Women in Tech: Preparing for Success and Safety at Conferences

Tuesday (1 day before Consensus)

I worked my day job, which tired me out because of crunch time. I wanted to wrap it as much as possible before handing it to my backups. My company and leader are great about keeping your time off, your time off. Still, since my results determine my performance (either I hit my goal or I don't). It's been a tough time in sales and big tech. Taking time off during this time frame was less than ideal.

Also, a storm was brewing. You could smell the rain coming. I hadn't signed up for parties because I needed to determine if I would have the energy. (Events required preregistration due to occupancy requirements). Most of the parties were filled. I found an exception—a house party in Westlake. They only send you the address once they approve your attendance. They approved me an hour later, about 20 mins before the party started.

I looked up the address. It was fancy—a six-million-dollar home with more bathrooms than bedrooms. The kind that realtors would pre-qualify you for if you wanted to look inside. I wanted to go.

It started to rain, and thunder, and sometimes Austin's energy grid isn't the best. I don't like driving during power outages, especially in the rain.

I also had to deal with some realities:

• I didn't know anyone else attending, male or female.
• The events I've attended so far were 80+% men, except sol.ladies which was 50%.
• It was at a house.
• It was raining, so it wouldn't be a pool party. It was going to be inside.

As a woman, I have to consider personal safety.

I stayed home and hoped they would have one I could better plan for next year.

It was for the best, so I could prepare for the conference.

I download the app, create my schedule, add the unofficial events to my Outlook with reminders, and pre-register for them. Then I prepare to sleep as well as possible, given the situation outside.