Closing the Gap: Achieving Gender Equality in Tech Leadership

Marisa Mann, COO, Solstice | Kin + Carta

Our founder and CEO, J Schwan, approached me a few years ago to discuss a big opportunity: Solstice needed its first chief operating officer.

Our ranks had swelled from 46 to over 250 since I joined, and I was incredibly honored to be considered. The offer was an affirmation of my career accomplishments to date, and there was no doubt of the necessity of the new role for the business. But in that moment, I said no. I turned the offer down.

I was taken aback by being considered for something I had only dreamed of almost a decade before. Would I be good enough? What if I made mistakes or failed? I had always treasured the sense of security, and this leap seemed like a big risk in my head.

From an early age, many women are taught that it’s necessary to be perfect. This creates a never-ending process of introspection, challenges with self-confidence, and risk avoidance for fear of coming up short. Ultimately, we, as women, are taught that unless we are perfect, we are not good enough. This was a big opportunity for me but an even bigger risk.

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