Meet Linda Calvin

We recently connected with Linda Calvin and have shared our conversation below.

Linda, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Being an only is tough and it takes a patience, creativity and strategy to be successful. When I join a team and I’m an only, I take time to identify the leaders and influencers in the room. I connect with them and request an informational session, just a one-on-one. I find informational sessions great ways to learn about those on my team, their expectations of my role, and I always ask my favorite question, “what are three things that keep them up at night?” With this one on one, I can assess their style, their priorities and how to best partner with or lead to meet their goals and expectations. In my opinion, a common mistake made by leaders is to assume that you are the only one with expectations. Your team and/or direct reports always have expectations of leaders. It’s important to understand those as 1) it can help you interface better to your team members, 2) you can dispel or address any misconceptions about your role, and 3) help you plan strategy sessions with team members.

I also use informational sessions to assess personal/communications styles – and share mine. I like to understand if I’m working with someone who prefers a very direct approach to feedback and engagement vs. a more relaxed style of conversation. I also think when you are an only, it is important to address any stereotypes that may serve as the foundation for opinions or workstyles. I’m very outgoing, I enjoy working with people from different viewpoints and backgrounds. As an only woman and oftentimes, the only black woman, I’ve realized people will have the perception that I’m a bit more uptight, playing things close to the vest. I share my personal styles and viewpoints on work styles with team members, so they get to know me, Linda Calvin, and not a perception or stereotype of me.

Finally, as it can be very stressful to be an only, I make sure to carve out time for myself. That may be a long walk with my dog listening to an Audible book, a 30 minute virtual coffee break with a mentor or just quiet time. It’s very challenging when you are an only and can take a toll on mental health. Thus it’s ESSENTIAL that onlies to do self-care for resilience and to avoid burnout.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My journey in tech started in 1986 with a question from my sister when I was 21, She asked me, “What is your plan for life?” At the time, I was an office manager for a glass company, and one of the perks was drinking beer with colleagues on Friday! My sister said, “Yeah, that’s not a plan,” and hooked me up with an opportunity at Wishard Memorial Hospital as a Computer Systems Operator for VAX/VMS systems.

I learned trial by fire, and quickly learned how to backup systems (TAPE backups), gently load, and unload large multi-plate discs from big drives and use code to submit jobs. Over time, I actually became quite adept at smashing out code. This experience led to another role at Executive Telecom Systems Inc (ETSI) where I honed by skills and learned how to upgrade systems, apply patches, and manage other systems. These jobs were the catalyst for the next stop in my career journey, my 20-year tenure at an ag chemical company, Dow AgroSciences (Dow). At Dow, I learned so much more about supporting systems, the internet and how to lead teams. I took advantage of their tuition assistance program and earned my undergrad in Journalism, cum laude. I knew I wanted to lead tech, but I didn’t want to smash code, so I followed my heart and decided marrying tech skills with journalism would be a powerful combination. I was right – and I spent my last 10 years as a global leader of digital and mobile application development, social media and data privacy. After a happy hour with a friend, I decided to go to law school. I did, and wow it was hard. But I was able to leverage this experience to become a speaker on digital technologies in regulated environments for local Bar Associations as well as the American Bar Association.

I started creating a brand for myself; a leader with great communications skills who understood tech and the law.

For a couple of years, I was absent from the tech industry to pursue a career in legal as an assistant city prosecutor for the City of Indianapolis. However, the siren song of tech beckoned me to the private sector. I returned to the tech industry and served Director for Employee Engagement and Internal Communications at a Teradata Marketing Applications and then as the global IT digital leader at Stanley Black & Decker.

In her role at SBD, In 2019, I took the next step in the curation of my twisty-turny career in tech and entered the world of higher education as the Vice President for the School of IT for Ivy Tech Community College, the largest singularly accredited community college in the US. In my role, she was responsible for evolving curriculum to meet tech industry demand, establishing thought leadership and partnering with organizations to develop tech talent pipelines. It was during my tenure at Ivy Tech, I witnessed firsthand the gap in access to tech education. I discovered my passion as a tech equity advocate. I subsequently launched the Transcending Boundaries Scholarship, which provides funding for tech education for Black, Latina and Native American (BLNA) women in the state of Indiana. https://impact.ivytech.edu/project/25050.

