Bhawna Jain (Manager of Sales Engineering) and Erin Geiger (Account Director of the Carrier and Wholesale Channel) recently spoke with other female tech leaders during NANOG’s “Women in Tech” panel. This panel focused on the speakers’ career paths, challenges, cultural changes and advice for aspiring women in tech. Check out the full panel at this link and read further to learn more about Bhawna and Erin’s perspectives.
What were your early career and mentorship experiences?
Bhawna: I pursued my education in engineering, where the majority of my fellow students were male; to give you a perspective it was a 1:20 female to male ratio. Although this gender ratio is improving, it provided me with an early lesson in navigating male-dominated environments. As more women enter STEM fields, I’ve observed that many possess remarkable traits such as a strong desire to learn and a proactive, curiosity-driven attitude. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have mentors who encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and taught me the importance of advocating for myself. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with both men and women who have supported my skill development and career progression, becoming true champions of my work. Their guidance and encouragement have been invaluable in shaping my professional journey.
Erin: I initially had an entirely different career. I started with Enterprise Rent-a-Car out of college, mostly working in commercial leasing. I was tired of vehicles after about 8 years, so I got into tech sales through one of my best friends and was given a territory. I was knocking on the doors of small business owners 8 hours a day in Inglewood, California. From there, I worked for an agency where I sold everything from internet access to cloud connectivity, targeting larger enterprises. This role taught me the importance of understanding a business’s unique technological needs instead of just selling them specific solutions. I left that role and went to work for a carrier, got laid off, then worked for a hosted voice carrier. I’d held so many roles up to that point, so I took a sabbatical to think about my next steps. Then, a good friend, who has also been a fantastic mentor, approached me when I started looking for my next opportunity. He asked me to come work with him selling backbone connectivity. I trusted him and gladly joined his team. Three years later, I came to work for Arelion.
How does Arelion differ from other companies in supporting women?
Bhawna: Before joining Arelion, I interviewed at a few companies while I was pregnant. I was nearing the end of a six-month interview process at one company and was invited to a final in-person meeting before signing the paperwork. By then, my pregnancy was visible. Upon arriving at the office, the atmosphere shifted. Instead of moving forward, I was told that the company would be in touch with the next steps, which never came.
In stark contrast, Arelion was incredibly understanding and supportive of my needs as a mother. They simply asked if I was ready to return to work and assured me of their unwavering support in any way necessary. This experience made me feel deeply confident in Arelion’s inclusive and nurturing culture. Their commitment to supporting women is truly exceptional and inspiring.
Erin: Arelion has given me full autonomy to approach current and prospective customers however I see fit. They also provide a rare level of flexibility. They trust me to run my schedule without dictating how I spend every minute of my time. I’ve worked for many companies and have seen the other side of the grass; Arelion is as green as it gets. I plan to retire here. Arelion treats its employees like adults and strives to elevate women to leadership positions. It understands the value of diverse knowledge and provides the support to maximize everyone’s unique strengths.
What challenges have you faced and how can we create a more inclusive environment for women in tech?
Bhawna: In the early stages of my career as a young female engineer, I faced instances of bullying. However, I was also fortunate to receive substantial support from colleagues who valued my expertise. This experience taught me the importance of voicing my opinions and never remaining silent. It instilled in me the confidence to speak my mind assertively. While the technology industry has made strides, there is still significant progress to be made. It is crucial to encourage young women to pursue their interests in technology rather than confining them to traditionally female-dominated careers. This encouragement can begin early by introducing young girls to logic puzzles and science games. Additionally, motivating teenage girls to join computer clubs can help them explore their growing interests and connect with like-minded peers.
Erin: Imposter syndrome is a real thing, but my boss at Arelion told me, “Nobody knows you’re feeling that way. You know what you’re talking about.” This was so important to hear and boosted my confidence significantly. We can create more inclusive environments through mentorship and sponsorship programs that empower young women to excel in the technology industry. Throughout my career, I’ve been grateful for the men and women who lift each other up and champion each other’s work. No matter the industry, this is vital to overall empowerment in any workplace.
While Bhawna and Erin’s experiences at Arelion are inspiring and highlight Arelion’s commitment to supporting women, it’s important to understand the broader challenges that many women face in the tech industry and elsewhere. Gender equality requires systemic changes within culture and policies. Bhawna’s experience with pregnancy discrimination, that was resolved positively at Arelion, illustrates the need for more widespread support for women balancing family and career. Understanding these complexities helps us strive towards gender equality in tech, and in any industry. Learn more about Arelion’s social responsibility work here.
Arelion’s goal is to have women in over 40% of our leadership positions by the end of 2025 and achieve 50/50 gender equality by 2040. Learn more about a career with Arelion here.