When Coabi Kastan first became a manager, she noticed a troubling phenomenon.
While the male candidates at her workplace almost always negotiated their starting salaries, women candidates often did not — to their detriment. This experience gave Kastan a revelation.
“You should never be afraid to ask for what you want, whether that’s a raise, promotion or higher starting salary at a new job,” said Kastan, who is now the co-founder and COO of Out Of Office. “It is important to know your worth and ask for what you think is fair.”
Kastan is one of five women leaders at Chicago companies who were interviewed in honor of International Women’s Day. Commemorated annually on March 8, International Women’s Day acknowledges women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements while calling for greater gender equality.
As the featured women built powerful careers in an industry historically dominated by men, they learned essential lessons along the way. Now, they’re sharing their well-earned advice with Built In Chicago in order to embolden and better equip the next generation of women in tech.
Arity is a mobility data and transportation analytics company.
What’s the most important lesson that you learned as you grew your career?
I learned to show up, ask for my spot at the table and stop second guessing myself. This is not always easy. At different points in my career, there have been situations that were daunting and projects that made me question my qualifications and experience. This made me ask myself if I had earned my spot.
However, I’ve learned that second guessing my abilities does not mean that it’s true. Working hard and voicing my ideas and opinions are appreciated. There will always be allies to give me the constructive feedback that I need or help do away with doubtful thinking.
It’s important to believe in yourself, even in moments when you’re overwhelmed. Know that, with time, you will find your way through a challenge.
How do you stay motivated as a leader, and how do you try to inspire other women at Arity?
Some big parts of being a good leader are learning what your team’s strengths are, giving them autonomy in contributing to the work that you’re managing and recognizing that they bring their own wealth of experiences that you can learn from. When I look back at my career thus far, I’ve only grown for the better due to the individuals on my team.
As for other women, especially those that are starting off in their career, I try to help them know that they are supported in their ambitions. I tell them that I recognize the challenges they face and am there to help get them to where they want to be.
It’s incredibly important to shine a light on the talent and value that team members bring to the table and talk about the amazing things they can do to anyone who is willing to listen.
Do not let anyone tell you to wait longer to be a leader, work for less or stay in a role that doesn’t keep you interested.”
What advice do you have for the next generation of women in tech?
What do I say to the women of the next generation when I am constantly inspired by them myself? I find that, by and large, they are incredibly driven, know what they want and ask for the opportunities they want.
My advice is to keep doing what you’re all doing! Do not let anyone tell you to wait longer to be a leader, work for less or stay in a role that doesn’t keep you interested. Know your worth and find a job that speaks to those aspirations within you. That might be easier said than done in some situations. I know how difficult that can be, but as best as you can, don’t stay stuck in the weeds. The world is your oyster, so go out there and win!
Just as I heard words of support from women with more life and professional experience than me, women in my generation and beyond are cheering you on. It’s incredibly amazing to see more women ruling the world. If we keep pressing on to excel at what we do, we will have more women leadership in the coming years.
Logiwa delivers cloud fulfillment software for direct-to-consumer businesses.
What’s the most important lesson that you learned as you grew your career?
I used to have a manager who would come into my office periodically and say, “Hey Elizabeth, people are complaining about you.” Initially, I would bristle at this comment and try to explain my actions and the logic behind them. After making this comment a few times and witnessing my predictable responses, he said to me, “You know, people complain when they have to change, and you’re making change in the organization. That’s a good thing.”
My role was to transform the marketing department from a tactical team to a function that was fully aligned with the business and revenue strategy. I stretched my team to perform at new levels and to think and act more strategically. I asked to be included in meetings that I wasn’t invited to and had my team represented in projects where they previously had no voice. In a company where things had functioned the same way for 30 years, people were uncomfortable, and it was because of me.
In this moment, I realized that my mindset was my biggest barrier to success. Rather than defending or apologizing for my behavior, as though I was in the wrong, I needed to approach this opportunity with a growth mission and embrace the change agent role.
How do you stay motivated as a leader, and how do you try to inspire other women at Logiwa?
One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is helping others achieve more than they believe they can. Whether it’s coaching an individual to think differently about solving an old problem or being open to a learning opportunity in a new situation, I am inspired to connect with people so I gain a better sense of their motivation to grow. I try to lead by example and am open to letting others get to know me on the same level.
I also set aside time for my own development. I joined a small group of chief marketing officers and senior marketing leaders, and we have met monthly for the last year and a half to talk, share and support each other on a number of topics. No subject is off the table, and I find that while each of us has similar challenges, our perspectives and approaches vastly differ.
If I go into one of our meetings feeling depleted, I leave with a renewed sense of readiness to tackle the world. I’m able to think about or reframe situations differently and act accordingly.
My advice to the next generation of women in tech and business is to find your unique, authentic voice, and then own it.”
What advice do you have for the next generation of women in tech?
Early in my career, as I was settling into leadership roles, I was told that I was “too nice,” “too humble” and a number of adjectives that were generally the opposite of what my male manager’s style was. The insinuation was that I needed to change my style to be successful, yet the last thing that I wanted was to be a fraud and portray myself differently than I really am.
I was fortunate enough to have a mentor who helped me find and embrace my authentic leadership style. It has given me a compass and helped me determine how to approach many challenging situations. I never again tried to be a different kind of leader than who I am at my core.
