Sports-Tech Startup CEO View On International Women’s Day.. Is It Necessary?

As one of very few female CEOs in the sport-tech-betting sector, I spent time considering International Women’s Day today. Is it really necessary? Is a day enough? What am I doing? What can others do? I apply my perspective from >25 years of experience to answer those questions.

Today I find myself in a WeWork in mid-town Manhattan. I am winding down after a busy few days. My team and I hopped around the city going to a sports media conference, a betting conference, speaking on panels, meeting with leagues, hosting fancy dinners, all the while negotiating, selling, strategizing, and evangelizing our company mission. I always take the next day after these marathon visits to wrap up and wind down. There were a dozen things I should have done. Instead I spent time reflecting on the fact that today is International Women’s Day and how my attitude towards days like these has changed (for the better) over the years. It all began with this woman — Florence Cadwell Jones. But more on that in just a moment.

Florence Caldwell — the First Female Graduate from My Alma Matter: the Colorado School of Mines. Florence paved the way for me!

For those that do not know me — I am a die-hard engineer and problem solver with over 25 years of experience bringing all kinds of new products to the world — from things you can hold in your hand to machines the size of a football field, to stats and numbers you see while watching or betting on sports. I currently am the CEO and co-founder of nVenue, Inc. We are on a mission to change how fans interact with and bet on live sports. I began to write the kernel of the code for this back in 2017 then founded the company in 2018. I jumped from my career at Hewlett Packard and never looked back. My world crosses deep tech, engineering, innovation, media, software, sports betting, and the roller coaster journey of building a startup. I’m having a blast! I am one of very very few female CEOs in this space. I hope my point of view is beneficial to some of you out there!

I have seen several questions via socials today:

• Do we really need a day to reflect on and address gender inequality? (or any inequality)
• Is one day enough?
• What am I doing to reduce inequalities in my chosen career?
• What would I tell others they can practically do about inequality?
• What do I tell those entering sports/betting/tech fields who worry about inequalities?

Here are my answers based on my own experiences.

Do we need a day to reflect and address gender inequality? (or any inequality)

Yes, we do.

If you had asked me the same question when I was younger, I would have told you the polar opposite: “I don’t need a special day! Everything is fair. I’m good enough to make my way without help! Maybe others have issues, but all is good for me.”

I was super confident way back then. I still am. The difference from then to now is that before, I did not know how to recognize bias and discrimination. Life experience taught me this depressing skill. When I was younger, I had no resources to help identify if something was ‘off.’ I had no tools to handle it. No one talked about gender bias and discrimination in ways that helped me know what to do. As those life experiences rolled in, I naturally assumed something was wrong with me! As a result, I accepted many bad situations as ‘normal’ or at least my fault. I would push myself harder in response — determined to be the best, prove myself, be deemed worthy, and demand success based on those merits. That worked for me… usually.

When hard work and merit are only “usually” enough to be successful, it means something is wrong! I had early successes, but eventually started hitting those invisible barriers, some of which I could not break through. It confused me. I was frustrated. It made me mad. I cried. Sometimes I wanted to give up hope and quit. It hurt. Occasionally, I had to move on and out — and almost always, in those cases, I stayed too long in a bad place. The more aware I became, the better I handled those frustrating situations. It hurt a bit less, and I more easily addressed the problem or ‘shook the dust off my feet’ and moved on. I was healthier as I wised up.

I still face gender bias and challenges where it feels I am starting from a lower playing field. It still makes me mad and I don’t always win. But I am less likely to self-destruct now. I am more capable of navigating the rough waters than before. I come out on top more often than I used to. I am stronger.

We need to keep talking about inequalities as long as there are inequalities — to build awareness, drive change, and help the next generation. And to help me, too!

I’ll repeat it. Yes. This day is necessary.

Is a day enough?

No. Equality should be an expectation of life, not just something we consider for a day. If there are situations that reduce anyone or make them less likely to succeed, we should fight this battle to the finish.

What am I doing to improve inequalities in my chosen career?

I have yet to crack the code. I do not have the perfect answers when it comes to fighting systemic gender inequalities and bias. The best way I can describe my current situation is this: when an airplane is in distress, we first secure our air masks and oxygen flow before helping others. I am still ‘securing my mask.’

