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Embracing Women in Agile

How can women lean in and thrive… and how can we help others to do the same?

Takeaway points from ezTagile’s February webinar, Embracing Women Leaders In Agile: Lean In & Thrive.

As a little girl, my questions of gender inequality were often met with the answer of “it’s a man’s world.” Of course, at that time, what I thought of as gender inequality was more about who was allowed to get dirt on their clothes and less about who was represented on executive boards.

As I have aged, I have grown comfortable with the idea that it is not just a man’s world and, part of my duty as a woman is to not accept that misconception. This world is supposed to be for everyone.

It is no different in the agile community. There is room for all of us here, but it is no secret that we are challenged by a lack of inclusion. We all deserve a seat at the table and there are things we must do to ensure our voices are heard. On February 12th, ezTagile took a step forward by hosting Embracing Women Leaders In Agile: Lean In & Thrive, a webinar exploring gender diversity in agile.

This webinar was a panel discussion for agile experts to share their testimonies and tips on how to navigate gender in the agile workplace and community, followed by a question-and-answer session. I left this session feeling engaged and empowered, I hope the following takeaways leave you feeling that way too.


How Can We Lean In & Thrive?

  • Be a lifelong learner and have a growth mentality.

  • Fake it till you make it.

  • Give yourself space to fail and look for leadership that allows you to fail as well. It is important to feel safe and have room to grow.

  • Have courage and confidence, believe in yourself.

  • Network, join communities and start conversations.

  • Say yes, volunteer for things you don’t already have experience with.

Tips for Women:

  • Align yourself with others- networking is invaluable, join a community (or multiple)

  • Be persistent. If someone doesn’t listen, repeat yourself, you deserve to be heard.

  • Be open to feedback and give opportunities for others to provide you with feedback.

  • Grow individualized relationships with coworkers. This can help to make work more enjoyable and also will help you to have an advocate that will support you.

  • Help each other. Too often, women view each other as competition, but we are not each other’s enemies. Share growth opportunities with other women and back them up when their voice is not being heard.