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Tech moves fast, and figuring out how to navigate it—especially as a woman—can be a challenge.
The women at Statsig have been there.
From product and engineering to sales and operations, they’ve built careers in an industry that pushes you to grow, keeps you on your toes, and (hopefully) rewards the hustle.
We asked them to share the lessons they’ve learned along the way—the pivotal moments, the tough challenges, and the advice they’d give to other women building their careers in tech. Whether you're just getting started or looking for fresh perspective, we hope their stories help and inspire.
What inspired you to pursue a career in tech?
Katie Braden, Strategy and Ops
I think the energy in tech is really good—especially being a younger person. It’s very fast-paced, very innovative, and you get to work with really smart people. Some of the smartest people that I’ve ever met work at Statsig and in tech. There are lots of great learning opportunities and you get to learn really fast.
Upasana Roy, Account Executive
My dad spent his life in tech and was always in learning mode. Growing up it was great to see that the learning didn't have to stop at school if you worked in tech. That really made me want to pursue a career in a field that was constantly evolving and growing rapidly!
Emma Dahl, Account Manager
One thing that really helped with my career in tech was finding a woman who could mentor me. It's not a secret that in most of tech, there's a little bit of a gender gap. Having someone else who had been in my shoes, understood my perspective, and could help me move forward in my career was really invaluable to me.
Were there any pivotal moments or challenges that shaped your career?
Morgan Scalzo, Event Lead
Having kids completely reshaped how I approach my career.
Before children, work often felt like a means to paying the bills and funding overpriced workout classes. Now, it's become my creative outlet—an important space where my identity isn't defined solely by being a parent or spouse. It's the place where I actually get to engage my brain beyond negotiating bedtime or managing snack requests.
Surprisingly, becoming a parent reenergized the way I feel about work, giving me a sense of balance and boosting my mental health. Who knew kids could make work seem relaxing?
Upasana Roy, Account Executive
At the beginning of my career I worked in operations and rarely ever interacted with customers.
One day I shadowed an exec inviting a huge Fortune 500 customer to our customer experience center. I realized that this huge organization was thinking about solving a million dollar problem with our software.
That interaction, and the firsthand exposure to the scale of problems that software can solve, inspired me to be at the forefront of the action—and that's how I ended up in sales. I've never looked back since!
Jess Barkley, Talent Acquisition
Starting at Statsig, being the only talent acquisition person. I’ve always been at really big companies so I’ve had to build out strategies and processes from the ground up. That’s really challenged me in ways that I’ve not been challenged before.
What advice do you have for women starting out their career in your field?
Sami Springman, Sales Enablement Manager
I think supporting other women is one of the most important things that you can do. Supporting women as you grow in your career is just as important as climbing the ladder yourself. Making space for other women as they’re climbing the ladder after you.
Cat Lee, Brand Design
An important piece of advice is to really lean into who you want to work with and the type of work you want to be making. Make that your number one priority. Skills that you develop with always be with you, but the industry will always be shifting.
Zoe Moser, Account Manager
Seek out advice and support, especially early in your career. My go-to tool: The informational interview.
Informational interviews have led to referrals (and even a hire in my case) but it’s important to nail the ask. I’ve had success both with women I knew already, and ones I had no connection to—largely due to the guidance I received on how to ask while taking a college course on professionalism.
Be specific but brief in your ask—include how you’re connected with them (or acknowledge if you’re not), why you think they’d be a valuable resource, how much of their time you’d need, what you’re hoping to understand, and some context on why you’re seeking information.
The recipient should have enough information from your first message to respond and confirm a time that works for them without any more back and forth!
Here is a message I’ve sent numerous times. Remember, you can make it very easy for them to reply by giving them all the information they’d need upfront:
Hi [Recipient’s name],
I know this is out of the blue, but I saw you are a [Role] at [Company]. I was wondering if you had 30 minutes in the next couple of weeks where I could ask you a few questions about your role and experience at [Company]? I'm just trying to get my footing in the career search.
I am free from 8:00 to 8:30 AM every weekday, as well as 12:45-2:00 PM, and any time after 5:30 PM (all PST). Let me know! I would be so grateful! :)
Best,
[Your Name]
After your informational interview, send a thank-you, and mention something specific that you learned from them during the chat. Again, keep it brief and genuine!