I subscribe to the principle that “If you can see it, you can be it!” I am working hard at staying present, winning, and shaking up the status quo.

When I first stepped onto campus at the Colorado School of Mines (a school largely dedicated to engineering and science ) — I didn’t know much about the trailblazing women who went before me. I was astonished to learn that Just 50 years before I graduated in 1999, only FOUR women had graduated from my school. Four. FOUR?

In 1898, Florence Caldwell Jones became the first woman to receive a bachelor’s degree from Mines. She was followed by Grace McDermut (Engineer of Mines, 1903), Ninetta Davis (Engineer of Mines, 1920) and Jacquelyn Borthick (Petroleum Refining Engineer, 1949). These women created the foundation and legacy for future generations of women at Mines to pursue degrees and careers in engineering, science and technology. (https://www.mines.edu/wisem)

I found some snippets on the web that added this color:

Florence Caldwell … enrolled in 1895 and found that her fellow classmates discouraged her attendance. She persevered through that discouragement and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1898. She was described as a problem solver who was loyal, kind and sympathetic to others and displayed unwavering courage.

Big big changed happened in 50 years because Florence, Grace, Ninetta, and Jacquelyn stayed present. Because of them, I am one of the 6000 that graduated from this great engineering school.

Last month, a very dear friend sent me a picture of her darling five-year-old daughter holding up a sign. Little ‘D’ is in kindergarten. She likes lemonade and math, her favorite color is purple, and she wants to be an engineer when she grows up. I’ve been thinking about D a lot. When she enters school in about 13 years, wouldn’t it be GREAT if she came in with self-confidence and optimism that went unchecked throughout her career because we start winning the war? At least, I’d like for her to have more tools and awareness than I did at 18.

D and Florence give me reason to keep going. (Plus I really really really want to win!)

What would I tell others/colleagues they can do to help this plight?

Two easy things come to mind that anyone can do when witnessing unequal treatment and bias. And yes — we all see it on a regular basis! This applies to any situation of inequality — not just the plight of women.

1. Speak up for the underdogs! The most effective way to stop biased behavior in its tracks is to call it out right then when it happens — no matter how minor or significant it is. We have all witnessed a conversation that was just not right, heard a colleague get unfair treatment from peers, or observed someone being excluded unfairly. Don’t wait. Don’t go along with it. Do not encourage it. Don’t make it ugly. Say something to change the dynamic and make people think before they speak and act! Speaking up for the underdogs will make you a true hero and an agent of change!
2. Watch the room. Are you constantly in a room that is all of one and little of another? Do you and your colleagues post linked-in pics of your latest event, and not a single woman is in the group? Do you look around at your conference and see only one color represented? Are they all young or old? Do you have a representation of different preferences or lifestyle choices? If you all look and act the same, you may be in a culture that presents some exclusion and bias. It might have been unintentional — but you are the one who can start asking questions! Awareness is how we begin. (Once you are aware — you will find dozens of ways to help further!)

What would I tell those who want to pursue a career in tech, sports, or betting (or any career) and worry about inequalities?

1. Do what you love to do and pursue it hard! Work hard, study hard, be ambitious, take the initiative, and keep growing and learning. Be great! There is no substitute for talent. That has always worked for me.
2. Find mentors and people to talk to. No matter who you are, you will face issues. (I thought I was Teflon… until I wasn’t.) Sometimes, you need to walk away, sometimes you’ll need to take action, and occasionally you may be wrong. You do not have to figure it all out alone. I had my husband, brothers, friends, and work mentors who would listen to me and help me make sense of what was happening. I recommend more than one mentor — some that are like you and others that are different. You’ll see more clearly this way and get some different opinions. I practice this even today. They cannot help me with every single micro-aggression, but they are a great resource when I need them!
3. Be fair and forgive. Fairness begins with acknowledging (and handling) your internal and unintentional biases (because we all have them). Realizing I also have things to work on helped me be less ‘mad’ at the world for treating me poorly! Be ready to give others a break from time to time — especially those who don’t get how they have offended. They may never get it, by the way. Forgiveness will always benefit you more than them, anyway!

In conclusion, yes, International Women’s Day is a good thing.

Let’s use it to help drive equality for everyone!