Kohl’s Women in Technology Drive Change Across the Business
Technology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the global economy. However, the underrepresentation of women in technology continues to be an ongoing conversation across multiple industries, including the retail sector. At Kohl’s, we understand how important this is and seek to ignite much-needed conversations that will allow us to build an inclusive environment for all.
“There has never been a more exciting time to be a woman in tech. While we still have a journey in front of us, the women in the field today are paving the way for even more female technologists to succeed in the years ahead,” said Siobhán Mc Feeney, Kohl’s chief technology officer. “As a technology leader, I strive to foster a culture of equality across the Kohl’s Technology organization so that all of our associates feel valued and included, and this starts with recruitment. Having a variety of voices and experiences at the table is critical to solving problems and progressing forward.”
Kohl’s Advancing and Recognizing Women in Tech
We are committed to achieving equity across our business and hope to empower our female associates professionally and personally to help drive change. Showcasing this, we’ve been recognized as a 2022 Top Companies Leader for Women Technologists with AnitaB.org. Top Companies for Women Technologists is a national benchmarking program that identifies key inclusivity trends, looks specifically at technical employees and awards companies that are making the most progress toward equity. This year's report surveyed more than 50 companies with more than 100,000 women and non-binary technologists and over 400,000 total technologists.
We’ll also be collaborating with AnitaB.org at this year's Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), the world's largest gathering of women and non-binary technologists, from September 20 - 23. Women from around the world will gather to learn, network and celebrate their achievements in tech. Kohl’s will have a booth for all interested attendees to learn more about technology at Kohl’s, so if you see us, please stop by and say hello! This year, Kohl’s will be recruiting for full-time technology roles and more than 30 internship opportunities.
In 2019, college student, now full-time Kohl’s Technology (KT) associate, Tammy Dinh, became interested in Kohl’s after meeting with the team at Grace Hopper, and the rest is history. We sat down with her to learn a little bit more about her experiences and thoughts on being a woman in tech:
Can you tell us a little bit about your current role with Kohl’s and the path that led you here?
I’m currently a software engineer on the Supply Chain Movement team within Kohl’s Technology. I work on providing visibility and technological solutions for our supply chain. Before coming to Kohl’s, I graduated from a small liberal arts college in Ohio, with a double degree in Computer Science and History. I applied to the Grace Hopper scholarship in 2018 and was accepted as a Scholar and attended GHC in 2019, where I learned about Kohl’s.
What attracted you to join the Kohl’s Technology team?
The fact that Kohl’s was present at GHC was something that I really valued. The company’s presence showed that they were intentional about diversity and inclusion in the hiring process. I also loved that Kohl’s was looking at technology as one of the keys to the future of the business, and I wanted to play a role in that transition.
What gets you excited about the future of women in the tech industry?
Seeing how many women are starting to explore tech as a career path is exciting. When I graduated, the computer science department had tripled from when I started, and many of the new students are female. Additionally, events like GHC made me realize there are many female professionals who are in tech or looking for opportunities to jumpstart their tech careers, and while we still have a long way to go, we’re starting to see more women in leadership roles as well.
How does Kohl’s support you in bringing your authentic self to work?
We have an amazing culture of support at Kohl’s. Everyone is willing to help one another. My team is very supportive, and we work together as a collective to solve problems. Everyone is always ready to jump in and help even when it is not their responsibility. I feel emboldened to voice my opinions and ideas, knowing that they are valued.
Original source can be found here