In our ongoing #BalanceForBetter campaign—launched on International Women’s Day on March 8—we’re showcasing #WomenInTech on #TeamVtas who exemplify this standard of awareness and dedication to progress.
Meet Melanie Greene of Veritas Technologies, representing the company’s User Experience design and development team. Melanie's peers see her as a collaborative force—capable and willing to work within a team to see a project to its greatest potential.
What does the International Women’s Day slogan, #BalanceForBetter, mean to you personally and professionally?
[Melanie Greene]: Equality, gender parity in pay, gradutation and work force participation rates and cultural diversity in the workplace. Those are among the many themes that come to my mind when thinking of the International Women’s Day slogan #BalanceForBetter. Once we achieve equilibrium in the workforce I truly think the world would be a better place. In my personal and professional life, I strive to use my authentic voice to encourage diversity. To me this slogan means diversity of culture and gender—when we have balance we will prosper together.
What made you choose a career in technology?
[Melanie Greene]: We are submersed in technology every hour of every day. I saw the impact that technology has on our lives and specifically how technology is used in our healthcare system to help people with disabilities. As a UX designer I get to apply my passion and understanding of those areas to design innovative solutions for our users.
What advice would you give to those seeking a role in the technology sector?
[Melanie Greene]: Reflect on the meaningful aspects and values that you would like your future employer to have. I truly believe understanding a company's values will give you insight into the company culture and atmosphere. We all aspire to be working at a company that provides a platform to learn and contribute. It is important to stay up to date with the latest technology trends and news so that you can are aware of the advancements that we are making. All in all, at the end of the day, always remember to be your true self and everything will fall into place.
Why do you think there aren’t more women working in technology fields?
[Melanie Greene]: Exposure to technology early on in our development is crucial. As a result, I think our education system needs to incorporate information technology, computer science, and design thinking courses into our elementary to high school education curriculum. In college we are expected to choose a career and it can be very overwhelming. Our education system needs to change in order to expose more women to technology postions early on. Having technology courses engrained in our education system will help transform our industry.
What has been your career highlight to date?
[Melanie Greene]: My teammate Stephanie Kuo and I received the opportunity to present the workflow of the Flex Appliance upgrade that we designed to technical leaders from JPMC. Additionally, Cameron Bahar and Greg Hughes were in the room which was a big honor.
What do you enjoy most about your role at Veritas Technologies?
[Melanie Greene]: My team! Being able to collaborate and learn from my teammates makes every day rewarding. It is so true that it’s the people that you work with that make going to work so special. I’m collaborating with highly skilled professionals where I have the opportunity to learn, grow as a designer, and design the best experiences for our customers.
Who are your role models and influencers?
[Melanie Greene]: Grace Hopper, Oprah, Ellen, Steve Jobs, and Michelle Obama.
