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>> NEW MEXICO TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL CREATES OPPORTUNITIES
FOR TECH BUSINESSES IN THE STATE TO GROW AND CONNECT.
EVERY YEAR THROUGH THEIR WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY AWARDS THEY
RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN WORKING IN THOSE FIELDS
AND NMIF CORRESPONDENT FURHANA AFRID SITS DOWN WITH CHAIR OF
THE COUNCIL, AND THREE OF THIS YEAR'S WINNERS TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES.
>> IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU, JULIANNA
SILVA, REGIONAL MANAGER OF WESST, KIM GRIEGO, ROBOTICS
TEACHER AT CLEVELAND HIGHSCHOOL, WELCOME.
LISA ABEYTA, FOUNDER APPCITYLIFE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LISA ADKINS, CHAIR WOMAN OF NEW
MEXICO TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF
YOU FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS. I WANT TO START OFF BY ASKING
YOU, LISA, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HONOR WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY?
>> IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT OFTEN IN THE
SPOTLIGHT. AND, WE WANT TO BRING THEM
THERE. THERE IS SOME AMAZING
COMPANIES THAT ARE RUN BY WOMEN, AMAZING EDUCATORS AND
WOMEN HELPING ALL KINDS OF BUSINESSES GROW AND LEARN AND
WE NEED TO MAKE THEM THE FOCAL POINT OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO IN GENERAL.
>> AND PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT AND RECOGNIZING THE WORK, I AM
INTERESTED IN LISTENING AND HEARING ABOUT WHAT THIS
RECOGNITION MEANS TO EACH OF YOU AND YOUR CAREERS.
JULIANNA. >> THIS IS A TREMENDOUS HONOR.
I THINK THE OTHER NOMINEES AND AWARDEES ARE JUST STELLAR
WOMEN. TO BE AMONG THEM IS REALLY
AMAZING BUT ALSO IT IS REALLY GREAT BECAUSE I WORK WITH AN
AMAZING TEAM AT WESST AND FOR ME THE AWARD IS ALSO ABOUT
THEM AND ALL THE WORK WE ARE DOING WITH ENTREPRENEURS.
>> IT IS SO AMAZING, IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO
SHOW MY STUDENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WORK HARD, YOU GET
INVOLVED AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED AND GO OUT THERE
AND TRY AND JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO AND IT IS JUST A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SHOW MY STUDENTS.
>> YOU'RE BE A ROLE MODEL, AN EXAMPLE TO ALL OF THESE
TEENAGERS THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH AT SCHOOL.
I AM SURE IT IS A LOT OF POWER FOR THEM TO SEE YOU GETTING
RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR WORK. >> IT IS EXCITING FOR ALL OF
US. WE HAVE GOTTEN A REAL KICK OUT
OF BEING RECOGNIZED. >> HOW ABOUT YOU?
AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU IN YOUR
CAREER? >> THIS IS REALLY KIND OF
HUMBLING. IT FEELS WONDERFUL BUT BECAUSE
THIS IS AN HONOR FROM OUR PEERS, TO HAVE THAT VOTE OF
CONFIDENCE TO ME IS EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT.
AND IT REALLY MOTIVATES YOU TO WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU LIVE UP
TO WHAT THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY BELIEVE ABOUT YOU.
AND, IT IS EXCITING THAT WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF DOING SOME
EXCITING THINGS BUT THE HONOR ITSELF ISN'T, LIKE JULIANNA
SAID, IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT YOURSELF IT IS ABOUT YOUR
WHOLE TEAM. YOU REALIZE WITHOUT THE KIND
OF TEAM THAT IS BUILDING THINGS, THAT IT REALLY COULD
HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. >> WOW.
