Sandra Fonseca-Lind, Information Technology expert, focuses on the evolving contribution women have made to IT. Sandra walks us through the importance of having more hands-on experienced IT professionals capable of managing complex network infrastructures to support the new work landscape of remote, cloud, and mobile-based.
Sandra Fonseca-Lind, Information Technology expert, focuses on the evolving contribution women have made to IT. Sandra walks us through the importance of having more hands-on experienced IT professionals capable of managing complex network infrastructures to support the new work landscape of remote, cloud, and mobile-based.
Hello everyone and welcome to emerging trends in higher ed. My name is Samantha Wilcox and I am your moderator for this podcast series. Joining us today is Dr. Sandra Fonseca, Lind. Dr. Fonseca. Linda is a professor and program chair in the Master of Science and Information Technology Program at North Central University. Good morning, Sandra.
00:23
Good morning.
00:24
Good morning, Samantha. How are you?
00:26
I'm doing well. Thank you. I were excited to chat with you today. And we are going to jump right in and some backgrounds and experience that Dr. Fonseca Lind has, and then a little bit about at some women and technology questions we have for you today. So first off, can you tell me a little bit about your background in the field of technology?
00:48
Oh, thanks. So I've worked for over 26 year in several state and federal government agencies, both in Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. And I have held positions in practically all areas of it. I started back in 1986 as a data entry and computer operator, then moved on to applications and systems programmer in the mainframe era, right when the personal computer was making its big entrance both at the home homes and organizations. From there, I moved to database and systems administrator. And lastly, I spent 15 years of my career as a system security manager. And at DC at Washington, DC, I work as a data architect. As for academia, I've been teaching for 23 years now.
01:48
Wow, what a incredible history you have in the fields in an education? Can you tell me what interests you most about the field of technology?
Well, so one of the things that attracted me at a time, right, what I have to choose which field of study I was going to follow, it was again, at the time where the personal computer was the new artifact, right, the new trend, both making it in entrance at home, and at organizations at the beginning was more in the private sector and then in government. But that attracted me to follow the IT field.
And then as I started working, right, and I get the chance, the opportunity to see how systems and applications can help and can support or an organization's diversification and expansion of their production and service offerings, right. And I get the chance to be part of providing solutions that lead the market to to improve, try to to speed up the process east or service chains, and make them more more fruitful and more productive. So I get the chance, the wonderful opportunity to be part of that evolution.
03:13
Absolutely. I think evolution is the perfect word for it. You've really seen it from the beginning, and and how it's changed and impacted. Really every industry out there. So one other question I have for you is what advice would you have to share with women who are looking to break into the field of technology?
03:32
Well, I might say that we have a I don't want to say a long way to go. But there's work to do, there's still work to do in terms of equity, or I might say the quality writing technology at the workplace, especially for us in highly technical areas. I mentioned that, that I held positions as systems administrators, back in the era when he was associated solely with men, but that is changing. So don't be intimidated. That will be my main message, right? Don't be intimidated by this thing.
And it's for the numbers, the numbers are talking by themselves. If we take a look at the statistics at the labor market, we're seeing that we have seen an increase, right, especially in the last decade, the past decade, we have seen an increase and right now we stand up 48% and we can see that right now in STEM careers. We can have even women's presence in let's say careers like scientist it has increased to 60% in math, math, careers, 48% and in computers 26%. So we're seeing what that we still are kind of our number, but we're here right we're there and again, Don't be intimidated. And start thinking of making your mark price setting your spot in the IT workplace, get involved. Get involved in professional organizations, I am a strong advocate of professional organizations and professional certifications. So volunteer, look out for user forums and technical areas.
And don't be afraid to explore new professional opportunities. Right, because this is the era for professional and career diversification. And that applies to all to each and every one of us. And we are we are ncu with definitely right at the School of Technology. We are your strong and applied graduate programs that will help you right, develop all the knowledge and skills that you need to develop right and acquire in order to successfully and equally compete for it technical and leadership positions, right like network center manager, right network, operating center manager, cio, IT project manager, systems, administrators, cloud ID, solutions, architect, architect, architect, sorry, and many other right professional careers that are in high demand and growing stays, especially these days of pandemics. So don't be afraid. Absolutely.
06:22
That's a really good note to make. And, and I'll just say we're thankful for women like you who have really paved the way and have broken into that field and made a difference and made an impact and your experience is something that's really going to help a lot of people. So we're very thankful for that.
06:41
Thank you.
06:43
And now you've been in the field for quite a while. Can you tell me what's the greatest transformation in the field that you've witnessed in your career? Oh, so I have a wonderful opportunity. Back in 1998, when cyber security was a works kind of unknown, still not unknown, or emerging, right, as a professional itself. So I had the opportunity right to to be offer a position and to see how in the beginning, right, both cybersecurity both technical careers, and women's rights, women's participation was very minimal, I get the chance not only to witness it, but be part of it, at least back in Puerto Rico, my hometown.
