Leading diverse people

Understand human behavior — hiring, developing, and retaining women; develop models and mindsets for diversity in technology

victoria-riess-female-leaders-showing-biases-against-women-leaders — “Be a Lady They Said” Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine

Don’t be like a boy, be a lady, they said.

Don’t play with construction sets, with a chemistry laboratory, don’t build a radio yourself, don’t play rugby, don’t learn how to code, don’t work in the woods. Don’t build things, don’t break things. Don’t challenge conventional wisdom. Don’t be fast, don’t be bold. Don’t connect globally. Don’t be a maker. Don’t become a shaper.

Be a lady, they said. Think like a lady, act like a lady.

But I didn’t listen what they said.

I never was a lady. I continued my way. And here is how I want other women also not be a lady.

Helping women to move their career forward in technology like I did is something I feel passionately about, so much so that since my time at Deutsche Bahn I am championing a holistic response to an industry-wide challenge in technology — diversity. So I regard mentoring, coaching — and sponsoring — female team members at Deutsche Bahn and Mastercard as a critical part of my success.

victoria-riess-rebranding-rosie-the-riveter — “Rebranding Rosie the Riveter”

I am focused on three dimensions —

hiring, developing, and retaining women at all stages of their careers, within Mastercard and in the tech industry.

From a hiring perspective, I am committed to building connections with women in tech from their time in school through their professional careers by conducting Google #IAmRemarkable empowerment workshops and supporting Google Women Techmakers community-led meet-ups. To develop women, I launched new initiatives at Mastercard, including a sponsorship program that pairs high-potential women with VPs and continued the flagship Women’s Leadership Summit. And to retain these women, I built the Women@Mastercard Employee Group to run mentorship programs, speaker series to create visibility and inspire female role models.

victoria-riess-we-are-tech-women — We Are Tech Women

With a high percentage of women and inspiring alumni leaders,

I will feel welcomed to the worldwide women leaders’ family and will enable other women to be their best. I will continue to help women in tech make a global impact and realise their leadership ambitions.

I will represent female leaders’ interests and concerns. I will support other aspiring leaders and the extraordinary global female community by joining Women in Leadership. Dedicated to advancing women’s leadership in technology, I will organise an extensive range of activities, including flagship annual conferences. I will empower my leader peers to achieve impact and influence by providing access to my exceptional network of outstanding global female leaders and help them acquire the mindset and leadership skills to step-up to the most senior roles. And after the leadership program, I will bring my European C-level female leaders’ community to the strong female leaders’ alumni community to help women thrive in today’s complex business environment.

victoria-riess-political-leaders-showing-the-way — Political Leaders Showing the Way

Don’t listen what they said. Don’t be a lady.

Follow your own way.

Helping level the playing field for women in technology —

this is what I am passionate about. So, I will connect, engage and maximise the impact of women leaders.

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