“不要被刻板印象束縛。如果有你的熱情所在並且確信自己能做到的事，那就努力去做吧。我告訴過自己很多次，‘這件事我能做到的嗎？不知道，但先試一試吧！’每次我嘗試的時候，我意識到其實任何事情都能做好。只是關乎你花費的時間、付出的努力和所持的態度。”
如果時光倒流，這些科技領域的女性精英會對大學時的自己說些什麼？
“你又不是一名工程師——為什麼你這麼熱衷於參與推動女性在科技領域進步的運動呢？”自從在今年早些時候發起了全球非營利組織“科技女孩”（Girls in Tech）香港分會之後，我被無數次問到過這個問題。其實答案非常簡單：我確實不是一名工程師，但是我是一個性別平等和世界可持續發展的倡導者。
國際普遍缺乏在科技領域的女性，這是我選擇投入這項事業的原因之一，因為這在內在本質與外在工具利用性上都是一個問題：女性不活躍於科技領域，因為她們的性別本身就是一個阻礙。而性別的消極影響會帶來其他的問題，因為擁有平等的機會來了解和使用技術對於她們將來在其他領域的平等至關重要。一旦問題解決了，其影響力很可能對科技創新產生滾雪球般的巨大能量，我相信這也會反過來推動國際發展。
當我和越來越多為這件事努力的人們聊過之後，我越來越清楚地確信，為科技領域的女性提供導師指導是非常關鍵的一種對策。但是，不是每個人都有機會參加導師課程或者能接觸到她想要的導師，特別是那些剛在大學裡開始她們科技生涯的女性。這就是我為什麼決定和一些我非常敬佩的、在科技領域非常出色的女性對話的原因。她們是工程師、科學家、創業者、風險投資家。我想問她們，若回顧過去，她們會給大學時期的自己提出什麼建議呢？我希望她們的回答能提供一些在線的指導，並且能給你們一些激勵，就像她們曾激勵到我那樣！
-來自GGV紀源資本管理合夥人李宏瑋給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她於1995年在康奈爾大學獲得工程學學士和碩士學位，2001年在凱洛格管理學院獲得工商管理碩士學位。
儘可能地花時間去探索。你有非常獨特的機會嘗試不同的學科、活動和課程，你會發現甚至你自己都不知道的興趣所在。別太擔心這些對你將來的“職業”有沒有用——這種探索會最終打開你的世界大門，而不是關上。瞭解什麼是可能的，什麼是能讓你興奮的東西之後，你能更好地開拓自己的道路。
-來自谷歌的產品管理副總裁Avni Shah給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於2003年獲得麻省理工學院計算機科學與電子工程學士學位。
學會協作學習。加入不同行業具有代表性的不同組織，並獲得能讓你學到不同技能的職位。比如說，成為你校報的編輯，但同時也擔任學校音樂團的製作人。這會幫助你在生活中更早地瞭解到你所熱愛和你所擅長的事情。保持開放的心態，享受過程中的樂趣。你現在結識的朋友將會變成以後你最棒的生意夥伴。若回顧過去，你將會非常感激你們建立在信任與友誼上的長久關係。
-來自Mogul公司創始人兼首席執行官Tiffany Pham給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於2008年獲得耶魯大學經濟與國際研究學士學位，2001年獲得哈佛商學院MBA學位。
強制自己離開舒適圈，去體驗新的事情，與不同文化背景的人們建立友誼關係。大學裡最棒的部分就是。我做了很多不可思議的事情：出國到日本學習，活躍於斯坦福的體育運動項目，並且在傳統黑人大學度過了一個學期。但我最大的遺憾還是沒有能讓自己拓展得更遠。
-來自Blendoor創始人兼首席執行官Stephanie Lampkin給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於2006年獲得斯坦福管理科學與工程學士學位，於2003年獲得麻省理工學院斯隆管理學院MBA學位。
無償為你真正想要進入的行業中最優秀的人工作。不需要擔心公司名字或者薪水。一旦你進入了這個公司，和每一個人去交談。儘可能多地結交人，儘可能多的學習企業的運作方式。並且記住要隨時跟進。說到做到。
-來自500移動集體基金合夥人Edith Yeung給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於1998年獲得普渡大學工業管理學士學位。
要積極。你擁有著一切——一定要有信心！有時也許這不是社會對女性所期待的，但一定要大膽地繼續向前。從我的經驗來看，女性常常是過度準備了且自信心很低。讓你的自信匹配你的能力非常重要。
-來自藍色創業公司執行合夥人Chenoa Farnsworth給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於1992年獲得加州大學聖克魯斯分校政治科學與政府學士學位，2000年獲得夏威夷大學MBA學位。
別害怕冒險。你不必計算好一切後才踏出朝向夢想的第一步。相信你的直覺，相信你的才智，利用好在你面前的機會。
-來自MentorMe創始人兼首席執行官Brit Fitzpatrick給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於2009年獲得霍華德大學新聞學學士學位，2011年獲得孟菲斯大學數字媒體營銷碩士學位。
別被那些有經驗的人嚇到，要知道是年輕人在改變著世界並且敢於說出你自己的想法——因為這是這個世界（包括那些有經驗的領導者）需要並且想要從你那裡獲得的。
-來自YouTube合作產品解決部門總監兼全球主管Shalini Govil-Pai給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於1990年獲得印度孟買技術學院計算機科學學士學位，1992年獲得賓夕法尼亞州立大學計算機科學碩士學位。
主動選擇並創造你自己的機會。我曾經主動找到了我想工作的公司的員工建立聯繫的方式（通過學校活動、社區活動或者其他方式），之後我瞭解了更多他們的目標並且
-來自Envested創始人兼首席執行官Isa Watson給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於2008年獲得漢普頓大學化學學士學位，2011年獲得康奈爾大學藥理學碩士學位，2013年獲得麻省理工學院斯隆管理學院MBA學位。
去了解你的教授們。他們不僅是給你上課和佈置作業的人。把他們想象成你的盟友——如果你給他們機會，他們將會是你未來巨大的資源庫。大學的教授成為了我最有力的早期職業導師；他們為我寫推薦信；當我有需要的時候，他們也提供給我他們的人脈資源。
-來自Girls in Tech創始人兼首席執行官Adriana Gascoigne給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於2000年獲得加州大學戴維斯分校的社會學和經濟學學士學位。
