Let’s Make It Count’s Junior Ambassador Lilah G sat down to chat with Janae Dandridge, a Federal Account Executive at Tableau Software. Tableau was created to help people visualize and understand data, a concept upon which Ms. Dandridge elaborates in her session of the Let’s Make It Count Summit which is now available on-demand.
During the interview, Ms. Dandridge shares her perspective on the approachability of technology and data in the business world and beyond, offering advice to anyone—particularly youth—interested in exploring tech.
Hi, Ms. Dandridge! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today. I am excited to share your mission and message to my peers who are thinking about exploring data science.
Thank you, Lilah. Please call me Janae.
Great, Janae, thanks! Let’s get started, then. As a person who has a business background, working in the software industry, has your experience provided you with any new insights?
I got my Master’s of Science in Business Management. During my studies, I learned that business challenges most often include an IT component. I also became interested in tech partly because I enjoy a fast-paced environment—which I realized coming out of grad school.
My experience is that we can often use technical solutions to solve important business and organizational problems. Having a business degree gives me the context I need to deeply understand my clients’ needs and prescribe unique technology solutions, as not one solution fits all issues.
What were your high school interests? Do they relate to your current work?
I am currently a sales executive at Tableau—when I was in high school, I thought that the only way to be successful was that I had to be a doctor or a lawyer!
I was motivated to be successful academically and well-rounded. I pursued the arts and music (I play the piano!) and participated in dance and cheerleading. In college, though, I found that I hated chemistry and biology, so I knew that the doctor [avenue] was out. Growing up in a small town, I was always interested in what goes on outside of my community, particularly in other countries. I decided to study International Relations, which is completely different than becoming a doctor, but it was something in which I had genuine interest.
In studying International Relations, I became heavily involved in research. Asking questions and making a case for something has helped me tremendously in my professional career as a sales professional. In my day to day, I am responsible for asking questions of my clients to understand their organizational challenges AND asking questions of data to understand my business and make decisions and recommendations
My advice is that you have time. You don’t have to decide in high school exactly what you want to be when you grow up. Things change. It is important to know your “why” behind any decision or path you decide to pursue or not pursue.
Do you still dance?
Well, if making Tik Tok videos is considered “dance,” yes! Dancing continues to be a way to express myself. Dancing in college was the last time I “formally” danced.
Oh, wow! I am interested in music as well. I play the violin--and I wish I had stayed with piano. I’d like to get back into that again.
Since most students are now at home due to the pandemic, is there something you would recommend they research for those interested in your field that they can take advantage of at this time? Are there any resources in particular that you’d like to share?
Being at home in the pandemic is a kind of gift, in that there’s time to start new things, pursue passions, and explore things—and bring things to life, to light.
Some good resources are podcasts—there’s a podcast for everything! It’s a way to listen to other people’s stories and a great way to get ideas and get inspired. There are podcasts on technology, entrepreneurship, sales...you name it!
Another place to get involved in is LinkedIn. It is never too early to start using this [platform] to find groups that are in line with different resources. Some of these groups have online events in which people can participate, and there are even career and internship opportunities on LinkedIn.
Visual data analytics is a huge, up-and-coming avenue of opportunity: Tableau has become a top in-demand skill by many employers. It is a great tool to have to build work and school projects.
Tableau has a free platform for students at tableau.com/students, where there’s a free software license and a self-guided training program available.
Thank you for those resources and links!
I’m curious what was the largest burden you have faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
I don’t know if this was a burden, but something I struggled with was holding myself back from pursuing new opportunities: In 2017, there was an opening for what is now my current position, and I really wanted the job. I was in sales, and had been in the corporate world for only three years; however, the job description noted that seven to ten years of experience was preferred.
Even though I wanted the job, I got caught up in my head that I was “not ready” to go for this job. I talked myself out of trying and getting stuck in all the reasons that I did not qualify: not enough experience, too young, etc. It was a mentor of mine that helped me shift my thinking and explore why I SHOULD apply, rather than why I shouldn’t.
