The latest candidate in our series of Q&As with influential women in the technology business is AJ Tibando, CEO, Shift Canada, a not-for-profit that provides free curriculums for teachers in elementary, high school and, starting this year, post-secondary.
Name: AJ Tibando
Job Title & Company: CEO, Shift Canada
Years in the Industry: 15+ Years
The Quote That Most Inspires You: “If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn’t thinking” (- George Patton)
What drew you to a career in the consumer and/or business technology industry?
My interest in technology has always been aligned with how it is shifting society and the workforce, and how to use it to support learning and training. All my startups have revolved in some way around technology and training, either building learning platforms to distribute courses or creating upskilling programs to help workers transition into technology-based roles.
Have you encountered any roadblocks along the way that were related to your gender?
Yes, many. Early in my career, it centred around my ideas being dismissed pre-emptively or assumptions and generalizations around my goals or interests because of my gender.
What unique characteristics or perspective do you feel you bring to your organization as a woman?
Shift Canada is all about empowering Canadians to be bold and comfortable taking risks. Often, what holds people back is a fear of feeling like a failure or being judged. I had to deal with a lot of imposter syndrome as I was coming up as an entrepreneur and a woman. Learning how to manage the emotional side of the entrepreneurship process was key to being successful.
Now, as I help other people overcome their fear of failure, I can tap into the emotions they might be experiencing and help them navigate that side of the journey.
Technology is historically a male-dominated industry, yet the use of tech is fully embraced by women, and many studies even suggest that females are the primary buyers of tech in the home. What do you feel the technology industry needs to attract more women, particularly into high-level positions?
The best experiences I’ve had in male-dominated spaces happen when I’m with male colleagues who truly listen and value my perspective.
In the past, I have found that I come at problems differently than some of the men in the room. When all perspectives are considered and valued, it can create a really exciting and creative environment. It also helps me see problems differently by hearing their perspectives.
If you’re a woman occupying a high-level position in a company, you’re at a point in your career where you can tell pretty quickly if you’re being truly valued and listened to. It’s important not to tolerate staying in spaces where you’re being dismissed!
If you had to sum up what it is like being a woman in this male-dominated technology industry in just a few words, what would you say?
I think it is easier today than it was 10 years ago.
Are there women in the tech industry who inspire you?
So many! Some that come immediately to mind are Sarah Stockdale, Founder and CEO of Growclass; Melissa Sariffodeen, Founder of Arcbright and formerly Founder and CEO of Canada Learning Code; and Elena Yunusov, Founder and Executive Director of Human Feedback Foundation. These women are entrepreneurs in tech, but all of them are building organizations that focus on building a more inclusive and equitable ecosystem, with a particular focus on training, AI and leadership.
What are some of the misconceptions/myths about women working in the technology space that you’d like to dispel?
That we become less productive or ambitious after having kids. Some of my biggest accomplishments and most efficient work has happened after I had kids, often in part because of my kids. They have provided me with new motivation to push harder to achieve big goals. And because I’m balancing priorities, I’ve become much better at streamlining my work and increasing my productivity through focus.
What’s one thing you wish was done differently in the industry, and why?
In general, I think speed and efficiency are valued above all else right now. With the potential consequences of AI looming – and potentially being catastrophic if mismanaged – I wish the whole industry would slow down a little and get the right systems and gates in place to protect the economy and society better. I think AI can be an incredibly powerful positive force in tech, but only if it’s managed safely. I think we are optimizing for speed over safety right now, which is unsettling.
How do you feel the latest shift to AI will impact the way you do your job and opportunities for women in the industry?
I think in a best-case scenario, AI can help us do certain kinds of work more efficiently, which has the potential to create more free time and flexibility in our work. However, that’s only if the gains of the technology are distributed to employees, and not simply by eliminating the workforce.
Are you optimistic for the future in general and for the industry?
I am truly 50/50 right now. I feel like we are at a fork in the road, and the future could go either way. That’s exactly why programs like Shift Failure matter so much. We need to galvanize the community to combat fear together. If we do, we’ll be able to jumpstart the economy and ultimately empower the next generation of leaders.