Energized by the idea of studying computer science in college, Ellen Guthrie eagerly approached her computer science teacher in high school about the prospect, only to hear this in reply:
“Well, this isn’t really something that girls do.”
In that moment, Guthrie’s career shifted in an entirely different direction. Yet her passion for computer science remained for years afterward.
“It wasn’t until more than a decade later, when I realized that I wanted to work in tech, that I found it was absolutely something that women do,” Guthrie said.
Now, as a senior data analyst at Aceable, she has ample room to advance her tech career and build strong relationships with other women that will help her succeed even further. But more importantly than that, Guthrie shared that she has space to be who she really is: a woman of many diverse talents, passions and priorities.
“My most precious professional goal is to not lose sight of my multifaceted, kaleidoscopic life and to find balance in exploring everything that brings me joy or piques my curiosity,” she said.
So whether she decides to build upon her data analysis skills or take time off to explore new cities, Guthrie knows that Aceable will give her the support and resources she needs to get there. Read on to learn more about her experiences as a woman in tech and how Aceable has enabled her to live her life to the fullest.
About Aceable
Aceable’s mobile education platform offers online driving and real estate courses. In addition to providing learners with interactive videos and quizzes, the company’s platform offers access to an around-the-clock support team that can be reached through chat, phone or email.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced — and overcome — as a woman in tech?
I’ve faced difficulties as a woman in tech, such as trying to figure out how to deal with egos, finding out that I was earning significantly less than male counterparts and navigating being a working mother — but I’ve also found more camaraderie and validation than ever before.
I co-founded a women’s employee resource group at a previous job and still value the relationships that I made with other women in the group to this day. We raise each other up professionally, empathize with frustrations and celebrate victories. It’s a beautiful sisterhood that stems from facing similar challenges, sharing passions and having kindred experiences.
What are your professional goals, and how has Aceable enabled you to pursue them?
I strive to be someone who isn’t defined solely by my career, and Aceable allows me to be a whole person, not just someone who works and grinds all the time. While I have aspirations of becoming the most respected data analyst at any company I work for, of course, I also identify as a writer, an artist, a nature enthusiast, a world traveler, a gardener, a baker, a new mother and a plethora of other nouns and adjectives.
“Aceable allows me to be a whole person, not just someone who works and grinds all the time.”
In the future, I can see myself exploring other career paths, such as design, copywriting, data science, AI engineering or maybe something that I haven’t even considered yet. Our company value of “Pursue Growth” is embodied by an education stipend, which is available for employees who want to explore education that will expand their professional horizons. Each full-time employee is allotted $600 per calendar year to explore their interests — a huge perk in my opinion.
How does Aceable celebrate and empower women?
This year, I became a new mom, so I would be remiss not to mention Aceable’s generous parental leave policy: 10 weeks off for all new parents, paid at 100 percent, and an additional six weeks, also paid at 100 percent, for parents experiencing childbirth. Being able to recover from labor and delivery and spend quality time with my baby was essential for my physical and mental health. There was zero work leakage during the leave. Everyone knew to leave me alone and let me fully bond with my baby and create new routines and expectations with my family. Now that I’m a parent, I’ve also been invited to the “Club Parents” Slack channel, where parents can share successes and challenges with each other and show support and fellowship.
Aceable also loves to celebrate International Women’s Day in March every year. Our Embrace employee resource group featured reflections in its monthly newsletter on the holiday this year from the perspective of one of my female colleagues on the finance team. She reflected on her feelings of isolation and otherness in the historically male-dominated field of finance and on the importance of diversity and inclusivity for high-performing teams.
