WITI Pittsburgh Recap: Network Launch

On January 23, 2019, WITI Pittsburgh held its network launch. The blustery weather in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania didn't stop a great turnout.

During the event, five featured speakers from tech leaders in the area held a panel. When asked to give career advice to the audience, the panel members responded with the following:

"Your career is a journey, not a sequence. People think of a career as a ladder; it's not that. It's, 'Who do you aspire to be—who do you want to be as a human, and how does work fit into that and make you better?'"

Audrey Russo
president and CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council

"Keep balance. I have at times lost balance. I would do it differently with a do-over. Ask yourself, 'What price did I pay to make it?' You can't always be everything, and don't even try, because you will look back and regret that."

Leona Mitchell
professor of practice, University of Pittsburgh

"My keyword is integration. I have woven my children into my professional life in so many ways, and my profession into my family life."

Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis
director and INI Barbara Lazarus professor in Information Networking,
Carnegie Mellon

"Walk through the door, sit down, and be present. No matter who is at the table, walk through the door. Just do it."

Julie Prough
director, enterprise quality data, UPMC

"Sometimes you just have to ask—for a raise, for a role, for a project assignment. You'll hear 'no' sometimes. Still ask, and get on the radar. Don't wait for someone else to do the asking."

Sue Carenbauer
senior director, eCommerce product management and technology - Giant Eagle, Inc.

WITI Pittsburgh is off to a great start.

WITI Pittsburgh provides a local forum for women to network with each other, forge connections, share resources, and discover opportunities in the technology industry.

Julia Opre is a staff writer and head of project development on WITI's editorial team. She graduated from Youngstown State University with BAs in anthropology and in religious studies. She is a creative thinker who enjoys hiking, solving puzzles, and knitting in her spare time.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.