IT IS AMAZING, IT IS VERY UPLIFTING TO ACTUALLY SEE SO
MANY WOMEN AND TEENAGE GIRLS HONORED FOR ALL THE WORK THEY
ARE DOING IN TECHNOLOGY, SO, IT IS REMARKABLE TO HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION AS WELL. I WANT TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT
ON EACH OF YOUR STORIES. AND WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR YOUR
CAREERS AND TECHNOLOGY. JULIANNA, YOU'RE WORK,
TECHNOLOGY TOOLS THAT YOU PROVIDE TO ENTREPRENEURS IS A
VERY CRITICAL COMPONENT FOR SUCCESS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.
>> RIGHT. >> I AM WONDERING WHAT IMPACT
TECHNOLOGY HAS HAD ON YOUR CAREER?
>> IT IS VERY INTERESTING, I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED MATH AND
SCiENCE. I WAS TALKING TO KIM ABOUT
THIS EARLIER, AND MY HUSBAND OWNS A FURNITURE STUDIO HERE
IN TOWN AND I HAD TO TEACH MYSELF HOW TO CREATE A WEBSITE
FOR OUR BUSINESS BECAUSE AT THE TIME WE WERE SMALL AND
COULDN'T REALLY DO IT OR PAY SOMEBODY TO DO IT.
SO, I GOT VERY INTO TECH AND THEN I REALLY WANTED TO HELP
FRIENDS WHO ARE ARTISTS UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE
TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR BUSINESS AND I HAVE BEEN WITH WESST FOR
A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AND WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT BEING AT
WESST IS THAT I GET TO WORK WITH A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURS
LEARNING HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY EVERYDAY IN THEIR BUSINESS,
BECAUSE IT AFFECTS US IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND
REALLY HELPING THEM ACHIEVE A COMFORT LEVEL WITH TECHNOLOGY
AND MAKING IT WORK FOR THEM RATHER THAN BECOME A SLAVE TO
IT. IT IS A PASSION OF MINE TO
HELP ENTREPRENEURS TO THAT AND I SEE IT HAPPENING ALL THE
TIME FROM THE SOLO ENTREPRENEURS TO THE LARGER
COMPANIES, JUST HAVING THAT "AHA" MOMENT OF IMPLEMENTING
EVEN JUST A SIMPLE TECH TOOL LIKE TWITTER IN THEIR
BUSINESS, IT IS REALLY UPLIFTING.
>> WHEN YOU SEE THIS TECHNOLOGY WORKING FOR ALL
ENTREPRENEURS YOU WORK WITH, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOU AND
YOUR CAREER? HOW DO YOU VIEW TECHNOLOGY AS
HAVING INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE? >> I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED
TECHNOLOGY AND SOMETIMES TO THE CHAGRIN OF PEOPLE AROUND
ME. IT IS LIKE "PUT YOUR PHONE
DOWN," BUT, I AM GETTING REALLY GOOD INFORMATION TO
PARTAKE IN THIS CONVERSATION FROM MY DATA.
MY SISTER, WHEN I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE, GAVE ME A BOOK
ON BASIC, HOW TO WRITE BASIC PROGRAMMING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE DID. I GUESS SHE SAW MY BRAIN WORK
THAT WAY AND I NEVER PURSUED THAT TYPE OF CAREER IN
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY BUT I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED TECHNOLOGY.
I AM A MAC GIRL. I LOVE THE ELEGANCE OF
TECHNOLOGY. THAT MIGHT SOUND NERDY, BUT I
SEE IT BEING USEFUL BUT I ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY AND THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOMETHING NEGATIVE IN OUR LIVES, IT IS
EVERYWHERE AND IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE EVERYWHERE.
>> TALKING ABOUT BEING EVERYWHERE, KIM, YOU'RE
TEACHING ALL THESE STUDENTS HOW TO INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY
INTO THEIR LESSONS AT CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL.
I REMEMBER WATCHING A VIDEO INTERVIEW IN WHICH YOU SAID,
TECHNOLOGY IS NECESSARY FOR STUDENTS TO GET THROUGH LIFE.
