entertainment, Games & Sports. She stressed in opening remarks that technology is what drives innovation, and that inclusivity and having different voices represented makes all the difference between success and failure.
“Organizations like WiTH are important for providing a forum and opportunity for women to succeed,” she said.
Co-located with the Infinity Festival at the famed AVALON Hollywood nightclub and events space, the full-day Summit was sponsored by Amazon Web Services, Ateliere, Fortinet, Microsoft, Fincons Group, Qvest and Point B, with the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA) and EIDR serving as association partners.