無所畏懼，勇往直前。如果你只是坐在那裡沉思，事情就永遠不會向前推進。這個世界現在發展如此之快，並沒有多少時間讓我們坐下來思考太久。不要太糾纏於利弊——如果你有一個揮之不去的想法，那就去做吧！一旦你的家人和朋友看到你的項目為你帶來的火花，我相信他們也一定會支持你。永遠嘗試並且永遠提出問題——因為如果你不這樣做的話，你永遠也不會知道對錯。如果你嘗試過但失敗了，那就隨它去吧。你又不會失去任何東西。但如果你成功了呢？你將會打開充滿無限可能的大門。
-來自SciGlo的聯合創始人和首席執行官Sandhya Sriram給大學時期的自己提出的建議，她曾於2008年在馬德拉斯大學獲得微生物學和生物技術碩士學位，2013年在南洋理工大學獲得生物科學博士學位。
以下為英文版內容：
The Best Advice 11 Inspiring Women In TechWould Give To Their College Selves
BYKOPITIAMBOTON 2018-03-16
“You’re not even an engineer — why are youso involved in the movement to advance women in tech?” This is a question I’vebeen asked multiple times since starting the Hong Kong chapter of the globalnonprofit Girls in Tech earlier this year. The answer is simple: I’m not anengineer, true, but what I am is an advocate for gender equality andsustainable development across different issues and industries in the world.
The international lack of women in tech isone of the issues I’ve chosen to dedicate my time to, because it’s a problemboth intrinsically and instrumentally: the fact that women aren’t in techmerely because of their gender is a problem in itself, and its negative effectsbring another problem as equal opportunities to access and shape technology areessential to further equality in other areas. When solved, its impact also hasthe potential to snowball into immense benefits to technological innovation,which I believe would in turn advance international development.
As I spoke with more and more peopleworking on this issue, it became increasingly clear that providing mentorshipfor women in tech is crucial as one of the solutions. However, not everyonewill have access to mentorship programs or be able to get in touch with someonethey wish to be mentored by, especially people who are just beginning theirtech career in college. That’s why I decided to talk with some amazing women intech whom I look up to — engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, venturecapitalists — and to ask them, looking back, what advice would they give totheir to their college selves. I hope their answers can provide a little onlinementorship and inspire you the way they have inspired me!
“Don’t be held back by stereotypes. If it’ssomething you’re passionate about and you believe you can do it, go for it. Somany times I’ve said to myself, ‘Is this something I can do? I don’t know, justtry!’ And every time I try, I realize that anything can be done. It’s a matterof time, effort, and attitude.”
-Advice from Jenny Lee, Managing Partner,GGV Capital to her college self (BS and MS in Engineering at Cornell in 1995,and an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management in 2001)
“Take the time to explore as much possible.You have a unique opportunity to try out different disciplines, activities, andclasses to discover interests you didn’t even know you had. Don’t worry so muchabout what it means for your ‘career’ — this exploration will ultimately opendoors, not close them. By knowing what’s possible and what excites you, you’llbe able to forge your own path.”
