Squarespace 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 always loved problem-solving. I was drawn to mathematics in school and started out as a chemical engineer before switching to software. Like many women in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics field, I’ve often been one of the few women in the room. It’s something I got used to during my studies, but it still brings its own challenges.

One subtle challenge I’ve noticed is around communication in meetings. In remote settings, I appreciate the ability to “raise a hand” and have a clear turn to speak. In person, it can be more difficult to break into a conversation, especially in a room that isn’t gender-balanced.

Instead of feeling held back, I’ve focused on embracing the strengths I bring to the table, like empathy, kindness and relationship-building. These have been especially valuable in cross-functional projects, where collaboration and communication are key.

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

My goal is to grow into a T-shaped engineer, someone who’s deeply skilled in front-end development but also has a solid understanding of the back end. I want to be able to contribute across the stack while still having a clear area of focus. 

Squarespace has supported that growth through internal mobility. Being able to move into other teams gave me exposure to new technologies and challenges that align more closely with my long-term goals. Squarespace also offers resources that support both technical and personal development. One that’s been particularly meaningful for me is the engineering peer coaching group within our Women+ ERG. Through that, I was introduced to a former Squarespace employee’s talk on glue work, which really changed how I think about career growth. It helped me recognize when I was spending a lot of time on important but often overlooked responsibilities; things that keep a team running smoothly but aren’t always visible or rewarded. This can be especially true as an early-career engineer. This insight helped me to set clearer boundaries and become more intentional about where I want to grow and what kind of impact I want to have.

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?

Be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Coding can be frustrating at times; there will always be moments where you don’t know what you’re doing, and that’s OK. Take on work that stretches you, even if it’s outside of your area of expertise, as that’s where the learning happens.

When looking for a company, pay attention to whether they encourage that kind of growth. During my interview at Squarespace, I was told they’d rather see great engineers move teams than move companies, which stuck with me. Also, look for teams with a genuine willingness to mentor. Supportive people make all the difference when you're pushing yourself to grow.