I had to do a presentation as part of the application process and talked about why I wanted the job, what my qualifications were, and how I’d approach my new position. I focused on all the things I accomplished in only three years of professional experience and ended up getting the job.
People get caught up in what a job description says and can miss out on really great opportunities and/or experiences because of that.
So my advice is this: Don’t get caught up in your own head! Just go for it!
What is the worst thing that can happen? That they or someone could say “no”? If they say no, at the very least it’s a learning opportunity to get better for the next opportunity.
How have you enmeshed your mentor and volunteer work with your career?
There is a lot of good that can be done with and through tech:
Volunteering: Working with nonprofits is an extension of the work and my mission at Tableau. Knowing that tech is not the end-all “fix it,” change is also driven by or through volunteer efforts, for example, the Tableau Foundation [the philanthropic arm of Tableau]. There, I’ve worked with the community grants program; we help identify local non-profits, review grant applications, and distribute funds to organizations that are making impacts in our communities.
Mentoring: I mentor as much as possible. I make it a point to talk to students whenever possible to encourage future generations. I’ve mentored multiple new sellers at Tableau and guided them on career progression. It is important to me, especially being a successful woman and person of color. My personal mission is to pay it forward and help others from diverse backgrounds realize success in their careers.
That is really fascinating! Do you hope to see any particular changes in the fields of business and technology?
I’d like to see the use of technology as a force for good continue; for example, using data to tackle climate change and analyze COVID-19 spread to get the virus under control and save lives. Tech companies should continue partnering with each other, nonprofits, and governmental organizations to tackle these big problems.
I’d also like to see more women and diversity in tech—most importantly at higher levels and in executive positions. Change can start by exposing more women and people of color to tech and its many opportunities earlier on. Further engagement and the championing of tech to these younger groups is needed so that they can understand and achieve these changes.
How do we expose more women and people of color? How can we inspire these sections of society to this? This needs to be a part of the school curriculum at an earlier age to build awareness and use different channels of communication.
I joke with friends and family that apps like TikTok are “microlearning tools” and can be such if used the right way. It is about meeting people where they are—it’s there that they can best receive information. If young people are using certain applications, we should be too, as there’s a lot of opportunity to share and educate.
How can tech companies and groups encourage women and STEM growth?
Reach people where they are, such as on Facebook, TikTok, and through newsletters and social organizations (including sororities) so that you can appeal to and easily reach the group to whom the message is intended.
Some people don’t think of themselves as “technology people” because they don’t know programming, coding etc. That is okay. A key thing to remember and educate these communities on is that a career in STEM is not just coding. There are SO many job functions required to run a tech company or have a career in STEM. Not only does someone have to build the technology, someone has to market the technology, someone needs to set the strategy and roadmap direction for the technology. Those are all important jobs in my field.
What are the impacts that you want your work to have on younger generations?
I see my work helping more people get access to data to change the world for the better. Particularly younger generations with creative minds and ideas but haven’t been exposed to how to use data/data analytics in traditional education systems. Also, to encourage young people and students to consider making data and data analytics as a part of their career path—and to understand the various career opportunities that are possible in technology. Tech is an exciting and rewarding space to be in.
JANAE’S TAKEAWAYS:
Focus.
Go for it!
You can be a successful woman of color in technology!
Thank you so much, Janae, for taking the time to talk to me today. It has been great to learn more about you and your work!
Check out the links below to explore Tableau Software. Tableau for Students is a free platform where students can create data visualization content to share on Tableau Public. Explore, create, and get inspired by Tableau’s global community.
Tableau for Students
Tableau Public
Stay tuned to LetsMakeItCount.org and #LetsMakeItCount #BDHubs as Lilah and other Junior Ambassadors share their discoveries in data science during these last few weeks of the National Census Data Competition!
Final entries are due January 31, 2021.
Additional Resources:
US Census Academy
West Big Data Innovation Hub
National Science Foundation
Join the Competition:
National Census Data Competition
