AMA with HR Leader Charlyne Fothergill
By Raman Kang
Meet Charlyne Fothergill, an HR Leader in the tech space. We got the chance to ask her all sorts of questions during her AMA session with us in The Collective. She considers herself a data-driven manager that prides herself on her strategic thinking and ability to get sh*t done. Charlyne has a robust operational HR background and learned a TON about building and growing a business by advising and consulting for startups and her role at the rapidly growing Lighthouse Labs! She is now a Senior HR Business Partner at CTO.ai in Vancouver and a startup Adviser.
Q: How did you get pulled into the tech world, and what has kept you there?
A: Yeah, so I just fell in by taking an HR contract in Tech and gave it a go. What keeps me here is definitely being part of the future... Tech isn't an industry anymore; it's every industry, and it's at the forefront of our lives. I love being in an industry that's relevant. I also love working with smart people! Devs are sooo smart, and I love the quirky/geeky side of Tech- I'm a bit of a nerd, I was never super cool, so I feel like these are my folks.
Q: Is the hype about personal branding and tricking the "ATS" true, in your opinion?
A: ATS (applicant tracking systems where you upload your resume when applying for a job) are a computer system... it's not about tricking it per se. It's about understanding how your resume is being read by a computer and making sure you prep your resume/application in a way that sets that system up to read your resume how you want it to reflect your experience.
Re: personal branding, in interviewing folks for a job, we're looking for info about a person to make a costly and essential business decision (hiring). If you have a positive and polished presence online/personal brand, it does help. Obviously, you have to have the skills. I need it too!
Q: Hi Char!! I would LOVE to hear a bit about any pitching advice you have for young womxn thinking about launching their own business - more specifically on overcoming imposter syndrome and key steps on gaining the confidence to put ourselves out there! Have you ever struggled with this, and if so, what has worked for you?
A: OMG, yes! All the time! I promise you everyone does- even the people you don't think should. It's all relevant! I think the best way to gain confidence is to be prepared. Be it pitching on a stage, launching your business, asking for a raise or promotion.- go in with knowledge and naturally, the more you learn, the more confident you become that you know your sh*t. I do also have a rule- If I get a feeling in my gut (it's a sick pukey feeling) when I'm thinking about doing something or talking about it, it means I 100% need to do it. I've closed my eyes and hit send on more emails then I can count as I've asked for things, quoted my consulting rate, made a sales pitch. I've stressed and lost sleep over a single sentence in an email, BUT I always send it. It's a process for sure.
Re: launching your own business, I also say be smart- as you go through the validation process, try to separate out your imposter syndrome with your ability to assess if you have a business idea. I like this saying too: give me the serenity to accept the things I can't change, the courage to change the things I can't accept, and the wisdom and patience to know the difference.
Q: With the BLM movement and the current climate, we are FINALLY seeing things happen within some organizations concerning their hiring practices and understanding the importance of diversity and inclusion. When we are looking to align ourselves with these organizations and possibly work for them, how can women of colour ask the right questions? Do you have any suggestions on how we can ensure the conversation is a lasting one instead of just a 'trend'?
A: Big question for sure! For many companies, the overt actions and communication will be a bit of a trend, BUT I think other companies will continue to do the work and use this time as a time of at least some level of reflection.
I think in looking for a job, you should always reflect on what's important to you in a culture and ask questions to assess if it matches the company you are applying for.
So a general "I'm really passionate about working in places that prioritize Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - what are some of the ways your company takes on these initiatives" might be a great place to start.
There's a shortage of diversity for all of the systemic reasons that are still in place in senior positions. I think being aware, making it a priority, and articulating some kind of thought and strategy is essential. I'm looking for a Sr Infa Engineer, and I would LOVE another woman on the team... I don't know if I can find that person in Vancouver... Right now, hoping as more women go into Tech and get mentored to become senior, this will change, but there is a gap for sure.
Q: How do you see companies adapting to work-from-anywhere policies (if at all)?
A: Absolutely! Tons of benefits to COVID forcing us to really contend with "do we need to all be in the same office." It obviously depends on the business's nature, except if you NEED people [physically] in a space (factory, hospitality, etc.). Still, for the most part, I think companies are really looking at expanding their thinking and considering things like hiring their next person from out of town. It's a big topic, and the "how" and the "things to consider" is a lot- there is something lost in our human connection when we all are remote for sure. BUT I think it's challenged a lot of those companies to start thinking about things. I think most companies will have some WFH/ remote policy that will carry through COVID.
Buffer, Slack and Zapier all have great blog posts about this, so those teams are all remote anyway. Also, as more teams go remote-first (FB, Twitter, Zillow) expect to see more info about 'how' they did it and found success and the challenges. I'm watching it for sure! We got rid of our lease, so we are remote now, BUT we had to get some space (a coworking space) for some folks who weren't effective, or didn't want to WFH full-time with no office to ever return to. Interesting on that assumption for sure.
We have an incredible lineup of women who will be participating in our AMA sessions throughout September and October. Join The Collective to get in on events like this.