SO, I AM WONDERING, WHAT ROLE IS TECHNOLOGY PLAYING IN YOUR
CAREER AS A TEACHER? >> WELL, ESPECIALLY AT THE
SCHOOL THAT I AM IN, WHICH IS -- HAS A HUGE
INFRASTRUCTURE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND OUR SMART BOARDS AND
TABLETS, I MEAN, IT IS HOW WE TEACH, HOW WE GET THE
INFORMATION OUT. I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE
TO TEACH ROBOTICS SO I AM TEACHING MY STUDENTS ABOUT THE
TECHNOLOGY. WE GET TO BUILD ROBOTS, LEARN
PROGRAMMING, ENGINEERING DESIGN, BUT THE STUDENTS HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP ENHANCE
THEIR LEARNING AS WELL AND IT IS JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR ME TO WORK WITH THE KIDS AND I REALLY DIDN'T PLAN ON MY
CAREER TAKING THIS TURN. MY LICENSE IS FOR MATHEMATICS
AND WHEN I WAS STUDENT TEACHING I HAD A WONDERFUL
MENTOR TEACHER AND HE KEPT TELLING ME, YEAH, MATH IS
GREAT, BUT, CHECK THIS OUT, LOOK AT THESE ROBOTS, YOU'LL
LOVE THIS. YOU CAN USE ALL THE MATH YOU
KNOW AND ALL THE SCIENCE AND APPLY IT.
HE CONTINUED TO MENTOR ME AND PUSH ME AND I REALLY FOUND
THAT I ENJOYED IT AND I WANTED TO CONTINUE LEARNING.
JUST SO HAPPENED THE NEXT YEAR THERE WAS A PROGRAM THAT THEY
WANTED TO START TO TEACH ROBOTICS AND I WAS MORE THAN
HAPPY TO JUMP INTO THAT ROLE, FEARFUL, SCARED, INTIMIDATED
BUT IT HAS GROWN INTO A VERY WONDERFUL PROGRAM, THE KIDS
LOVE IT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WE GET TO COMPETE ANNUALLY
WITH STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THESE STUDENTS REALLY ENGAGE WITH
THE TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING AND NOT BEING AFRAID.
>> YEAH, SOMETIMES THAT FEAR IS PRODUCTIVE AS WELL.
IT PUSHES YOU TO PUSH YOUR OWN LIMITS AND BOUNDARIES.
I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT NOW TO THE
ENTREPRENEUR ON THE TABLE, LISA LISTED APPCITYLIFE AMONG
THE 20 HOTTEST STARTUPS. WAS IT PART OF YOUR CAREER
PLAN TO START YOUR OWN HOT COMPANY?
>> NO, ACTUALLY IT WASN'T. AND THE FUNNY PART IS I AM IN
THE MIDDLE OF WRITING A BOOK AND THE TITLE IS "ALL I EVER
WANTED TO BE WAS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM," THE TRUTH
IS THAT I HAVE ALWAYS EMBRACED WHATEVER I HAVE DONE AND LOVED
IT. SO WHEN I WAS A STAY-AT-HOME
MOM, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. I WAS THE STAY-AT-HOME MOM
THAT BAKED BREAD, WALKED TO THE LIBRARY WITH THE WAGON AND
CAME HOME WITH BOAT LOAD OF BOOKS.
I FORMED COMMITTEE AND MADE NEW COMMITTEES IN PTA SO THAT
I COULD DO STUFF. I VOLUNTEERED 20, 30 HOURS A
WEEK. I LOVED BEING A STAY-AT-HOME
MOM. >> WHAT CHANGED?
>> WE HAVE ALSO ALWAYS BEEN A FAMILY THAT HAS BEEN CENTERED
AROUND TECHNOLOGY. EVEN MY GRADUATION PRESENT WAS
THE BRAND NEW COMMODORE 64. I WAS ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE
IN MY COLLEGE WHO ACTUALLY TURNED IN TERM PAPERS THAT
WERE PRINTED ON DOT MATRIX PRINTERS RATHER THAN A
SELECTRIC TYPEWRITER SO I ALWAYS EMBRACED NEW TECHNOLOGY
AND WHEN I GOT MARRIED, I MARRIED SOMEONE WHO WAS A
SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR, SO IF IT CAME DOWN TO BETWEEN, BEING
NEWLYWEDS, BUYING ANOTHER CAR OR A VERY NICE SOUPED UP
COMPUTER, WE BOUGHT THE COMPUTER.
