By: Madhu Vorha, Director of Engineering at VMWare and Thrive-WiSE Advisor

We learn from everything around us, consciously or subconsciously. Simple daily movements register into our subconscious minds, and eventually mold us into who we are today and will become tomorrow.

I learn from everything around me. Raised in India by professor parents in a gender neutral way, while I was acutely aware of the gender divide socially, my upbringing ensued my independent thinking. When people commented on my STEM choices in school, or my decision to continue working while raising a family, I took it as an innocent comment from someone who probably was unaware of the “new” world. While I was progressive in my own mind, I failed to realize I was totally blind to the fact that there is an area that needed attention, support and a change. 

My learning journey continued – both as the mother of a daughter making STEM choices, and also as a tech leader balancing work and family. My views started changing however when female students from my daughter’s high school CS class dropped drastically to 2 from the original 10+. As the gender gap in tech careers became clearer to me, I invested my time to the cause by getting involved at the grassroots level with middle and high school girls. I also mentored women in the workforce, all in an effort to support. After all support is good, right?

Well almost! When the world got hit by COVID and the Great Resignation followed, it widened the gender divide in the workforce, especially in tech. And it hit close when I lost half of my team to it, especially women! And not everyone left for a new job, for some home life took priority, some left because they lost child or senior support or someone in the family needed attention and the list goes on and on. I thought about it as well – quitting so I can make meals, or take the dog out for a walk etc etc. And with that came the realization that while grassroots is needed, we need the right support beyond that as well. We not only need to hire women, we need the ability to retain women! We need to create an environment where women can balance, contribute, achieve and thrive. 

Thrive-WiSE provided me with the perfect opportunity. Thrive-WiSE’s mission to  retain women+ in tech resonated with my experiences. After a few conversations, I joined Thrive-WiSE as an Advisor. What an opportunity it truly has been!

Giving Back

Being an advisor with Thrive-WiSE gives me an opportunity to spotlight women leaders in tech by inviting them to various events like Thrive-WiSE’s monthly campfire sessions where women in their current roles can hear directly from the role models, learn and reach out as needed. As an advisor I also play an active role in moderating these sessions, asking the questions that are in the minds of many and help get guidance and answers. In addition to campfire sessions, advisors and board members decide the agenda for the bi-yearly micro-conferences and invite speakers and panelists. And in my role I influence that keeping in mind the latest opportunities and challenges.

Build Connections

For me personally what I cherish the most is the connections I have built within Thrive-WiSE’s board and advisory council. We lean on and learn from each other and come up with creative ways to solve the challenge we are all equally passionate about. I lead Thrive-WiSE’s fundraising program, and that helped me refresh old and build new connections with leaders from various companies at the same time help me explore and learn an area I have not dealt with before. 

Continued Learning

Thrive-WiSE gave me the opportunity to learn the intricate world of non-profits, fundraising, help plan events like the micro conferences, all of which helps ready me for a future board position when the opportunity presents itself. 

Thank you Thrive-WiSE for the opportunity to give back, and for the opportunity to learn and grow personally as well!