The outlier in the data: Leading in tech beyond the model minority

In sales operations, my world is built on optimization. I identify friction, streamline workflows, and ensure complex systems hit collective goals. Yet, for a long time, the tech industry's system didn't feel like it was built for a Filipino-American woman. I was the outlier in the data set – a second-generation professional navigating a field where I rarely saw myself represented.

As director of sales operations at 365 Data Centres, I've learned that you cannot scale a business if the foundation is missing its most resilient components. This International Women's Day, under the theme "Give to Gain," I'm sharing how I stopped trying to "fit" into existing workflows and started building a new operational manual.

The model minority myth, whose lineage in the United States dates back to the 1940s, suggests that if we just work hard and stay quiet, the system will eventually reward us. In the precision-driven world of digital infrastructure, it's easy to become a silent engine, focused on optimizing your individual contributions.

But silence isn't leadership; it's operational friction. I realized early in my career that the values I was raised with – prioritizing community and collective effort – were not weaknesses or distractions. They were specialized skills for cross-functional collaboration. Finding my voice meant realizing my heritage wasn't a hurdle; it was and still is the engine that drives my innovation. 

In sales operations, we value integration, the seamless way disparate parts work together. I now view my identity as an intersectional bridge, integrating the high-pressure demands of technology with the community-centric values of my roots. Rather than adapting to fit into the mold of those who came before me or even those around me, succeeding in tech for me has meant embracing the qualities I already possess and using them to my advantage. To the women of color navigating fields not built for them, remember this advice:

1. Audit Your Narrative: Are you playing the role the industry assigned you, or the one you earned? Defining who you are will help you demonstrate your value throughout your career journey.
2. Build Your Community: No one scales a career alone. Seek out mentors who value your specific perspective, and look for ways to pass along what you've learned to others in your position.
3. Lead with Empathy as a Metric: Data is king, but empathy is the context that makes it useful. Keeping empathy at the forefront goes a long way in building and maintaining relationships, in any industry.

International Women's Day reminds us that progress isn't just about the number of women in the room; it's about the impact we have once we get there. Being the "outlier in the data" was never a flaw; it was my competitive advantage. Just as this year's International Women's Day theme emphasizes collaboration, reciprocity, and support, I learned firsthand that those elements, which come naturally to me due to my background, are a source of strength. The tech industry wasn't built for me, but it is being restructured by me. We are no longer just part of the system; we are the ones optimizing it so the next generation of leaders is never seen as an outlier again.