Upasana Roy, Account Executive
Try your best to build a community of strong women mentors who you can look to when you need advice, or when you feel stuck. Sales is a challenging and stressful career with big risks and rewards, and investing in a community from the beginning of your career will pay dividends in the long term and help you build confidence.
What’s something you wish you knew before starting your career?
Kelda Baljon, Product Designer
I wish I had known how much imposter syndrome there can be, and how to recognize it as imposter syndrome and realize that it’s something you can push past or at least identify it as imposter syndrome.
Lauren Burke, Sales Manager
Before starting my career, I wish I knew that on-the-job experience matters much more than what degree you have. Hiring managers aren’t just looking at what’s on paper—they care about what you can actually do, the impact you can make, and the energy you bring to a role.
Your ability to build relationships, solve problems, and continuously learn will take you further than a diploma ever will. Focus on gaining real-world experience, whether that’s through internships, side projects, or just saying “yes” to new challenges. That’s what truly sets you apart.
If you were entering the industry today, what would you do differently?
Julie Leary, Operations Manager
I wish I had invested more time in building my “hard skills” earlier in my career.
In tech, you can add a ton of value early on if you're comfortable with coding, data analysis, data visualization, design tools, or managing systems. It's never too late to learn, but I could have made a bigger impact sooner and would have had more confidence if I had actively sought out more opportunities to hone these skills!
Lauren Burke, Sales Manager
If I could go back in time, I would tell my fresh-out-of-college self that the people you work with matter so much more in the long run than your title or the name of the company you work at.
I’d also focus more on making connections and being a sponge.
It’s not always easy, but try to ignore the pressure to have a “5 year plan” and stop thinking about every role as a stepping stone towards something bigger. Doing so will allow you to grow so much more than if you’re constantly strategizing your next move.
When you focus on learning, building relationships, and truly immersing yourself in the work, opportunities will come naturally—often in ways you never could have planned for.
Nicole Smith, Software Engineer
If I were entering the industry today, one thing I would wish I would have known is that it’s okay to come in with the mindset of “I’m different, everyone’s different,” rather than trying to compare myself with anyone else.
Talia Morris, Growth Marketer
As someone who is just entering the tech world, I know firsthand how daunting and overwhelming it can be. It can feel like you’re in over your head—especially in an environment that is fast paced and constantly evolving.
I think it’s really important—no matter the industry you're entering—to find mentors (both formal and informal) to mimic, lean on, and learn from.
I am reminding myself every day that it takes time to be an expert at any job, and soaking in as much as I can from the people around me who have proved themselves in their careers is how I can excel myself.
Liew Saechao, Office Manager
One of the biggest things—not just for me but for anyone entering the industry— is to not be afraid to take up space: Ask questions when things don't make sense. Speak up if you think something could be optimized.
When you're new in your career, or new to the industry, it can seem intimidating to speak up and ask or say something—as if you're shining a spotlight onto a knowledge gap that you have. I want to reinforce how unrealistic that is; everyone has questions when they're learning something, and it's always okay to learn.
Lastly, you never know if your question actually addresses something critical. Obviously you should take up as much space as you need in order to grow into your role, but you might also uncover a deficit that should be addressed, like gaps in an onboarding experience, for instance.
What’s one piece of advice that has stuck with you throughout your journey?
Lin Jia, Data Scientist
Be brave. I think the fact that people can be afraid of failure gives them less chance of success. I would encourage women in tech to be more brave and even embrace the opportunity to fail so that they can ultimately be successful.
Upasana Roy, Account Executive
Remember to constantly seek feedback!
Getting feedback regularly will help you iterate on your skills, identifying different areas for you to grow. Without other perspectives, it’s much more difficult to objectively spot tactical ways to become even better.
Also, addressing your failures and weak areas not only helps you proactively shape your career, but can even help you become a better person.
Lauren Burke, Sales Manager
A mentor once told me “You may often be the only woman in the room, but that doesn’t mean you have any less of a right to be there.”
This reminder has always stuck with me and gives me the confidence to speak up and use my voice.
Thanks for reading
Careers aren’t linear, exponential, predictable, or comparable—and that’s what makes every journey unique. We hope the stories shared here resonate with someone out there, whether you’re just starting out, navigating a transition, or carving your own path.
Thanks for reading, for celebrating with us, and for being part of the journey at Statsig.
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