AND, OUR KIDS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTO TECHNOLOGY AND IT WAS IN
THE KITCHEN TABLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME OF
THE STUFF THAT MY HUSBAND WAS DOING THAT I STARTED THINKING,
THERE IS SOME THINGS THAT AREN'T BEING ANSWERED IN THIS
WHOLE NEW WORLD AND THAT IS WHERE THE WHOLE INSPIRATION
CAME, SO, WHAT IS INTERESTING, IS THAT THE VERY WOMEN WHO ARE
SITTING AT THIS TABLE ARE A LOT OF THE REASONS AS TO WHY I
AM STILL DOING WHAT I AM DOING.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID, I
REACHED OUT TO THE NEW MEXICO TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL'S WOMEN IN
TECHNOLOGY AND ASKED QUESTIONS, SHOWED UP AT
BREAKFAST, LISA CAN ATTEST, I ASKED QUESTION AFTER QUESTION.
TRYING TO LEARN WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW TO BE ABLE TO RUN A
BUSINESS. AND JULIANNA CAN TELL YOU THAT
I HAVE ACTUALLY ACCESSED THEIR RESOURCES AS WELL AND ASKED
THEM QUESTIONS. IT HAS BEEN AMAZING THE AMOUNT
OF SUPPORT THERE IS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS HELPED THIS
WHOLE INSPIRATION COME TO LIFE.
>> YOU SEEM TO BE DOING A LOT MORE THAN JUST BEING AN
ENTREPRENEUR. YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR OWN PEER
NETWORKING FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.
TELL US ABOUT THAT. >> YEAH, THAT WAS AN
INTERESTING COLLABORATION THAT STARTED LATE LAST YEAR.
I WAS ACTUALLY AT A STARTUP WEEKEND EVENT WITH JESSICA
MATTHEWS AND SHE IS A LAWYER HERE IN TOWN, SERIAL
ENTREPRENEUR IN HER OWN RIGHT, AND WE ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION
WITH HILLARY RANDOLPH, SHE IS A JEWELER AND MAKING THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY THAT IS SOLD ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND WE
WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF WE WANTED
SPECIFIC KINDS OF TRAINING TO UP OUR GAME TO A NATIONAL,
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, WE HAD TO GO TO CONFERENCES IN SAN
FRANCISCO, IN NEW YORK, AND WE THOUGHT, WHY DON'T WE FORM A
COMMITTEE THAT ALLOWS US TO BRING IN ENOUGH REVENUE TO
BRING IN THOSE EXPERTS TO NEW MEXICO, FLY THEM IN FOR THE
WEEKEND AND THEN UP EVERYBODY'S GAME.
AND, SO, WE LAUNCHED HOPE-PRENEURS WITH THAT VERY
IDEA IN MIND. THAT IS, WE WOULD PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO THE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE BY BEING
ABLE TO BRING IN EXPERTISE THAT HELPS US ALL RAISE THE
LEVEL OF WHAT WE ARE DOING. >> I LOVE HEARING THE WORD
SUPPORT. THAT HAS BEEN COMING UP A LOT
IN SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD AND TO YOU, LISA,
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUPPORT, HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN
SUPPORTING AND HIGHLIGHTING THE WOMEN IN TECH.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I AM A WOMAN IN TECH.
I HAVE BEEN IN TECHNOLOGY FOR 30 YEARS.
I OWNED A BUSINESS. WE SPECIALIZED IN DESK TOP
DEVELOPMENT AND DESK TOP SUPPORT.
SO BEING A WOMAN IN TECH YOU WANT TO SURROUND YOURSELF BY
WOMEN IN TECH AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER AND COLLABORATE.
