Precisely Women in Technology: Meet Sarah

While the technology continues to be a male-dominated industry, more women are pursuing careers in the space, driving meaningful change and innovation. At Precisely, recognizing the impact that women have in tech and championing their contributions is a top priority. To support this, the Precisely Women in Technology (PWIT) network, was created as a dedicated place for women to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. Over the years, the PWIT network has grown significantly, and to celebrate the remarkable women within the organization, one member is spotlighted in this blog every month. Continue reading to learn more about Sarah Warren, Principal Solutions Engineer, and her experience working as a woman in tech over the last seven years.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in technology?

For me, technology is a field that I fell into unintentionally. Post-college, I accepted an intern position at Pitney Bowes on the presales team. At the time, I didn’t have a firm understanding of what presales even was, but I knew I had a love for problem solving and for learning new things, and it just felt like a natural fit for me. There’s not a day that goes by where I feel like I made the wrong choice in entering technology.

Who has been your greatest professional mentor? What’s one thing you have learned from them?

My current manager, Kristin Aldridge, Sr. Director, Sales Engineering. Prior to being under her leadership, it had been a turbulent time for me – I had three different managers in less than three years. Kristin changed that trajectory by providing me with the consistency and female mentorship I had been previously lacking. Her dedication and commitment gives me the assurance I need to grow in my career.

What has made her a truly great mentor is her advocacy and humanity. She has encouraged me to take ownership of projects and items that I wouldn’t otherwise have and has a certain knack for putting people first and setting other’s expectations appropriately.

What’s the biggest risk you took in your career? What was the reward?

Joining a technology company and entering a technical role in general was a big risk for me. As someone who comes from a mathematical background it was a big switch up. I went from one of the few areas that are still traditionally done with a pencil and paper, to eight-hour workdays in front of a laptop screen. The only prior experience I had with technology was an “Intro to Programming” class my first year of college, and to say at the time that it was not an enjoyable experience for me would be an understatement. But I quickly learned that not all tech roles require being a coder, and that there’s a wide breadth of opportunity for even those with soft skills to enter the industry.

The reward has been a challenging environment where I’m always pushing myself to grow, where the field is always changing, and new technology and ideations emerge every day. I’d be remiss if I didn’t consider the connections and the community I found at Precisely rewarding as well. I’m grateful to have taken the risk.

As a woman, what challenges have you faced in the technology industry? How have you overcome them?

One major challenge area that comes to mind is my lack of confidence. Working in a male-dominated industry, I’ve found that there’s a certain degree of doubt or hesitancy that often falls on us as women, especially when coupled with being early-in-career as well. And a lot of times, this doubt and hesitancy is not a conscious thing that’s being exhibited, but it has definitely hampered my confidence.

While still a work in progress, I’ve begun to overcome my challenges with confidence by taking on more speaking opportunities outside my usual scope of work – like presenting during an Engage Sales Kickoff session and during an Engage all-hands call. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t put in quite a bit of extra preparation and practice into it, but I’ve found the best way to learn and to challenge myself is by doing!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? How do you apply it to your personal and professional life?

The best advice I’ve ever received is to be receptive to feedback and use it to continuously grow and improve. I recall one instance where a sales manager shared with me that oftentimes a simple yes or no is more effective in answering a question than providing a long-winded explanation. This piece of feedback made sense to me as I often find I’m excited to share the knowledge I have on a topic, but when speaking with C-suite executives, simple and quick responses are nearly always the better approach.

While this example is applicable for a professional setting, this is also sound advice for one’s personal life as well. Our personal relationships are what support us through life, so having the ability to listen to feedback from a friend or loved and to act on it and make yourself a better person is a key life skill to have. When you’re uplifted, you can uplift others in turn.

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to younger women entering the industry?

Go against the norm, defy the status quo, and don’t be afraid to be yourself. As women in a male-dominated industry, there’s a certain box we’re often expected to fit into. Break out of that box and let your individuality shine. And the intention here is about more than being you so that you can feel accepted as your authentic self, it’s also about using your individuality to approach a problem in a unique way. Who knows? Maybe your unique approach will make a historically long process shorter, or maybe it will reduce inefficiencies and lead to cost savings – all very real and tangible benefits, which would be brought on by new perspectives only you can provide. If you’re even remotely considering a role in technology, I’d say just go for it! It’s beyond rewarding.

As a successful woman in technology, what’s one thing you do to pay it forward and advocate for other women in the field?

Within Precisely I serve as the Guest Speaker Committee Co-chair for the Precisely Women in Technology (PWIT) network. This position affords me the ability to organize virtual events where our members can hear our speaker’s career journey, gain new perspectives, and make new connections. External to Precisely, it’s always been a goal of mine to serve as a role model to young girls. When possible, I encourage and support other women to build new skills and participate in stretch projects that will give them hands-on experience in the ever-evolving tech space.

Learn more about us on our Careers and Culture page.