So I remember the times where I used to attend professional events and seminars, and we were just a handful of women. So I have the wonderful opportunity to see the transformation as to how the numbers started, started to write to change to the point that we are equals. And these days, I'm even seeing that there are the direct events focused right or related, right, covering topics solely for women in technology for women in cyber security. So I got a chance right to witness that evolution, not only in cybersecurity technical careers, right to see to witness the evolution of the first internet connections via via dial up modems, to now all those pull out configurations, mobile configurations, so I get the chance to see those transformations, right. Same way as devices, right when I started, when I started in it, I had an Atari computer and a Commodore 64.
Without a hard drive, I only had an external floppy drive five and a quarter inches. And now to see that we have all these devices, right mobile devices, more phones with the capability of doing X number write several write applications and functions to witness that transformation. In IT security. And our contribution is something that I that I'm very proud of. Also in academia, right, I've witnessed how, how more females are being attracted to the career and to have the chance to mentor and mentor them right to guide them to motivate and engage them in continue to evolve and grow in this wonderful career is very fulfilling, and I'm very, very satisfied to have been part of it.
09:34
That's pretty incredible. Definitely a transformation and an evolution in the field. And I want to switch gears a little and talk about the future for a minute. Do you have any, any insights about the future of women and technology?
09:51
Alright, so as I mentioned, right, there's still a lot of work to do. But it's not impossible. It's an impossible task, right? Because again, the numbers are there. I just mentioned right, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows right, then the numbers are there, right? I'm making reference to the publication back in 2018. So shows that women's presence in STEM careers now ranges right 60% 40% 26% in computing, and overall, we stand at 48% of the workforce this day. So we're mainly making our mark, we're claiming our space. But we need there's work to do writing in terms of claiming right equality, not only in job opportunities in the IT field, remuneration, right benefits, right? Everything. It's happening. So we need to persevere, right? We need to be strong, we need to be resilient.
But the time is now, right? Again, get involved, right? Get involved in professional organizations joined professional groups in social media, there are plenty of professional groups, volunteers, right. I, I've been a volunteer for professional organizations and have served for the world director for professional organizations like aisaka that used to stand for Information Systems audit and control associations. And they recognize the role and the contribution of women in it, cybersecurity, and even audit and control that they even have an initiative that they launched this past year. And it's called she lit tech. Right? So not only that, we are in cyber that we were in information technology, that we are in STEM career, but we we are now holding more, right? We are in more leadership positions that in the past decade. So get involved, right? mentor girls, right, I'm also a volunteer for two organizations is Girls Who Code and girls in tech. And there are several others, right? I been in attendance to a wonderful event. It's called an era Borg Institute.
And the event is a celebration of women in computing. So again, there are plenty of our professional organizations aisaka is sa PMI Project Management Institute, right these days. winning combination, right? For all of you out there who are looking for new professional opportunities or diversification. a winning combination these days is a career in IT combined with a professional certification or our or background in project management, especially Agile Project Management. So reach out, connect, right, evolve, right? diversify yourself, reach for new goals in your career. And never, never, ever be afraid of change, embrace change.
13:00
And those are some great tips. One thing I noticed in a lot of our chats with folks from MCU, or from different industries, the theme has been get connected and join organizations and go to conferences and continue learning and I love that you just gave us a ton of examples, like real life examples that folks can get involved in and really make that connection and continue to grow in their career. That's awesome. Ryan, these things. There are so many opportunities for virtual seminars. Right. So the opportunities are right in our computers. So there's no excuse, right to connect to reach out.
13:41
Absolutely. Yeah, those webinars and virtual conferences are all over the place right now. And now, last question now kind of kind of leave it open ended for you. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
13:55
Well, what can I say? Right, again, my advice. As I mentioned, I've, I've said it several times, I get connected right, get involved. There are several professional groups, both formal professional organizations, there are many there's a lot of professional groups or interest groups in social media and professional social media that they can help you support to mentor you right to explore new opportunities, new roles in STEM careers, especially in computing, right Don't be afraid to explore topics right areas as to systems administration's right cloud solution trying network network infrastructure management, cloud management, cybersecurity, IT project management, data science, data sciences and emerging career right where we can explore and claim our space and continue making our mark right setting our mark in those highly technical areas.
And last but not least, right at MCU on the School of Technology, please explore our program offerings, right we have a diverse offers offerings for professional development, right for professional advancement from Information Technology, computer science, data science, cybersecurity, technology management, and we are moving on and exploring new areas. And soon we will have more new programs that we will continue to develop an offer, right? Where we are yourself are one a good example right? out of 10 full time employees at the School of Technology 50% of women, right? So we are equals at our school. And we have to make sure that that continues to be the trend again, the time is now. So don't be afraid. And never be afraid to take the step forward. We'll be here and we are here ready to support you.
16:04
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for spending some time with us today and sharing your experience your advice for women going into the field of technology are considering it. And again for really blazing the trail for folks. You are definitely making an impact in the field and I know you're making an impact here at North Central University.
16:25
Thank you. Thank you, Samantha, thank you so much for the opportunity. On behalf of Dr. Fonseca,
16:31
Lind. This is Samantha Wilcox reminding you that MCU you have what it takes to change the world. We offer what it takes to make it happen. Until next time, goodbye.