At Bandwidth IG, we believe in celebrating the BIG stuff. That can range from expanding our dark fiber networks to provide stronger connectivity for more data centers and enterprises, to recognizing the team that makes it happen. In recognition of Women’s History Month, we want to shine the spotlight on some of the women who are making a difference behind the scenes at Bandwidth IG and giving us our competitive edge.
Celebrating women in technology is close to our hearts. In an industry where women have historically been underrepresented, and on the heels of a time when the COVID-19 pandemic caused more women than men to leave the workforce, there is more reason than ever to applaud the women on our team. We firmly believe that a diverse perspective makes us, and our customers, stronger.
In this post, we pick up where we left off in the first volume of Celebrating Women in Technology. Read on to meet two more dynamic women behind our growing network!
Junavie Barredo, Accounting Manager
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
I handle all accounting activities for Bandwidth IG for our corporate headquarters located in Sunnyvale, California, and for customers across our networks in Greater Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Portland.
How did you get involved in the tech industry?
When I migrated to the U.S., my first job was in technology. I worked in software development for a telecom company in Southern California. When I moved to Northern California, where I am now with Bandwidth IG, I transitioned to the construction industry. I always wanted to go back to the tech industry, which fascinates me greatly.
My former co-worker and friend, Misha Osoteo, recommended me to the Bandwidth IG team when an opening became available, and I grabbed that opportunity to get back to the tech industry and work with her again.
**Read more about Misha in our first volume of Celebrating Women in Technology.
What challenges do you think women in tech face most?
I think the tech industry is starting to give women the opportunity to shine. Twenty years ago, we did not have a lot of female staff in the industry, and opportunities for growth in the field were hard to come by. I think the stigma that the tech industry was for male employees only has been broken, and that is thanks in large part to people like our leaders at Bandwidth IG who see the value that truly diverse voices can bring.
How has Bandwidth IG supported you as a woman in tech?
Bandwidth IG has made me feel supported and they’ve treated me like a family member, especially when I was going through health issues. They sent me flowers and reading materials as resources that could help me cope with my challenges. They constantly checked on me, which is very sweet and helpful. I call them my work family. Encouraging women to take care of themselves and their families goes a long way toward making women in this industry feel included and supported.
What do you like most about being part of the tech world?
I like being involved in an industry that’s responsible for the constant discovery of new technology. It’s amazing to be a part of improving and advancing things for the benefit of mankind.
Do you have a woman in the tech field that you admire? If so, who is it and why?
I admire my former boss, Michelle Chan, who was the vice president of marketing for iSoftel. When I met her, I was surrounded by male leaders. The way she commands respect with her knowledge of the tech industry made me become fascinated with technology. I realized anything is possible, and that I, too, could succeed as a woman in this business. She taught me so much about the industry, the development of software combined with hardware, and how to communicate with vendors and customers effectively.
Lauren Haire, Sales Account Representative
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
My day-to-day responsibilities include maintaining relationships with current customers and making sure they are supported with dark fiber connectivity. I also spend a lot of time searching for new customers that may need dark fiber in Greater Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay Area, or Greater Portland.
What has your career journey been and how did you arrive at Bandwidth IG?
I graduated from the University of Alabama in May of 2020 — in the middle of COVID, which was a major learning experience. I had accepted a job as an inside sales representative for the Miami Dolphins in December of 2019, so I did not look for other job opportunities during my last semester of school. In April 2020, a time of such uncertainty amid the early days of the pandemic, my future employer let my fellow new hires and I know we were being let go due to COVID-19 and the inability of Miami to have fans in their stadium. I was stressed, worried and anxious about what my next steps were going to be.
Thankfully, due to mutual connections, I had the opportunity to interview with Bandwidth IG. Although I didn’t know a lot about the technology industry, I was thrilled to start my career in Atlanta with Bandwidth IG. I have learned so much from Emily Bennett, our vice president of sales, and all of my coworkers. I could not imagine working anywhere else.
**Read more about Emily in our first volume of Celebrating Women in Technology.
How has Bandwidth IG supported you as a woman in tech?
I came into a male-dominated industry as a 22-year-old female feeling unsure of myself and nervous that I wouldn’t keep up with the industry veterans that I was going to be working with. However, those feelings were not validated. While I am still learning new things about this industry every day, Bandwidth IG has pushed me to break out of my comfort zone. With the help of our leaders, I’ve become extremely knowledgeable and confident when it comes to speaking about dark fiber. I have changed completely over the past year because of my coworkers and their determination to see me succeed.
What do you like most about being part of the tech world?
Coming into this field, I knew I had a lot to learn about dark fiber as well as how it serves data centers and eventually enterprises and consumers. I’ve enjoyed the learning process. After two years at Bandwidth IG, I now like teaching my friends about technology, data centers and dark fiber. Data centers and dark fiber are an important part of how the digital infrastructure we’ve come to rely on works, and it’s so important for young people to know more about it.
Do you have a woman in the tech field that you admire? If so, who is it and why?
Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder and CEO of Bumble, an online dating platform, is inspiring to me. Not only did she break into the tech industry as a woman, but she has been dominating the industry for years. Wolfe started Bumble because she noticed a problem: Women were always waiting for men to make the first move. She changed the game by creating an app that empowers women to step up and control the initial conversation. Bumble has made it easier to connect while also giving women more confidence. I, along with many others, think this idea is incredible. It’s innovation like this that will continue to boost the tech industry.
Learn More About the Bandwidth IG Team
If you want to meet more women in technology and learn more about our highly experienced team, visit our Leadership page or contact us any time.