When job searching, one of the most popular pieces of advice is, “Do what you love.” That’s good advice, but when you’re a woman who loves working in the challenging, ever-evolving tech industry, that can be a bigger hill to climb — at some companies.
Women make up 28 percent of today’s global tech workforce, and women have been making an impact at LRS since the first woman joined the team in 1981. Today, as the world commemorates International Women in Tech Day, LRS celebrates it, too.
From Retirement Solutions, pictured are Laura Soehnlin, Maddy St. Aubin, Farren Springer, Shannon Rennecker, Tamara Goulet, and Leah Hardy, sharing stories from their careers in tech at LRS.
Historically, women pioneers in tech have included Ada Lovelace, noted as the first computer programmer, and a group of women mathematicians whose work in the mid-20th century formed the origins of coding. They built what’s considered the first electrical computer, among other technical achievements.
Many more women have contributed to tech, from raw code that evolved into the Internet’s domain naming protocol (Elizabeth Feinler), early video game design, (Carol Shaw), and designing the now-familiar computer icons such as the garbage can and pointer finger (Susan Kare).
Grace Hopper, one of the first female developers, is known as “the mother of computing.” A rear Admiral in the US Navy, she is credited with writing the mainframe language COBOL and asserted that computer code could be considered a language. LRS’ first software product, VPS®, was developed in 1981 on the IBM mainframe platform on which experts estimate more than 200 billion lines of COBOL code are still running today.
LRS’ WOMEN IN TECH
Today, VPS software is used to manage document delivery in many of the world’s largest companies. The VPS suite of products continues to be enhanced and updated by a team of developers overseen by a female product development manager who has been with LRS for more than 30 years.
Like her, women have made significant contributions to all areas of LRS. “We’re proud to be a leader in the information technology space and our community; our female workforce plays a significant part in bringing innovation to all areas of our company,” says Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President Pamela Benad, who has worked for LRS since 1989. Our Legal, Human Resources, Marketing, and Compliance departments are all led by women, as is the IT Solutions division of LRS.
Diane Arnold, Vice President of LRS IT Solutions plays a pivotal role in the company. Diane leads a team of more than 60 technical experts specializing in security, data management, automation, and AI technology solutions.
According to Diane, “My journey into the technology field was shaped by a strong curiosity about how systems work and the potential for technology to solve real-world challenges. I was fascinated by the rapid evolution of computers and their ability to transform industries.”
Within the walls of LRS’ worldwide offices, women have prominent positions as project managers, business analysts, supervisors, and team leaders. Nearly half of our female employees are working in male-dominated fields such as programming, software development, website development, and cybersecurity. Many of them have been working for decades in highly technical fields.
What drew these women to tech and why do they stay at LRS? Read on to find out.
THE CHALLENGE — AND FUN — OF TECH
Connie Gheen, Senior Project Manager, has worked in tech for more than 40 years, 22 years at LRS. She has found that IT is a perfect fit for her love of technology and change.
Problem Solving & Innovation
Among the women working at LRS, a common trait is a love for problem-solving and a passion for innovation.
“I've always enjoyed logic and puzzles, so programming was a natural fit for me,” says an LRS senior business analyst who has worked in tech for 31 years. “In both my programming and business analyst jobs with LRS, there have been many great mentors along the way, including several women.”
The "Rush" of Shaping the Future
Another senior software developer with nearly a quarter-century of LRS experience describes ‘the rush’ of working in tech. “Overcoming daunting and seemingly impossible requests never gets old,” she says. “Between those big challenges are plenty of small puzzles and tasks to keep every week interesting and full of accomplishments.”
The women of LRS enjoy the opportunities that careers in IT provide, allowing them to push their boundaries of knowledge and make a noticeable difference while shaping the future. Many note that their tech career has given them a feeling of confidence and strength. A digital marketing specialist says, “Technology gives me the opportunity to be innovative and continuously grow while making an impact.”