SO I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL ABOUT SIX
YEARS AGO WITH THE FIRST ANNUAL WOMENS TECH EVENT AND
WAS ASKED TO HELP PUT IT ON. SINCE THEN, I HAVE BECOME
CHAIR WOMAN AND WE DO AN ANNUAL EVENT AND OUR WOMEN IN
TECH CARE GROUP IS A FORCE OF NATURE.
I MEAN, IT IS JUST SO MUCH FUN TO GET THESE WOMEN TOGETHER,
WE USUALLY DO A BREAKFAST, WE HAVE GREAT SPEAKERS, SOMETIMES
WE DO WINE TASTING EVENTS WHERE WE ALL MEET AT A
RESTAURANT AND HAVE WINE AND PAIR IT WITH FOOD AND HAVE
GREAT CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT OUR CHALLENGES.
AND, SO, YOU KNOW, I AM A WOMAN IN TECH AND I WANT TO BE
WITH OTHER WOMEN IN TECH. I WANT TO SUPPORT ALL
ENTREPRENEURS, SO -- >> THAT IS PART OF THE
CHALLENGE, I SUPPOSE. YOU HAVE TO FIND EACH OTHER
AND CREATE THESE NETWORKS, LIKE YOU'RE WORK AND YOUR WORK
AS A COUNCIL AND WE NEED TO FIND EACH OTHER AND THERE ARE
SO MUCH MORE POWER IN NUMBERS. LET'S SWITCH A LITTLE BIT TO
THE IMPACT OF YOUR WORK IN EACH OF YOUR AREAS.
JULIANNA I WANT TO START WITH YOU, WHAT ARE WOMEN
ENTREPRENEURS ACHIEVING AS A COMBINED TECHNOLOGY TO THEIR
BUSINESSES? >> YOU KNOW WHAT, THE BIGGEST
THINGS I SEE WOMEN ACHIEVING WHEN THEY REALLY HAVE THAT
"AHA" MOMENT IN EMBRACING WHATEVER TECHNOLOGY IT IS.
IT CAN BE, LIKE I SAID, QUICKBOOKS OR LEARNING HOW TO
SCHEDULE FACEBOOK POSTS. THEY GAIN A CONFIDENCE AND IT
IS SOMETHING THAT THEY TELL US OVER AND OVER AT WESST AND IT
IS WHY I AM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WESST TECHNOLOGY
TOOL KIT, AND IT IS NOT JUST WOMEN BUT I SEE IT MORE WITH
WOMEN, IS THE CONFIDENCE THEY GAIN IN BEING ABLE TO GO TO
THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR BUSINESS.
IT IS REALLY AMAZING, AND LIKE IT GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS JUST
TALKING ABOUT IT. AND WE HEAR IT OVER AND OVER
AGAIN. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS IF
YOU HADN'T HELPED ME LEARN THIS.
I JUST COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT. SO, FOR ME IT IS REALLY SEEING
THAT SPARKLE IN THEIR EYES WHEN THEY GO, I CAN DO THIS.
>> HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THEIR FEAR OF LEARNING TECHNOLOGY?
HAS THAT BEEN AN ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH?
>> THAT IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY PASSIONS IS I HELP PEOPLE WITH
COMPUTER STUFF ALL THE TIME, EVEN FRIENDS, AND I HAVE
DEVELOPED A WAY OF TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY THAT ISN'T
TECHNO SPEAK AND MY ENTREPRENEURS THAT I WORK WITH
FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT AND I LET THEM JUST TALK ABOUT
THEIR -- THERE IS THAT WORD COMFORT.
THEIR FEARS AND I GO, NO, YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS.
LOOK, YOU'RE ALREADY DOING IT. AND SO, THAT IS REALLY MY
PROCESS IS JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION AND GETTING THE
TECHNOLOGY INTO THEIR CONVERSATION.
