The Power in the Simple Act of

DoingKellyn Pot'Vin-Gorman

Technical Intelligence Manager, Delphix

My Life Now

Growing Up

Let’s talk about cold winters….

Keeping up with the BoysOldest of three girls.First girl of my generation.

So much cooler being a boy.Sit STILL???

What Little girls are made of…Blessed with variety.The smart one, the pretty one

and the rebel.

Society shows girls early on the value of beauty….And of acceptable

behavior.

Growing up made a decision.

ExpectationsMe- JournalistMother- Presidential Aspirations?

Sister- Administrative Assistant??

Presidential Considerations….

Goethe

“Anything you can do, or dream you can, begin it, for initiative has power, magic and genius in it.”

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

On My Own Moved to Colorado Made Friends Work and School Something wasn’t right…

Derailed Five Strokes Rare Auto-immune

condition 50% left side visual field 9 years of previous

memories Physical and Speech

Therapy Relearn young adult skills

Early FrustrationsRelearning

To driveTo balance a checkbookPerform basic work tasks

Could no longer perform previous career's dutiesSingle Mother to child

Words of support

“Anything you can do, or dream you can, begin it, for initiative has power, magic and genius in it.”

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Small Becomes Something Bigger

Small accomplishments become bigger impressions.Not afraid to fail, as failed at so many things during my

recovery.Aware that frustration is my worst enemy.Setting an example and not worrying about what others

were doing.

Sayings to Live by-

“Fall down seven times, rise up eight…”

~Jewish Proverb

Small Goals Becomes Accomplishments

Selling Shoes

Selling Computers Desktop Support

Oracle Recommends I Should Certify as a DBA

Becomes a DBA

Becomes Lead DBA

2005-2007

1994

Jr. DBA Challenges• First DBA position, was hired as a Jr. DBA with another Jr. DBA.• I didn’t have degree in CS or specialized in databases. • I had a newborn, three children, married.• She was single, had the CS degree, specializing in databases.• She left the industry after just 9 months.

• I understood her decision….

I remained, but Felt “Directed”

Complaint to manager about being viewed as an end user, a project manager or other non-technical person in meetings.

Less opportunity to work on technical challenges- always left to administration tasks.

Started asking questions- How are we impacted by first impressions, especially as women?By name?By physical presentation?

What is a Guy Geek These Days?

What’s Pictured for a Girl in Technology?

I am a canvas, I paint my own future

First Impressions were sidelining me from being viewed as technical.

Even after proving myself, my strong management skills were deterring me from technical challenges.

I didn’t want management, I wanted tech! Testing the “Goth” theory….

Positive Mentors

Mentors are everywhere, but not a lot of women in IT…

Departure Started out as team of five women DBAs. 15 Years as a DBA

52 male DBAs 13 female DBAs Informal research via social media, (no I wasn’t stalking everyone… ) One male DBA has retired. One female DBA has retired. Eight of the women I’ve worked with have left the industry. None of

the men have.

Where Did They Go? Only one retired, many upon research went soft-tech, (recruiter,

project manager, management) When asked why they left-

Not enough support through mentoring and peers.Less opportunity for women in upper management.Catch -22 of going into management and loss of technical

challenges that first interested them. Over-scrutinized when they did go management.

More family/life balance in other industries.

800lb Gorilla in the Room, Research Shows…

Of the 41% of women that left IT after receiving an engineering or CS degree, those polled said they left because?No peersLack of mentorsLess opportunities for

advancement

Biggest challenge- Often told not to talk about the issues.

The Next Growth Surge

Begins to Present & Write Articles

Conference DirectorBegins to Blog

Co-Authors First Book

Begins to Mentor/WIT

Achieves ACEAchieves ACE Director

Inducted to Oak Table

Goth Begins

Joins Oracle as CMTS

Starts STEM EducationBegins at Delphix2016-2017

Why I Chose to Mentor Sister talk with middle sister, Dec. 2012 Had observed how much I and our youngest sister had accomplished,

she wants to do more. Has plan, including dates for the next year.

#1 Regret I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

http://earthweareone.com/nurse-reveals-the-top-5-regrets-people-make-on-their-deathbed/

Create Something Good From this…

Created first WIT session for RMOUG after her diagnosis.Started offering mentoring to women that were not asking,

nothing too formal, but it provided much value to those women who said yes.

Created sponsorships for those I mentored- understood the power of sponsoring others.

Through programs like Devoxx4Kids, Oracle Education Foundation, Raspberry Pi Maker Faires, spread STEM Education initiatives.

I am my Father’s Daughter, (According to Mom..)

Learned to not listen to those that offered no options, only criticism.

Surrounded myself with positive people, negative added stress and was stressful to health.

The more I did, the more I became.The more I accomplished, the more opportunities opened up

for me.

I Am My Father’s Daughter Learned to not listen to those that offered no options, only criticism.

Surrounded myself with positive people, negative added stress and

was stressful to health. The more I did, the more I became. The more I accomplished, the more opportunities opened up for

me. Silenced those around me that attempted to hold me back.

“Find your passion, find your path, then set it on fire. Make it burn so bright that people don’t just come to see the flames, but they’ll want to walk in your footsteps before they cool…”

Be the Change you want to see in the world

Statistics show…. 39% of women in IT in late 1980’s. 21% of women in IT as of 2013. 41% of women departing IT who

have an engineer or CS degree. 41 states have no technical class

requirements for graduation.

Even in the Oracle Community Noted about 30% women in IT in Denver. Only 7% were attending RMOUG’s conference. Started WIT sessions and women responded in feedback

that it was the first time they had attended, they felt welcome.

Oracle ACE Program, 600 awarded, only around 35 women, (6%).

Oak Table Network, 65 members, 6 women, (10%).

By Doing… 47 WIT Panels 36 Articles in Technical Publications, including Oracle Scene and Oracle

Magazine. Education of local government about the importance of tech programs

in schools. New Women’s Empowerment Program

Includes Elementary, Middle, High School and University Initiatives for educating girls on opportunities in technical careers.

Retain those in the industry and mentoring programs for women already in tech.

One Oracle Education Foundation Dtech Curriculum and 5 Maker Faires.

What Has Come out of this? RMOUG WIT has increased attendance from 7% to over 22% by 2016.. Have mentored over 48 women to assist in achieving their goals. Sharing of opportunities and peer support has generated new

mentors. 34 WIT programs through out Colorado, US and Europe. Start of WIT Fund to educate in schools- not just high school and

college, but elementary, (start passion for STEM) and middle school, (which keeps passion going and not lost by high school.)

Colorado Technology Association WIT Award 2014 Building a STEM program for middle schools to teach Python.

What We All can do… Blogging shares your knowledge and will gain respect among technical peers

that may have been lost in person due to unconscious bias or stereotypes. Presenting and publishing removes many "glass ceilings" by placing you

above the ceiling, allows others to view you in a new light. Social Media offers a voice to women in tech- what’s important to them and

support for others in the industry. Recognized by PEERS and can become a mentor, (even if informal). Perception is important. Having more of something that isn’t as common

changes the culture and MAKES it common place. Don’t be afraid to stay high-tech! Many companies have technical career

paths as well as management ones!

Goethe

“Anything you can do, or dream you can, begin it, for initiative has power, magic and genius in it.”

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Oracle Confidential 38

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Thank you and Always Inspire!