Celebrating International Women's Day at Isos

Isos is celebrating International Women’s day by highlighting some of the amazing women in our organization! We have compiled some powerful statements from women at Isos, as well as a Q&A interview with our “First lady,” and VP of Marketing, Beth West.

Q: What challenges have you faced as a woman in tech?

Beth: I’ve been at Isos for almost 12 years and I’ve seen tremendous growth and change in our company during those years. Back when I started at Isos, the tech industry was—and still is, to some degree—very male-dominated. I was the only woman working amongst 20 men, and I’m not going to lie…it felt a little lonely at times. I absolutely loved and adored the men I worked with (and still do…), but there is really something special about female friendships, as well as the perspective females have to offer in the workplace. I missed being able to bond with and work alongside other women.

Fortunately, Isos has grown quite a bit in the last few years and now we have a ton of amazing women who work here, so my cup runneth over. I’ve also noticed an overall increase in women in tech in recent years, which is obviously an amazing and fantastic trend that I hope is here to stay.

Q: Who is one woman throughout history who inspires you?

There have been so many amazing women throughout history that it’s hard to pick just one. I recently read an online article about Amelia Earhart, so she is top of mind for me at the moment.

She overcame so many obstacles in her life. She suffered from chronic pain from a terrible case of the Spanish Flu, overcame bankruptcy, dealt with her father’s alcoholism and eventual death, and probably most importantly—faced unrelenting bias and discrimination as a female pilot in the male-dominated world of aviation.

But she persevered through all of these obstacles, and never gave up on her dream. I can’t even begin to imagine setting out in an open plane, alone, to cross the Atlantic Ocean. That is a level of bravery that I will never have nor comprehend.

Q: If you could have a conversation with your younger self, what advice would you give her?

Oh wow, this is a great question. I would tell my younger self so many things. For starters, don’t sweat the small stuff. That saying has become a bit of a cliché, but it’s really true. In the long run, what really matters are those intangible things like your health, family, friends, job satisfaction, and overall happiness.

In ten years, you’re not going to remember (or care) that somebody cut you off on the highway, or that a coworker took credit for your work in a meeting, or that you spilled coffee on yourself on a random Tuesday. You’re going to remember the good times you had with family and friends, the vacations or adventures you went on, and the successes you achieved in your career.

I think I’d also tell her that, while hard work and dedication are essential to moving forward in your career, it’s also important to retain humility, as well as empathy and compassion for those around you. You could be the most successful person in the world financially, but if nobody can stand being around you or working with you, is that really success? I certainly don’t think so.  

Q: What Isos value do you think you embody the most?

I hope that I embody a little bit of all of them, but I would like to think that I embody “Give and Gain” the most. I truly believe that the more that you give to somebody––whether it’s a spouse, family member, friend, or co-worker—the more you receive back from them.

At work, I try to give everything I can to my co-workers, whether it’s advice, guidance, a listening ear…whatever they need at that given moment. I think that being an open, giving, kind person to your co-workers creates a sense of security, camaraderie, and motivation.  And when people feel secure, motivated, and part of a team that cares about them, that’s when they do the most exceptional work.

Some Wise Words from Women at Isos 

“The most empowering women I know work at Isos. We support and encourage each other, drive each one of us to grow and learn, we teach and share knowledge, and we strive to celebrate the strengths that each of us bring with us to Isos. These are my IsosLadies!”

- Malka Jackson   

“Working at Isos, I get to be a mother first. Isos offers a flexible, remote first workplace and it has given me the opportunity to spend more time with my kiddos. Not to mention the support and encouragement from the ladies here at Isos is unlike any other I have experienced, we truly build and uplift each other “

- Desi Byers   

“I've never worked anywhere like Isos. Our culture is built around personal growth and bringing our best to our colleagues and clients. The network of amazing, intelligent and supportive women here is remarkable and I am grateful to now call them my dear friends.”

- Chrystal Wyse   

“At Isos Technology I have been able to not only grow my career from an assistant into a Director role but grow my family as well. The support I had from my team while I was out was unmatched. After my first child, I came back to a promotion and after my second I came back to being added to the leadership team. The trust in women of this organization is incredible. I am so glad to be here!”

- Lia Wood   

“The women at Isos especially embody our values “aim high and think big” and “give and gain”. The support I have received from ladies here to move up in my career has been invaluable. They are always willing to teach me new things and push me towards opportunities I didn't even know about!”

- Angel Brown