This realization spurred me to action to search for a role where I could make a difference for women in tech. In January of 2023, I accepted the role of Chief Impact Officer for Reboot Representation. Reboot’s mission is to double the number of BLNA women earning computing degrees by 2025. In my role, I partner with tech companies in our coalition and other Fortune 500 companies to collaborate with partner companies to help them create and support inclusive cultures to help retain the BLNA female tech talent in which they are investing.

This led me to one of my biggest projects to date: Indiana Women IN Tech Week. In 2023, as I was doing research for my role, I was inspired to create a day for women in tech in my home state of Indiana. I reached out to a good friend, a PR maven, to ask her for help. She told me she would on the condition I go for a week and not a day! We closed the deal and worked together to create materials to submit to the state of Indiana for a proclamation for an annual Indiana Women IN Tech Week. In February of 2024, we were notified the Governor was signing the proclamation. For me personally, it’s one of the most special projects I have and in the top 5 major accomplishments in my life. With this week, we can raise awareness of women contributing to the tech economy, we can showcase our skills and talents, start a conversation to address issues of inequity in tech for women. And most importantly, we can be seen as role models and mentors for the next generation; When you See Us, You Can be Us! Currently we are the only state in the US to have a week dedicated to women, but it’s my vision that other states will see us and want to do the same for the women in their state.

I am a true believer in the power of a women’s voice. I lead a photoshoot, started during COVID summer, called Empowered Women. We started as a group of 12 women, wearing matching tee shirts, goofing off for a photographer. It became something very powerful, more than I had counted on. This year, we celebrate five years of Empowered Women. We are now 40 women, and we grow each year, who gather to pose for a local female photographer, wearing tee shirts designed by a local female artist, and inspired by a local female vocalist to be together and discover our strength, our skills and how our differences are as much as our sames. We empower one another, and we have discovered the power in our collective voices.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

* Sometimes your journey may tax you. The weight of being a woman, and especially a black woman in tech, may bring you to your knees. You may get down. It’s okay to cry, to lament. But only rent that space for a minute, don’t move in. Have your feels, then shake yourself off, take some deep breaths and keep going.

* Mentors matter. You must have mentors; I say at least three. These mentors will make up your personal board of directors. Some of the most powerful leaders in the world have mentors and owe their careers to mentors. It is essential you have someone who can help you when you feel low, counsel you when you have a tough decision or just listen to you.

* LinkedIn is a powerful personal customer relationship manager (CRM) tool. If you want to be successful in your career, learn how to use LinkedIn for thought leadership, connection and to build a network. I owe my current role to my usage of LinkedIn and my connections.

For those starting their journey or pivoting to a new career, I think it’s important to know when you are at your limits. When you get to that space where you feel overwhelmed, make sure you have self-care in place for when you do have to take a knee. Know how to recuperate and re-energize. It’s not a demonstration of weakness to have moments where you feel overwhelmed, or you don’t feel ok. It’s normal. We all have days.

As it relates to having mentors, for anyone just starting out, make creating your personal board of directors a priority now. And take your mentoring relationships seriously. Oftentimes, people will ask for a mentor, but not have a regular cadence, not share ideas and just go to them when they are in need of a job. This is not a mentoring relationship. When you build your personal board of directors, you should select people who you believe will help you in your pathways. Not just for a job, but when you need confidence, honestly or just someone who can listen to you and guide you. Do not take mentors for granted. Curate your personal board of directors with the same care you use with close friendships.

Finally, find a LinkedIn jedi and learn from them. Follow thought leaders on LinkedIn. Watch how they post and when, read the comments and research their message strategy. This is how you build and design brand. Additionally, find a LinkedIn expert and ask for help. Some will require a fee. If you can afford a fee, then pay it and learn. Search for online resources to help you with your LinkedIn presence. Check with a library to see if there are classes. LinkedIn can be a very powerful tool. Spend time to learn how to use it.  

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

None of us are perfect, even though you see leaders who you perceive to have it “together,” we all have challenges. Mine is saying no to requests for my time – and in some cases, requesting payment. It’s a challenge for women specifically and especially when you are active in community. It feels wrong to say No when you enjoy the work you are doing, and you want to help. For 2025, I am already planning my personal development plan (meaning, my personal plan, not a work plan). I will create more boundaries as it relates to my time and draw very bright lines for those activities, I will offer pro bono and those I will require payment for. It’s a struggle, but I’m recruiting from my personal board of directors those who I know will challenge me to say no, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.transcendent-talks.com
• Instagram: @lindathegirlygirl
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindacalvin
• Other: https://www.indianawomenintechweek.com

Image Credits

Faith Blackwell Photography