>> AND TECHNO SPEAK, LET'S EXPLAIN IT IN A MANNER IN
WHICH WE ALL UNDERSTAND. KIM, IN TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY
WHO IS PLAYING WITH TECHNOLOGY ALMOST EVERYDAY WITH THE
STUDENTS THAT YOU WORK WITH, YOU USE ACTIVITIES TO TEACH
KIDS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT LESSONS AND I AM WONDERING
HOW THAT EXPOSURE TO TECHNOLOGY IS INFLUENCING
THEIR DECISIONS TO PURSUE A CAREER IN TECH.
>> WELL, I AM GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE A NEW
AREA. A LOT OF STUDENTS KNOW THEY
ARE GOOD IN MATH, KNOW THEY ARE GOOD IN SCIENCE BUT MAYBE
DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO APPLY THAT AND MY GOAL IS TO
ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO OPEN THEIR EYES UP TO OPPORTUNITIES
IN STEM FIELDS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT IS
WHERE THE JOBS ARE GOING TO BE FOR THEM AND IT JUST GIVES
THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, TRY SOMETHING
NEW, WORK AS A TEAM, PROBLEM SOLVE, THEY ENGAGE IN CRITICAL
THINKING, TROUBLE SHOOTING. IT IS REALLY JUST EXCITING TO
SEE THEM DIVE IN AND TRY SOMETHING NEW AND THEY ARE
REALLY -- MY STUDENTS ARE GOOD WITH TECHNOLOGY SO I DON'T SEE
THAT BEING A PROBLEM. THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT,
JUST OPENING THEIR EYES TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO THEM AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, JOBS, ESPECIALLY
WITH MY FEMALES. YOU KNOW A LOT OF THEM AREN'T
EVEN AWARE OF WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT THERE
SO, EVERY WEEK, I TRY TO INTRODUCE MY STUDENTS TO NEW
INNOVATION, NEW CAREERS. A LONG WITH THE ROBOTICS, WE
LOOK INTO DIFFERENT AREAS OF STEM AS WELL AND WE TALK ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE, JUST SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO PREPARE
THESE STUDENTS FOR WHAT IS COMING AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
AND STEM IS SO IMPORTANT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, MATH, THAT IS WHERE IT IS AT.
>> I WANTED TO EXPLORE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SEEING WHERE
GIRLS HAVE BEEN GETTING INTO MATH AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE
BEEN DOING WELL BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT THEY SEEM TO
DROP OFF. WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN?
>> I NOTICE AROUND MIDDLE SCHOOL SOMETHING CHANGES,
MAYBE ATTITUDES, A LOT OF STUDENTS ESPECIALLY FEMALES,
THEY KNOW THEY ARE GOOD AT MATH AND SCIENCE AT THAT POINT
BUT MAYBE ARE A LITTLE FEARFUL OF DIVING IN OR TAKING THOSE
CLASSES THAT ARE ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE BASED, MATH BASED
AND IT IS MY JOB AND THE JOB OF ALL OF THE EDUCATORS AND
EVERYBODY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO TRY TO RECRUIT THOSE
STUDENTS AND RETAIN THOSE STUDENTS.
AND IT IS A CHALLENGE. IT REALLY IS.
WE SEE STUDENTS JOINING THESE CLASSES BUT KEEPING THEM THERE
YEAR AFTER YEAR AND ENCOURAGING THEM IS TOUGH.
>> HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THAT CHALLENGE?
>> WE JUST KEEP ENCOURAGING AND PRAISING THE STUDENTS WITH
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INVITING THEM IN, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES,
THINGS LIKE TECH CLUBS, ROBOTICS CLUBS, CHALLENGES AS
FAR AS LIKE THE ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS, JUST GIVING AS
MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO THESE STUDENTS AS YOU CAN TO ACHIEVE
SUCCESS, TO EXPLORE THEIR STRENGTHS.
I THINK WE'RE DOING A LOT BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE TO BE DONE
AS FAR AS RECRUITING AND RETENTION BUT IT IS PROMISING
TO SEE THAT MORE AND MORE FEMALES ARE GETTING INVOLVED
AND BECOMING INTERESTED. STILL IN MY CLASSES, LESS THAN
1/3 ARE FEMALE BUT THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT FROM 10 YEARS AGO.
