The following characteristics were identified by the author of a book on women founders in technology (Gascoigne, 2020):
- Unafraid or at least not letting it stop you
- Willing to discover answers rather than being stopped by lack of experience
- Quick-witted
- Resourceful
- Have a sense of urgency to get the job done
- Energetic
- Taking charge
- Flexible
- Resilient
- Tenacity
- Confident, or at least acting confident
- Thinking independently
- Able to decide the next step in-the-moment
- Willing to tackle problems
- Committed, hard worker
- Tolerant of discomfort
- Emphasis on getting things done over waiting for a perfect completion
- Willing to take risks
- Able to multitask, juggle details
- Growth and improvement oriented
Sources: Gascoigne A. Tech Boss Lady: How to Start-up, Disrupt, and Thrive as a Female Founder. Seale Press; October 9, 2018.
Self-Check:
Take our self-assessment survey to reflect on what skills and strengths you have compared to a list of characteristics common in successful women entrepreneurs in technology. Reflecting on your strengths can help you decide, what you would like to develop, and what you might look for in a partner to complement your skills.
Resource
At the Helm, Leading Your Laboratory – by Kathy Barker, 2nd edition. ISBN-10: 0879698667 – Includes real-life examples and discusses the wide range of management challenges and the skills needed in order for principal research investigators to recruit, motivate, and lead a research team, manage personnel and institutional responsibilities, and compete for funding, while still maintaining and advancing their success in science.