My advice to the next generation of women in tech and business is to find your unique, authentic voice, and then own it. Conforming to what others think you should do or how you should behave will produce angst, not achievement, and it will erode your confidence and ability to lead.
CPI OpenFox provides software solutions for the law enforcement industry.
What’s the most important lesson that you learned as you grew your career?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned as I grew my career is to be self-motivated and know my purpose. Knowing my purpose helps me stay centered and focused on what’s most important to me, especially when there are obstacles to navigate or detours along the way.
I’m happiest and perform at my best when I can apply my strengths to solve problems and help others grow their talents. When I didn’t have those opportunities through my daily work, I served on the board of a professional association, shared my knowledge through speaking engagements and volunteered my time to promote mentorship programs.
How do you stay motivated as a leader, and how do you try to inspire other women at CPI OpenFox?
What motivates and inspires me as a leader is helping other people succeed by being their best possible selves. The key to growth and success is continuous learning. Early in my career, I was lucky enough to have a position that enabled me to learn the technical skills that I needed to know and a manager who recognized my strengths and fostered my natural talents.
I pay it forward by providing mentorship, guidance and opportunities for other women to learn and advance their careers while providing them with the support and encouragement they may need along the way.
Connect and network with other women in technology through a friend, colleague or professional organization.”
What advice do you have for the next generation of women in tech?
If a career in technology is the purpose that inspires you, then confidently follow your passion. Your education and past experiences have prepared you to make an impact today and in the future.
If you don’t have a role model or mentor at your current workplace who can help you navigate technology career paths and challenges, I encourage you to connect and network with other women in technology through a friend, colleague or professional organization.
Camelot Illinois is an operating partner for the state lottery system.
What’s the most important lesson that you learned as you grew your career?
I’ve learned, time again and through experience, that the team I’m working with is what matters the most. In my consulting experiences, I had some tough projects that were grueling and outside of my areas of interest. Those projects remain some of my favorite professional experiences because I was working with a team who connected, deeply trusted each other and became lifelong friends.
I’ve seen the same in the team that I work with at Camelot. Work is more enjoyable and I’m more successful when I’m surrounded by a strong, well-connected team who is honest, willing to debate and supportive of holistic growth.
How do you stay motivated as a leader, and how do you try to inspire other women at Camelot Illinois?
I’ve learned to be communicative about the areas of work that give me energy and motivate me. Although there will always be exceptions, this has helped me more intentionally manage my career in a way that maximizes the amount of time I spend on things that give me the most energy.
I have been fortunate to be involved in Chief, a members’ network focused on connecting executive women leaders. The group of women who I connect with through Chief has been invaluable in helping me maintain a practice of active career reflection and management.
In terms of motivating and inspiring other women at our company, I do my best to be open, accessible and honest in my conversations with other employees. I believe the best way for anyone, not just women, to remain engaged is to have honest, open dialogue with colleagues and leaders at the company, which requires leaders and companies to create spaces for those dialogues.
The best way for anyone, not just women, to remain engaged is to have honest, open dialogue with colleagues and leaders at the company.”
What advice do you have for the next generation of women in tech?
Focus on the work and on doing the best job that you can do in your role while keeping an eye on how you can contribute outside of your defined role. Ambition is great and necessary, but should also be checked by humility and grit.
It’s also important to remember that everyone develops their own definition of success and will take their paths to achieving it. With that, no current or future leader should expect others to know what they want if they’re not communicating it. Take the time to consciously develop and continuously evolve your definition of holistic success. Then, actively maintain the support system that will help you achieve it.
Out of Office gives users personalized travel recommendations from their friends.
What’s the most important lesson that you learned as you grew your career?
You should never be afraid to ask for what you want, whether that’s a raise, promotion or higher starting salary at a new job. It took me far too long to learn this lesson. When I became a manager, I noticed that male candidates almost always negotiated their starting salaries, while women candidates often did not. This made me realize the importance of knowing your own worth.
It is, however, important to also be aware of the timing of these requests. For example, if you are not meeting expectations or just got a raise recently, you might want to rethink the timing of your ask. In general, however, it is important to know your worth and ask for what you think is fair.
How do you stay motivated as a leader, and how do you try to inspire other women at Out of Office?
The first step is finding something that you are passionate about and a job that you love. After that, staying motivated and inspired comes easy.
I try to remember every day how fortunate I am to help build a company and solve a problem that I am so passionate about solving. I think inspiring and motivating other women and men at our company is easy because the passion and joy that I have for the job and our company is so authentic, and that authenticity resonates with the team.
I am excited to wake up every day and change the way people travel, so that they always have trusted recommendations no matter where they are going, and I know that our team feels the same way.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn about things that you might not already know.”
What advice do you have for the next generation of women in tech?
If you can, it’s great to learn as much about other parts of the business as possible. If you are an engineer, learn about the sales team, how they do their jobs and what makes them succeed. If you are in sales or marketing, learn from the engineering team. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn about things that you might not already know.
Additionally, and I think this goes hand in hand with learning about other functions, surround yourself with the most talented and capable people that you possibly can. I think when we are younger in our careers, we can get insecure by someone else’s strengths, but don’t fall victim to this. A rising tide lifts all boats, so surround yourself with the smartest people and they will help push you to that next level.