>> PUSHING THE NEEDLE EVER SO SLIGHTLY EVEN THOUGH IT IS
SMALL BUT THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, TALKING ABOUT TOOLS AND APPS THAT MAKE OUR LIFE SO
MUCH EASIER AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH LIFE, WITH
APPCITYLIFE, AND THE CITY GUIDE IN THE PALM OF YOUR
HAND, WHAT IS THAT DOING TO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY? >> INTERESTING THING IS THAT
WAS MY FIRST IDEA OF -- THAT IS ACTUALLY THE INSPIRATION
BEHIND LAUNCHING APPCITYLIFE WAS BEING A MOM IN MY OWN
COMMUNITY AND I HAD WRITTEN ABOUT BUSINESSES FOR THE
DECADE BEFORE THAT AND UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES
OF GETTING INFORMATION OUT. BUT, WHAT HAPPENED AFTER I
LAUNCHED THAT FIRST APP IS THAT WE BEGAN TO SEE WHERE THE
REAL NEED WAS, WAS CONNECTING GOVERNMENT INFORMATION WITH
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE. AND, WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH
THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO HELP THEM LAUNCH THEIR OPEN
DATA INITIATIVE, AND OPEN DATA IS JUST ANY TYPE OF
INFORMATION THAT IS PROVIDED EITHER BY UNIVERSITIES OR
GOVERNMENTS THAT IS FREE FROM COPYRIGHTS SO ANY ENTREPRENEUR
CAN TAKE THAT INFORMATION THAT THEY ARE GETTING IN REALTIME,
THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED CONSTANTLY, AND THEY CAN DO
SOMETHING WITH IT. SO, THE WHOLE GOAL BEHIND THAT
IS TO GET PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO START CREATING
INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.
BUT, WHAT WE HAVE ALSO FOUND IS THAT CITY GOVERNMENTS
REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL CONDUIT THAT
PROVIDES OFFICIAL INFORMATION SO THE BIGGEST APP THAT WE
STARTED WITH WAS ABQ RIDE AND IT GAVE -- ANSWERED ONE SIMPLE
QUESTION, "WHERE IS THE BUS?" BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY WERE
GETTING CALLS ON AN AMAZING NUMBER FROM PEOPLE CALLING 311
AT ALMOST $2 A CALL SIMPLY TO FIND OUT WHERE THEIR BUS WAS.
SO, THAT WAS A PROBLEM THAT WAS COSTING OUR TAX DOLLARS
QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO ANSWER THOSE.
>> SO, THE APP WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN TRYING TO
PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS.
I WANT TO GET TO A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS QUICKLY, SO I
AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF THERE.
I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN LEARNING FROM EACH OF YOU, YOU
KNOW, JULIANNA WITH YOU FIRST, WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST
CHALLENGE AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?
>> WE ALL EXPERIENCE A LITTLE CHALLENGE ALONG THE WAY, DON'T
WE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AND AT THE
BREAKFAST, WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY AWARDS BREAKFAST, ONE REALLY
HIT IT ON THE HEAD AND I THINK MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE HAS BEEN
MY OWN ATTITUDE ABOUT MY WORK AND WHAT I AM DOING AND, YOU
KNOW, IT IS REALLY ABOUT LETTING YOURSELF BE PASSIONATE
ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND CONNECTING TO OTHER WOMEN IN
THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE
THAT SAME PASSION AND NOT JUST THINKING YOU'RE ALL IN IT BY
YOURSELF. >> KIM HOW ABOUT FOR YOURSELF?
>> BIGGEST CHALLENGE I THINK IS TRYING TO OVERCOME FEAR.
YOU KNOW. IN MY FIELD OF TEACHING
ROBOTICS IT IS EVER CHANGING. THERE IS ALWAYS NEW
INFORMATION AND I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO LEARN THE NEW
INFORMATION, BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THAT TO MY STUDENTS.
