According to the Harvard Business Review, 41% of women working in tech eventually end up leaving the field (compared to just 17% of men).  This is a no doubt a disheartening statistic to all of us but it raises a very important point.   It speaks to a problem being faced by women in technology that goes beyond getting girls involved in STEM and entering the IT workforce.  Don’t get me wrong, that’s still important, but…once you land your first tech job how do we ensure women can be successful and happy enough to remain in the field and thrive in leadership roles?  As with all great questions in life, there are no easy answers, but I know of at least three things I am mindful of  that have contributed to my happiness and success that I would like to share with you.

1. Engage in mentorship.  Whether it be a co-worker, an ex-coworker, or a group or organization – talking to other women dealing with the same issues as yourself can be immensely helpful.  Bouncing ideas off of one another or leveraging the previous experiences of a trusted advisor to help with issues you are dealing with today helps us to make better decisions.
2. Pay attention to emotional intelligence.  People operate from emotion far more often than they do from logic.  Understanding and balancing the two can help you navigate difficult situations with ease and diplomacy. Trust your intuition and have solid facts to back yourself up.
3. Grow from challenges.  You will benefit most from difficult situations and people if you have an open mind, a willingness to look and all sides, and the courage to deal with the challenge head-on.  The greatest opportunities for learning and growth come from these , often unpleasant, situations – make the most of them!

Those are my top 3 but there are a million other ways – post the ways you guarantee your own success in the comments section below!