GameChanger Inclusion & Diversity

Describe your experience as a woman in engineering. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?

I’ve been in engineering for nine years and am now a senior engineering manager at GameChanger. While software engineering remains a primarily male-dominated field, I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from many strong women engineering leaders throughout my career. I’ve often been the only woman in the room or the only woman on a team, but I’ve never let that bother me. 

One of my personal challenges early on was coming out of college with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical and electrical engineering while being surrounded by opportunities in software, for which I didn’t have a computer science background. I’ve had to teach myself much of what I know about software, and that pressure to “prove myself” pushed me to gain deep expertise over time. 

Mentorship and coaching has also played a huge role in my growth. I’ve been supported by great mentors, managers and coaches, and women-led networks have helped me build confidence and community. Today, I try to give back by mentoring others and supporting women in tech programs, including at my alma mater. I believe seeing people like you in leadership makes a difference as it helps others know they belong, too. 

What are your professional goals, and how has GameChanger enabled you to pursue them? What career growth resources/opportunities are available?

My professional goals center around growing into senior leadership by developing other leaders, shaping engineering culture, and coaching others to build high-impact products that users love. I’m passionate about creating teams that are both a joy to be a part of and high-performing, where people feel supported, motivated and proud of what they build. 

GameChanger has supported my growth through meaningful opportunities, such as attending the SheTO conference for women engineering leaders and the DICK’S Sporting Goods Women’s Conference, where I heard from many inspiring executives. I’ve also been trusted to lead important initiatives at the organizational level, such as leading a restructure of our on-call processes, which has expanded my influence across teams. Internally, I started a monthly Women in Tech water cooler conversation to connect other women at GameChanger, which has been running for a year now. I’m also staying hands-on by experimenting with new AI tools and continuing to grow as both an engineer and leader.

What advice do you have for women in engineering or other technical roles regarding how to identify a company and team that will support their growth and development?

When evaluating a company or team, I look for signals that growth is genuinely supported. Representation matters, so seeing women in leadership roles, like GameChanger’s senior vice president of engineering, Ami Kumar, was a strong signal for me. I had the chance to chat with her in the interview process, and I appreciated the clarity she brought to the company’s mission, unique challenges and opportunities for employee growth. In interviews, is it helpful to ask about growth opportunities, training and development support and how decisions are made to get a sense of the culture. What matters most is that leadership and peers at the organization are committed to supporting diverse perspectives and helping you grow your skills and your career.