BUT, I DO BECOME FEARFUL AND IT IS HARD FOR ME SOMETIMES TO
OVERCOME THAT FEAR. IT IS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
BUT, I HAVE LEARNED THAT YOU JUST GO WITH THE FLOW, YOU GO
IN THERE AND SOMETIMES YOU SUCCEED AND FAIL AND YOU LEARN
FROM FAILURES AND -- >> HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THE
FEAR? WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> MAN THAT IS A HARD QUESTION.
I JUST KIND OF TELL MYSELF, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN
YOURSELF, YOU CAN DO THIS AND YOU KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT AT TIMES, THINGS ARE DIFFICULT AT TIMES, BUT IT IS
JUST, BASICALLY, I HAVE TO TALK MYSELF INTO A LOT OF
THINGS AND EVEN LIKE TODAY, MY FEAR OF SPEAKING PUBLICLY, BUT
YOU JUST GO OUT AND DO IT AND YOU JUST ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE
AND YOU TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH.
YOU THINK OF ALL THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN AND DO
IT. >> FROM AN ENTREPRENEUR'S
PERSPECTIVE, YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
>> I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS NOT DOUBTING
MYSELF OF SITTING AND LOOKING AND SAYING, OKAY, I AM NOT
QUALIFIED ON PAPER TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS I AM DOING AND
ONE DAY I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT AND MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT
ME AND SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT QUALIFIED, YOU ARE
DOING IT AND YOU ARE GROWING IT AND YOU HAD ALL THESE
SUCCESSES." AND I REALIZED I WASN'T TAKING
ALL THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INTO ACCOUNT.
I WAS STILL LOOKING AT WHETHER I SAW MYSELF AS QUALIFIED.
I WAS MOVING FORWARD BUT I WASN'T SURE I SAW MYSELF AS
QUALIFIED. >> YOU THINK THAT IS PART OF A
PROBLEM THAT WE GENERALLY AS WOMEN MIGHT HAVE?
>> WE ARE *** OURSELVES. >> WOMEN ARE ***
THEMSELVES, YOU CAN SIT IN A ROOM LIKE THIS AND LOOK AT
EVERY OTHER WOMAN AND SAY, OH, WOW, SHE WORE A JACKET, I
SHOULD HAVE WORN A JACKET, AND YOU START DOUBTING YOURSELF
AND YOU COMPARE YOURSELF TO THE SUCCESSES OF OTHER WOMEN
SO IT CAN CAUSE YOU TO STOP LOOKING AT YOUR OWN SUCCESSES
AND SAYING, YES, I CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS AND ONCE YOU
GET OVER THAT FEAR AND YOU ONCE YOU START SAYING, I CAN
DO THIS, THEN IT IS REALLY EXCITING THE THINGS YOU START
THINKING ARE POSSIBLE, YOU THINK THIS IS NOT JUST A
SOLUTION FOR ALBUQUERQUE BUT FOR THE U.S. AND THEN YOU
START SAYING, NOT JUST THE U.S. BUT THERE IS OTHER
COUNTRIES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, SO, YOU START
THINKING REALLY BIG AND YOU -- THAT VOICE STARTS COMING BACK
AND SAYING, YES, BUT, ARE YOU REALLY THE ONE TO DO IT AND
THEN YOU HAVE TO TELL YOURSELF, YES, IF YOU DON'T
WHO WILL. >> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE. WHAT HAS BEEN HARD IN YOUR
CAREER IF IT HAS AND HOW DID YOU GET OVER THAT?
>> BALANCE. YOU KNOW.
WANTING TO MAKE EVERYTHING PERFECT AND WOMEN ARE DRIVEN.
WE'RE PASSIONATE. WE GET THINGS DONE.
IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO BALANCE FAMILY AND WORK LIFE
AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS GOING ON, SO, THAT IS A
CHALLENGE AND I THINK THE WAY TO OVERCOME IT IS TO ASK FOR
HELP AND LEAN ON YOUR NETWORK AND GET THE SUPPORT WHERE YOU
CAN. >> GET SOME SUPPORT AND DON'T
BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP, GET OVER YOUR FEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GLAD TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU.