Lindsay Jarrett

I would say it would be both my upbringing and my own perseverance. A big role model for me growing up was my mom and her being such a strong woman in her specific field - that was very inspiring to me. And then, also my own perseverance to keep going in technology, and to make a difference, and to stand out, even in a space that there aren't as many women. It's probably a mix of both.

I would say to young women in my field, from one young woman to another, go for opportunities even if you don't feel like you are applicable for that specific role. I feel like the worst thing anyone can ever tell you is no. So definitely reach out and take advantage of any opportunity and every opportunity, because at the end of the day, down the line, you're not going to regret what experiences you have had. You're going to regret, likely, what you weren't able to do. Don't sit back in that fear of, oh, I haven't been able to do, or I haven't done this, and instead step into that room. Even if, you know, it's your first time there, don't let the sense of imposter syndrome prevent you from being great and being able to do all these things you look forward to and are passionate about. From one young woman to another, just keep going, and don't let whatever you haven't done, or your past, define where you're headed in your future.

I'd say tech is one of those fields that's always growing, so at times it feels challenging to keep up with everything that's new, whether it's a new language learning model, the different coding languages that are being used, databases, tech stack, etc. It's an industry that's always growing, which is really fun for someone who doesn't want to stay stagnant in their career. But also it can feel hard to keep up with at times, so I'd say it is a challenge at times when there's so much going on in that field to focus on certain things and be able to keep up with the current flow of the field.

Some really important values to me would be courage as well as integrity. I'd say the courage and perseverance to continue to go on despite whatever may be happening, that may be going according to plan or may not be going in order, is definitely really important. I'd say also patience. I feel like that's one that definitely stands out to me, because I feel like in a world that is very go-go-go, and it's always something going on, being able to slow down and really think about your action, your plan, and your future is also very important as well. And just in general, being very compassionate and kind with everyone you come across, and being that light in a world that at times can feel dark is also important.