One female Product Business Manager acknowledges that it can be intimidating to work when you’re one of the few females in the office. “What was most important for me in forging that path was to find my voice. If you have something important to say, say it. Your perspective is unique and important to share.”
The Road to Tech Careers
Interestingly, several LRS women had different careers or career aspirations in other fields before moving to tech. Former educators, accounting staff, government workers, and a professional photographer are all now working in tech at LRS.
One LRS Product Business Manager has a psychology degree and was a skilled writer before joining LRS at 22 years old as a technical writer. “I had no idea what a defined benefit pension plan was, but the Retirement Solutions software division took a chance on me.” Her suggestions to improve the product opened doors for her promotion to Product Business Manager.
“There are many different roles for women in IT. Find a job that fits with your strengths within a company that has integrity and cares about their employees.”
Another female Senior Product Support Developer observes that IT allows you to create a work environment that fits your work style. “IT seems to be a more flexible career choice than many others.”
Laura Campbell , Senior Software Developer, Retirement Solutions, has worked in tech for 15 years, 9 of them at LRS. She works from home, along with her "co-worker" Mabel, whom she adopted this year.
LRS' CULTURE OF SUPPORT
These women of LRS agree that the company has a strong commitment to their growth and career development, particularly in a few key areas:
Anna Marriott, SEO/Digital Marketing Strategist in Web Solutions, just began her second year at LRS. She has worked in tech only three years, but loves that technology presents opportunities to be innovative and grow.
Training and Development
LRS encourages its employees to continue to learn and grow without being overwhelmed. Continuing education, including certifications, is encouraged.
Says one employee, “Their support and encouragement have empowered me to tackle challenges with confidence and continue evolving alongside the ever-changing tech landscape.” Another emphasizes that LRS is a supportive company, “providing a flexible work environment as I raised my family.”
Moving Between Divisions
Many of the women at LRS have been working here for decades, and some have worked in multiple divisions of the company. With eight business units, plenty of opportunities exist to “switch gears” for a diverse career with rewarding experiences.
“I am forever grateful to LRS for giving me that initial opportunity to prove myself 30 years ago, as well as so many additional opportunities over the years to branch out onto other teams in our division,” says one female tech leader.
Mentorship
Supportive environments at LRS give employees confidence to approach their supervisors with concerns, questions or differing views. “Management is very open and willing to listen to everyone's input, ideas and concerns,” notes a female project manager.
Another says, “My managers and mentors have always been willing to help me with any questions that I have or to talk through ideas on the best approach for implementing customizations.”
“The positive, team-oriented culture at LRS has always encouraged us all to help each other and to learn from each other's experiences,” a Senior Software Developer adds.
One of LRS’ younger, newer employees also recognizes this mentorship and notes that LRS values its next generation of talent. “LRS has provided me with the resources, mentorship, and hands-on experience I need to develop my skills. That’s given me confidence to take on new challenges and grow in my career.”
A Senior Project Manager says it well: “LRS doesn't put people on an island to survive alone. There's never a time when you can't ask for help.”
THE FUTURE OF WOMEN IN TECH
What advice would LRS women give to women considering a tech career?
One offers this guidance: “Technology is a male-dominated industry, but that shouldn't hold you back. It should motivate you. Your skills, ideas, and perspectives are valuable, and the industry thrives on innovation that comes from diverse voices. Don't be afraid to take up space, ask questions, and advocate for yourself. Keep learning and remember that you belong in tech!”
“Even if you don't consider yourself a 'techy' type, there are still great roles to be found for women in IT.”
HAPPY WOMEN IN TECH DAY
Although this day is noted as Women in Tech Day, a Senior Software Developer says it best regarding the culture of LRS:
“In the nearly 25 years that I've been working at LRS, I have never been treated differently than the men who work beside me. We're all just "people in tech" here, having a grand time building software we can be proud of.”