– Advice from Avni Shah, VP of ProductManagement, Google to her college self (BS in Computer Science & ElectricalEngineering at MIT in 2003)
“Collaborate to learn. Join differentorganizations that are representative of different industries and obtainpositions that will help you learn different skill sets in each. For example,become the editor for your school newspaper but also become a producer for yourschool musical. This will help you learn much earlier on in life what you arepassionate about and what you are good at. Keep an open mind, and have fun allalong the way. The friends you make today will become your greatest businesscollaborates tomorrow, and looking back, you will be grateful for your ongoingrelationship built on a history of trust and friendship.”
– Advice from Tiffany Pham, Founder andCEO, Mogul, Inc. to her college self (BA in Economics and International Studiesat Yale in 2008 and MBA at Harvard Business School in 2012)
“Force yourself outside of your comfortzone to experience new things and establish relationships with people from manydifferent cultures and backgrounds. The best part of college is the exposure. Idid a lot of awesome things: studied abroad in Japan, became active in Stanfordathletics, and spent a semester at an Historically Black University. However,my biggest regret was not stretching myself further.”
– Advice from Stephanie Lampkin, Founderand CEO, Blendoor to her college self (BS in Management Science and Engineeringat Stanford in 2006 and MBA at MIT Sloan in 2013)
“Volunteer to work for the best people inthe industry you really want to get into. No need to worry about title or pay.Once you get into the company, talk to everyone. Meet as many people aspossible and learn as much as you can about how the business works. Andremember to always follow up. Do what you said you would do.”
– Advice from Edith Yeung, Partner, 500Mobile Collective Fund to her college self (BS in Industrial Management atPurdue University in 1998)
“Be aggressive. You have all the goods – beconfident! Sometimes it may feel that’s not what society expects of women, butjust keep going and be bold. In my experience, women tend to be over preparedand under-confident. It’s important to match your competence with yourconfidence.”
– Advice from ChenoaFarnsworth, Managing Partner, Blue Startups to her college self (BA inPolitical Science & Government at UC Santa Cruz in 1992 and MBA at theUniversity of Hawaii in 2000)
“Don’t be afraid to take risks. You don’thave to have it all figured before taking the first step toward your dreams.Trust your intuition, believe in your brilliance, and take advantage of theopportunities in front of you.”
– Advice from Brit Fitzpatrick, Founder andCEO, MentorMe to her college self (BA in Journalism at Howard University in2009 and MA in Digital Media Marketing at the University of Memphis in 2011)
“Do not be intimidated by people who have experience,but know that it’s the young that change the world and just speak your mind —because that’s what the world (including the experienced leaders) need and wantfrom you.”
– Advice from Shalini Govil-Pai, Directorand Global Head of Partner Product Solutions, YouTube to her college self (BSin Computer Science at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in 1990 andMS in Computer Science at Penn State in 1992)
“Take initiative and create your ownopportunities. I proactively sought out ways to network with employees ofcompanies I wanted to work for (school events, community events, or other),then learn a bit more about their initiatives and listen for what their gapswere. After that, it was just a matter of proposing to the right team member aproject that I could take on to help – even as an unpaid intern during thesemester.”
– Advice from Isa Watson, Founder and CEO,Envested to her college self (BS in Chemistry at Hampton University in 2008, anMS in Pharmacology at Cornell in 2011, and an MBA at MIT Sloan in 2013)
“Get to know your professors. They aren’tjust people giving you lectures and homework. Think of them as your allies —they’ll be great future resources for you if you give them the chance. Collegeprofessors became some of my most powerful early career mentors; they wrotereference letters for me; they also offered up their connections when I neededthem.”
– Advice from Adriana Gascoigne, Founderand CEO, Girls in Tech to her college self (BA in Sociology and Economics at UCDavis in 2000)
“Be fearless and just do it. If you’re justsitting there and contemplating, things will never move forward. The world isso fast-paced now that there is no time to sit and think for too long. Don’tthink about the pros and cons too much – if you have an idea that you can’t getout of your head, just go for it! I’m sure your family and friends will supportyou too, once they see the spark that your project lights in you. Always tryand always ask – because if you don’t, you’ll never know. If you try and it’s ano, then so be it. You won’t lose anything. But if it’s a yes? You’ll open thedoor to infinite possibilities.”
– Advice from Sandhya Sriram, Co-founder andFounder and CEO, SciGlo to her college self (BS in Microbiology and MS inBiotechnology at the University of Madras in 2008 and a PhD in BiologicalSciences at Nanyang Technological University in 2013)
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