Monique Daniel, Public Relations Manager
Throughout #BlackHistoryMonth, our BE in Tech series highlights some of the experiences of Black women in the Canadian tech industry.
Share your own experiences using the hashtag #BeInTech and tag us @joinmovethedial!
Next, we speak to Monique Daniel, a Public Relations manager who works in the tech industry.
1. As a black woman in tech, what has been your biggest obstacle/challenge to date?
As a Black woman in tech, my biggest obstacle has been overcoming my own sense of “imposter syndrome” – nagging thoughts that I don’t have the deep technical expertise that a programmer does, I don’t know how to code, and I don’t have a computer engineering degree. And yet, here I am, highly qualified in my field, 10 years into the game (truthfully, as a PR professional, technical credentials aren’t that relevant to the daily work I do as a communicator).
There are other times that I’ve felt alone, as I’ve never had contemporaries to bounce my ideas off, who look like me, speak like me or had similar experiences growing up (or even now). I’ve learned to retrain my thoughts and “lean in” to the valuable knowledge and skills I’ve nurtured over the years as I established a successful career in tech – from launching new PCs, tablets and printers into the market (for my former client HP) to the software side of things, where today I am fostering global brand awareness for SOTI, an industry leader in the mobility and IoT management sector.
2. If you could change one thing during your experience in tech and in the workplace what would it be?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a few amazing and inspiring mentors in my life who’ve “shown me the ropes” and helped me stand in my own power and unique experience as a Black woman in this intellectually stimulating and fast-moving industry. But if I could change one thing, it would be to see and work alongside more Black women in tech – from the technical side straight through to marketing. Sadly, this is still not yet the norm. For this very reason, I don’t take for granted and am extremely appreciative of a black woman who IS #movingthedial – Paula Morrison, Director, Content Marketing at [24]7.ai – who advocated for me, vouched for my professional and personal skills and referred me to a PR role that had a significant impact on launching my career in tech, paving the way to where I am today.
3. Moving the dial is an ongoing mission we strive to do, is there someone or something that has inspired you to #movethedial in your journey.
Representation is EVERYTHING. I’ll always remember how empowering and fulfilling it was to ideate, execute and host a panel of dynamic, passionate and articulate Black women to discuss diversity and inclusion among social influencers and bloggers in the PR, media and marketing industry.
I’d like to express immense thanks to my mentor Eric Tang, Executive Vice President, and Managing Director at Porter Novelli, who helped #movethedial by believing and supporting my vision to bring this event to life back in 2018 at the Porter Novelli Canada offices in celebration of Black History Month.
It was a candid and powerful panel discussion that opened a lot of eyes and minds and was incredibly well received by my black and non-black peers alike. The event sparked important conversations that really matter in these industries and spaces, including a healthy dialogue about what needs to change to allow diversity and inclusion to be put into action in meaningful ways to benefit this generation and the next.
4. What does being Black In Tech mean to you?
Being “Black in Tech” means opening life-changing and career-impactful doors for others who are interested in working in the industry, including referring them to jobs for which they might be a great fit and are qualified for, fostering a diverse network, and mentoring young Black people who are interested in pursuing careers in tech.
Just the other day I referred a young Black man internally for a Software Engineer position at my company and as I am “on the inside”, it gave me tremendous joy that I could do that for him and genuinely be able to wish him the best in the application/recruitment process. Being “Black in Tech” also means tapping into and meaningfully engaging with professional networks like the Black Professionals in Technology Network (BPTN) based here in Toronto, Canada and having conversations – with people who look like you and can relate to as a Person of Colour – about the issues we face collectively, and what we can do to help each other overcome them, succeed and ultimately thrive in our personal and professional lives.
5. How can the industry move the dial for black women in tech? (either at an individual level or company-wide)
It’s time for more Black women in tech. In my field, public relations, my 10+ years’ experience has seen me working alongside colleagues who are mostly young, white and female, which has been my experience in tech, too. The tech industry desperately needs the unique perspectives and valuable contributions of Black women to create more diverse and inclusive experiences across the board – from technical to creative roles.
But the more important question is, how are we empowering today’s young Black women to pursue careers in tech? What resources are we giving them to help make it a reality? Are they able to see themselves in technical or leadership positions, and are there people who look like them and to whom they can relate?
I hope to inspire my daughter and other young Black girls to consider career options and entrepreneurial ventures that are non-traditional for Black women to pursue, including tech in the innovation economy. Black girls and women need to know that a career in tech is possible and develop a solid understanding of what is required to be successful in this competitive, dynamic and rewarding industry.
We can all help #movethedial by going to more elementary schools and high schools to speak with Black students about the range of career opportunities available to them in tech and what they need to achieve academically and socially to get there, host “Take A Kid To Work” Days specifically focused on tech jobs (even if they may not have a parent who works in tech, they can apply and see what a “day-in-the-life” is like for a tech sector worker).
If we start at an individual level, we can make a bigger impact when we bring those ideas and initiatives into companies where they can be actualized and help transform the lives of real people – opening up a world of possibilities they never thought possible!