Mentorship creates ripples that transform careers and industries. As part of our Women Hackers campaign for International Women's Day, we spoke with Jennifer Hann, who leads Encora's Global Digital Commerce practice with over 500 professionals. Drawing from her experience leading teams across commerce platforms, content management systems, and e-commerce technologies, Jennifer shares insights on how women mentoring women across generations creates powerful pathways for success in the technology industry.
Women's Representation and Adaptation in Tech Leadership
Despite progress in gender diversity in the workplace, technology remains largely male-dominated, creating unique challenges for women. Jennifer acknowledges this reality, having often been the only woman in the room throughout her career.
"It is still a male-dominated environment, and that can be intimidating for some women to enter," she shares. "Seeing other women navigate this space successfully is vital to building an inclusive and respectful culture. It's about demonstrating confidence, driving success, and showing that we belong here."
In addition to inspiring other women, entire teams benefit from seeing diverse leadership in action, regardless of gender. At the same time, women's experiences in the workforce differ substantially from men's, particularly in environments where the playing field isn't level.
"To succeed, we need to present ourselves differently than men do, and we have to prove our capabilities to be recognized," Jennifer explains. "We also need to demonstrate that we can be calm and in control in most situations where men may not always have to behave that way."
These shared experiences create a foundation for meaningful mentorship. Women who have successfully navigated these dual challenges—being underrepresented while adapting to different expectations—can offer targeted insights to those climbing the career ladder, helping them avoid unnecessary obstacles and develop strategies for success in tech.
The Reciprocal Value of Intergenerational Learning
Intergenerational mentoring creates a unique dynamic where both younger and more experienced professionals actively contribute to each other's growth. "Individuals in tech need to learn and use different techniques throughout their careers," Jennifer explains. "Early in your career, you have a limited skill set and experience to draw on." This is where the power of mentorship becomes evident. For early-career women, experienced mentors provide guidance and strategies for navigating challenges such as proving capabilities, maintaining composure under pressure, and demonstrating leadership in a male-dominated industry.
At the same time, senior leaders gain valuable insights from their younger colleagues. "People coming into the workforce have fresh perspectives and exposure to new things," Jennifer notes. “These viewpoints keep seasoned professionals connected to emerging technologies and evolving workplace dynamics.”
"We have to be open to hearing their stories and reflecting on how we can apply their inputs to improve," she emphasizes. This bidirectional exchange helps overcome silos and creates stronger teams. "Women can encourage each other to take on challenges and provide support to make each other successful."
Breaking Barriers and Creating Opportunities
When asked how mentorship helps women overcome barriers in tech, Jennifer emphasizes the power of support networks.
"Mentorship can allow women to develop a trusted support network so that when they confront career challenges, they have people they can turn to for advice," she states. These networks help women develop skills, navigate difficult situations, and advance into leadership positions.
Women leaders play a particularly important role in this ecosystem. "Women can help connect younger generations with individuals who can guide their professional development," Jennifer explains. These connections take many forms—from special projects and leadership experience to formal mentorship programs.
Jennifer sees this as a reinforcing cycle: "Ultimately, the more women who occupy leadership roles with decision-making power, the more we can remove barriers to success and make our environments more equitable and inclusive." This approach benefits individual careers and strengthens the company as a whole.
Building an Empowered Future in Tech
Looking ahead, Jennifer envisions a future where women leaders in tech feel empowered to embrace challenges and seek relationships that foster professional development.
"I think it's important for women to take on those challenges and to feel empowered not to be intimidated...to really continue to seek out relationships that can help them develop professionally and to just really go for it."
Her message is one of possibility and determination: "Nothing is stopping us. And if you're in a situation where you are being stopped, it's probably time to move to a different situation."
As part of our Women Hackers global campaign for International Women's Day, Encora celebrates the contributions of women in technology and our commitment to creating inclusive environments where diverse talent can flourish. Learn more about careers at Encora and join our team of innovators shaping the future of digital engineering.
