Deb Liu writes a guest column for Entrepreneur discussing advice every woman should take to heart. Liu; the vice president of Facebook Marketplace and co-creator of Women in Product; has been involved in diversity, inclusion and women in tech for over a decade—both as a prominent women in tech herself and as an advocate for inclusion and gender equity in the space. Liu discusses confidence, impostor syndrome, guilt, and more. Her realistic look even includes considering feedback that might be offered in a sexist way. Whether you agree with all her takes or not, it’s worth considering her perspective as a woman who has adapted and thrived in this space—and you might pick up a few seeds of wisdom for your own career. Click through for the full list.
By Deb Liu
There are plenty of things I wish I knew when I started working in tech 15 years ago. Jumping into any new role or working in a new industry that you’re not always familiar with can feel overwhelming and even intimidating.
Throughout my career, first with PayPal, then eBay, and now Facebook, I’ve learned many things the hard way that helped get me to where I am today. I’m sharing these lessons with the hope that they may help you in your career.
1. Confidence is a gift you give yourself.
One of the things I struggle with the most is mentoring people who lack self confidence who I know are stronger than they think. Nothing I say seems to change how they feel about themselves because they can’t see what others see in them. Reach for the assignment and believe that you will learn how to do it. You are not asked to take on assignments so you will fail; people offer them because they see your potential.
2. Maybe they’re saying it because you are a woman, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
I’ve received a lot of tough feedback during my career. My immediate reaction is to discard anything that would not have been said to a man in the same position. For years, I was told I was not warm or approachable. I realized I had two choices — ignore or adapt. I learned to adapt because this perception was holding me back. Pretending it didn’t matter changed nothing.
3. Listen to feedback, but choose what you change.
A lot of time when we receive feedback, we react by making a change, but all of those changes together could end up taking away what makes you uniquely you. Choose who you want to be and what you want to be known for, and remember that these choices may change over time depending on your position.
Image credit: Westend61 | Getty Images
Want to receive early-bird invitations to our global events, custom-tailored content we think you’ll love, and exclusive access to “The World Women Report”?
