Finding Your Voice in Tech: How to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career

Author: Garima Vyas 

Former President and Chapter Trustee, AWIS Houston

Practice Director, Indigo Beam

September 4, 2024

Hi, I’m Garima, and over the course of my 15+ years in STEM and tech leadership, I’ve learned a few things about navigating the unique challenges we face as women in this field. As the former President and now Trustee of the AWIS Houston chapter, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring and supporting brilliant women from all walks of STEM, each with their own inspiring story.

The challenges we encounter—whether at the beginning of our careers or while leading at the highest levels—are often remarkably similar. From self-doubt to navigating visibility in a room full of voices, I’ve seen how critical it is to master three core principles: self-advocacy, overcoming self-doubt, and building a strong network.

These strategies have not only shaped my journey but have empowered countless women in our community to elevate their careers. In this post, I’ll share a few of those lessons and insights that I hope will inspire you, wherever you are in your career.

Self-Advocacy: Let Your Work Speak Through You

I’ve been there—delivering results consistently in a large team yet being overshadowed by others who were simply better at showcasing their accomplishments. Early in my career, I assumed that my work would speak for itself. However, when you’re one of 15 team members, and your product owner or manager is evaluating achievements across the board, silence doesn’t get you noticed.

Here’s how the meetings often went:

Product Manager: “Alright, let’s discuss the work from last Sprint?”

John: [Screenshare opens] “I fixed that minor UI bug—check it out. Now, when you hover over this button, it changes color!”

Team: “Oh wow, that looks slick!” “Nice touch!” “Great job!”

Product Manager: “Fantastic! Next?”

Sarah: [Another screenshare] “I updated the labels on the dashboard and added these two new fields.”

Team: “That’s really useful!” “Looks much better!”

Then it was my turn:

Me: “I rewrote the API for better performance and reduced load times by 50%. Plus, I resolved three major blockers that were holding up development.”

Product Manager: “Good work. What’s next on your plate?”

No demo, no fancy visuals—just major improvements under the hood that didn’t get the same reaction.

After a few weeks of this, I realized something: it wasn’t that my work wasn’t valued—it simply wasn’t visible. How could they recognize it if no one was highlighting it? I needed to advocate for my work, just like my colleagues were doing.

That’s when I began crafting a narrative for each sprint review, framing my contributions in a way that connected to the overall product vision and showed why they mattered. Instead of saying, “I rewrote the API,” I’d say:

• “I reduced load times by 50%, which means the dashboard loads twice as fast for users, improving their experience.”
• “I cleared three blockers, allowing the rest of the team to move forward without delays, accelerating our roadmap.”

I also followed my verbal update with a visual aid, either a demo, a screenshot, or a PowerPoint. This shift in communication made all the difference. Here’s the framework I started using, and I now encourage every team I lead to follow it:

1. What went well? – I fixed X bugs, and improved performance by Y%.
2. What went wrong? – We had a delay on Z due to dependencies.
3. What’s next? – I’ll prioritize the remaining features and continue optimizing.

By sharing this simple, clear breakdown, I made my contributions visible. That visibility was a game-changer. The more I aligned my story with the bigger picture, the more recognition I received. And that’s the key lesson: self-advocacy isn’t about inflating your work—it’s about framing it in a way that others can see its value and impact.

Today, as a product leader, I’ve instilled this practice in the teams I lead. Self-advocacy isn’t about arrogance—it’s about ensuring that your hard work has a voice in the conversation. When your work is visible, you make sure you’re heard.

Overcoming Self-Doubt: Embrace Your Inner Confidence

Self-doubt can creep up at any stage of your career. For me, stepping into leadership roles required overcoming a lot of that doubt. I’ve attended several webinars and motivational workshops, including AWIS’s recurring events on self-development, which have been invaluable in building confidence.

One memorable experience was a workshop I attended, where we practiced self-promotion and leadership in groups. Exercises focused on “elevator pitches” and articulating our achievements helped build comfort with speaking confidently about our contributions.

I often think of IBM’s former CEO Ginni Rometty’s words: “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” 

This quote resonated with me deeply. Growth requires stepping outside your comfort zone, learning to embrace the discomfort that comes with self-promotion, and understanding that it’s a necessary part of pushing your career forward.

Building a Strong Support Network: Mentorship and Connection

None of us succeed alone. One of the most powerful tools in my career has been building a support network. Find yourself a mentor or coach, someone who can guide you through challenges and celebrate your wins. And don’t limit yourself to just one—different mentors can offer diverse perspectives on your career growth.

Networking is equally important. Make time for periodic check-ins with your network. Take a genuine interest in others, both professionally and personally. Remember, networking isn’t just about what you can gain; it’s about fostering relationships that benefit both sides. In my roles with AWIS Houston, I’ve seen how these connections can lead to opportunities and breakthroughs that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

In closing, the journey to finding your voice in STEM is ongoing. At the heart of it all, we thrive when we support each other. Self-advocacy, overcoming self-doubt, and building strong networks are not just individual practices—they’re collective efforts. Through AWIS Houston and the larger AWIS community, we’ve created spaces where women in STEM can connect, share their experiences, and grow both personally and professionally.

Whether you’re looking to advance in your career, share your story, or support others, there’s a place for you in this community. Come join us at one of our networking events or consider getting involved on the board. By lifting each other up, we not only help ourselves but also pave the way for the next generation of women in STEM.

Together, we’re stronger, and together, we can make a lasting impact.

Written by Garima Vyas, a seasoned leader in the product and tech industry, former President and current Trustee of AWIS Houston. Garima is passionate about advocating for women in STEM and helping them succeed through self-advocacy, mentorship, and continuous learning.