Leading the Hewlett Packard’s Women in Technology group: Datagals

Since I joined Vertica in 2015, I have served on the steering committee of DataGals, first as a member and then as Co-Chair. DataGals is the Hewlett Packard Enterprise group for Women in Technical Career Paths. Currently Vertica and Datagals belong to Microfocus which acquired HPE Software. You can read more here.

The group was founded in 2013 by Shilpa Lawande, the former Vice President of the Big Data Platform of HPE. It was inspired by Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean in and the rising popularity of the lean in circles. The goal of the group was to provide an informal environment where women can get together, find a source of great mentorship, strong role models, and camaraderie.

Over the past four years the group has grown a lot and also has received a lot of support from the three companies we have transitioned through, which are HP and HPE.

HPE is committed to women in tech in general. In fact, in 2015, it was named one of the top 100 best Working Mother’s Companies (25th year on this list). Among the organizations HPE works with is the Anita Borg Institute that champions women technologists and the key roles they play in technical innovation. The Anita Borg institute organizes Grace Hopper one of the biggest conference for women in computer science. HPE also sponsors the Simmons Leadership Conference.

Vertica organizes its own Big Data Conference. It happens every year and attracts our biggest customers. Engineers share the latest features they have built in the big data platform and we also host a Women in Technology breakfast that has been extremely successful.

You can read more about what we do in our 2017 Year in Review.