Increasing gender equity in tech by simply hiring more women is a little like trying to address global warming by planting a few hundred new trees in every major city — it’s definitely helpful, but solving the problem is far more complicated.
A good example is the “leaky pipeline” of women in STEM — a term used to explain the structural biases that women in the field face. This pipeline was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the height of which showed many the weight of domestic labor and caregiving that women disproportionately shoulder in addition to professional responsibilities. The “leaky pipeline” shows how women in STEM often have missed opportunities due to gender bias and existing structural obstacles.
A study published in the journal ASC Nano titled “Turning the Tide for Academic Women in STEM: A Postpandemic Vision for Supporting Female Scientists” noted, “these barriers affect all facets of the scientific enterprise, including publishing, hiring, funding and advancement into more senior positions.” The article also pointed out other examples of systemic bias — like women receiving $500,000 less than men in startup funds on average, and women being less likely to be published when their manuscripts are reviewed by all-male teams of reviewers.
Moving toward equality in tech requires some big-picture problem solving.
However, there are a few critical steps that can make a big difference. One of those is placing women in leadership positions. Having the power to introduce seemingly small changes in the workplace is often what can have the greatest impact.
So Built In Austin set out to find a local tech company that has a large number of women leaders, and one quickly rose to the surface: LogicMonitor.
LogicMonitor is an IT and AI insight company with a C-suite roster that is 60 percent women. We spoke with the company’s most recent C-suite addition, Chief Marketing Officer Brooke Cunningham.
LogicMonitor is a software company that uses AI to provide IT and business teams operational visibility and predictability across their technologies.
Describe your new role. What does your day-to-day look like, and what are the biggest priorities you’re focused on addressing?
I lead the marketing organization for a fast-growing SaaS company delivering hybrid observability powered by AI. LogicMonitor acts as a strategic partner to chief information officers, providing an intelligent, data-first platform that surfaces the metrics that matter, blending the hybrid world of physical devices with digital interactions to create extraordinary employee and customer experiences and business outcomes. This ensures our customers’ systems are always up and running to deliver to their customers.
A typical day starts with a workout before I hit the road. Then I stop by Black Rock Coffee on my way to San Jacinto Tower where I enjoy my coffee while taking in the breathtaking views of Lady Bird Lake.
On any given day, I may host a town hall, meet with our Austin-based marketing team or join calls with our global colleagues to discuss projects and initiatives. We often welcome customers and partners to our executive meeting space, where I hear directly from them about how they use LogicMonitor.
The day ends with an executive meeting to talk strategy and global operations. Fun fact: our C-suite is 60 percent female — a first in my 26-year tech career.
“Fun fact: our C-suite is 60 percent female — a first in my 26-year tech career.”
What has your career journey looked like so far? What skills are you bringing with you into your new role?
My career spans many roles and regions. It all started in Vancouver, Canada — I’m a proud Canadian — with an internship at Seagate Software while pursuing a Business Administration degree. That first taste of the tech industry had me hooked on marketing and technology from day one.
I moved to New York City, experienced three acquisitions with Crystal Decisions, Business Objects and SAP. Then leveled up in seniority, leading global teams and traveling around the world.
After 13 years, I landed at Qlik, a business intelligence and analytics leader, which took me to Silicon Valley. The chance to work in the tech epicenter was a dream come true.
My journey continued at Splunk, where I played a role in building the brand and team. Then came Datto, my first chief marketing officer role, steering the global marketing team for a $650 million ARR software powerhouse. Datto brought me to Austin in 2022, and I joined LogicMonitor in May of this year.
During my career I’ve developed my “superpowers” — communicating, connecting and engaging with people. I thrive on working with my teams, customers, partners and the community to link strategy to execution while unlocking the potential to deliver results in an orchestrated way.
What are you most excited to accomplish with your team over the next year?
As the global marketing team leader, my primary objectives are to elevate LogicMonitor’s brand presence and drive increased interest and demand for our hybrid observability solution. We have several exciting projects underway, including redesigning our website, showcasing more of our incredible customer success stories and continuing to deliver exceptional local events while strengthening our partner engagements.
Beyond our digital presence, we’re revitalizing our Austin office with a fresh design. We hope this update will help attract and retain top talent in the Austin area, while also bringing our bright and bold brand to life in a tangible way. I’m excited about the opportunity to further invest in our already inspiring workspace that reflects the innovative spirit of LogicMonitor and the vibrant energy of Austin.
