WOMXN OF COLOUR AUSTRALIA

As a Womxn of Colour in Tech, I understand the importance of representation, great allies, employee resource groups and career development programs in the workplace. I have been extremely fortunate to have had remarkable mentors early in my career that helped me grow and succeed in an industry that I am passionate about. 

As my career progressed, I started to notice that there were increasingly fewer opportunities for advancement. I struggled, in the beginning, to understand these obstacles and challenges because it was all new to me. While I still had some amazing people mentoring and supporting me, it was clear I was in a space that didn't have room for me, it wasn’t built for me. 

 I was now in a space that was less friendly and less accessible. My knowledge, experience and abilities no longer mattered - and my ideas & contributions were disregarded. Instead, my gender and race dominated many conversations which progressively created roadblocks. Being an ONLY compounded the trauma because nobody else could relate.

The ‘Likability Paradox’ was now my new reality.. 

I found myself enrolling in countless leadership and structured mentorship programs in hopes of a breakthrough. However, most programs approach diversity from a linear gendered perspective, ignoring the broader complexities of intersectionality in diversity.

There is definitely a GAP.

I saw this as an opportunity to participate in the conversation and do my part in advocating for transformation towards creating these spaces for Womxn of Colour. 

"Sometimes, we don't choose our paths, our paths choose us"

It was at this point that I first came accross a Workplace Survey Report that the WoCA organization had just published. This 2021 survey seeked to understand the workplace experiences of Womxn of Colour in Australia.  The results, though unsurprising, were heartbreaking and quite confronting. Reading through the respondents' comments, I felt as though I’d written them myself. I could relate because these experiences were familiar and highlighted the fact that there's still a lot of work left to do.

 "You don't need anyone else's approval to change your life”

I have had the absolute privilege of meeting Brenda Gaddi [She/Her] - Founder and Managing Director of WoCA. She founded WoCA in August 2020, as a non-profit organisation run by Womxn of Colour for Womxn of Colour. It is Australia’s first organisation of its kind championing Australia’s Womxn of Colour through tailored programs, community support initiatives and advocacy work. 

Read more about Brenda’s story

"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." — Steve Jobs

In October 2022, WoCA launched a groundbreaking prograM, WoCMentorWoC, designed by, for, and with Womxn of Colour. The program kicked off with a pilot featuring 20 Mentors and 20 mentees. This program is a game-changer for me and a lot of other Womxn of Colour across Australia and I'm humbled and honored to be the program's Inaugural Ambassador.

In February 2023, WoCA launched another program - the Executive Leadership Program [ELP], - designed to address the barriers to leadership for Womxn of Colour. 

WoCA is creating a space that encourages learning, sharing, healing and growth, clearing pathways for other WoC.

“Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing towards what will be.”– Khalil Gibran

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