SHOW / EPISODE

S5E2: Develop a Stronger Voice, Not a Thicker Skin feat. Trina Celeste

26m | Oct 5, 2023

This season, we are focusing on the experience of women in the workplace – particularly here in Utah. A recent study published by Wallet Hub ranked Utah last in the nation when it comes to income equality for women, 48th in women’s representation in executive leadership positions, and among the lowest when it comes to women’s educational attainment. 


For example, women hold less than a third of tech positions, and of the 50 largest tech companies in the world, only 2 have female CEOs. 


Here to share her own experiences as a woman in the tech field is Trina Celeste. Trina is founder and CEO of RizeNext, a social good for-profit company focused on rising up the next level of diverse technologists and leaders. Trina also spearheaded the launch of the Tech Moms program and is educating and supporting the transition of women’s careers into the technology industry. 


She joins host Frances Johnson to talk about the unique features of the tech world that make it a great space for women and moms to work, misconceptions about what working in tech is like, and working to become an empathetic leader.


Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University FM.


Episode Quotes:


We need to have a stronger voice, not a thicker skin


11:33: We need to have a stronger voice, not a thicker skin. We need to start speaking up and saying this isn't okay, and I think we're getting to a climate. You had the Me Too movement, but it didn't create awareness. It's real, but what do we do about it? Get educated on the various forms of sexism, what they are, be able to identify them, and have some ready statements of ... The easiest one is to say, "Can you explain that to me?" If you're feeling it and having an emotional reaction, most likely it was a biased statement. So, how do I respond to that? How do I take it and go? "I'm not trying to be difficult, but that's not okay."


On overcoming self-limitations to forge a better world


07:42: What's missing in the world is that we're holding ourselves back from creating the greatest changes that could come and solve some of the world's biggest problems.


On women’s growing role in the skilled workforce


23:02: One of the things that's been coming up is that the enrollment of women in universities is higher than men. On average, nationally, only a few colleges don't have more female graduates than male. And the skilled workforce is shifting: women are entering into tech, and some of the work there isn't just tech moms. There's a lot of organizations helping create awareness here and shifting the narrative. 


Show Links:

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