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The Adventures of Women in Tech: How We Got Here and Why We Stay
Winner of the Best Indie Book Award for Women in Business and the NYC Big Book Award for Nonfiction Audiobooks.Featuring eighty interviews with women in tech, discover the opportunities they see, the challenges they face–and exactly why women in STEM are here to stay.Women belong in tech.They work in both technical and nontechnical roles. They have different backgrounds, education, and ambitions–not just moonshot product visions or CEO aspirations. They have successful careers, right alongside fulfilling outside lives and families.Despite what the oftentimes disheartening data might lead us to believe, their success stories are complex, diverse, and achievable.Alana Karen is a recognized authority on women in tech who regularly speaks at conferences and summits on leadership, DEI, and talent in technology. She is an award-winning leader who has spent over two decades in tech, including supporting billions of queries a day in her Google career.Through her work, Alana has met hundreds of women working in tech careers–and learned a lot about the realities of STEM jobs and breaking into tech.Pairing research and data with over eighty first-hand accounts, Alana takes what we think we know and systematically replaces it with what it’s honestly like to join, lead, and thrive in today’s top technology companies.With intimate stories, insight, and advice, this book answers questions
How did they navigate the “likability problem” and bro culture?What skills were most critical to their success?How did they overcome obstacles like dealing with harassment?What benefits—like flexibility and financial independence—drew them to their career?How would they advise others going forward?A great career book for college students, this is the perfect graduation gift book for students interested in subjects like computer science, information technology, and coding.The welcomed support in these stories will energize longtime tech innovators and entry-level workers alike. An invaluable resource for leaders looking to improve DEI in the workplace, it demystifies what women need to succeed and stay.Women belong in tech–and we need to truly look at their stories so we can find the best ways to support each other and the generations of talent to come.“An outstanding and timely read as we navigate diversity questions in our world and workplaces. These stories from a diverse set of women in tech demonstrate why belonging is so critical in careers.”–Jonathan Rosenberg, former Senior Vice President of Products for Google“Being a woman in tech can be lonely. Knowing that others have walked in your shoes makes a huge difference. Alana Karen captures a range of experiences, from women at the start of their careers to women who built the industry from the start.”–Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org
How did they navigate the “likability problem” and bro culture?What skills were most critical to their success?How did they overcome obstacles like dealing with harassment?What benefits—like flexibility and financial independence—drew them to their career?How would they advise others going forward?A great career book for college students, this is the perfect graduation gift book for students interested in subjects like computer science, information technology, and coding.The welcomed support in these stories will energize longtime tech innovators and entry-level workers alike. An invaluable resource for leaders looking to improve DEI in the workplace, it demystifies what women need to succeed and stay.Women belong in tech–and we need to truly look at their stories so we can find the best ways to support each other and the generations of talent to come.“An outstanding and timely read as we navigate diversity questions in our world and workplaces. These stories from a diverse set of women in tech demonstrate why belonging is so critical in careers.”–Jonathan Rosenberg, former Senior Vice President of Products for Google“Being a woman in tech can be lonely. Knowing that others have walked in your shoes makes a huge difference. Alana Karen captures a range of experiences, from women at the start of their careers to women who built the industry from the start.”–Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2020
65 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 15, 2021
This is more a professional guide book by a motivational speaker. It’s frenetic and Up! Up! Up! I thought it was going to be an earnest account of a female computer programmer in the tech world. It you fit the demographic better I’m sure you’ll love it.
August 18, 2021
Alana came and spoke at my company! It was really interesting to hear her perspective first-hand on the importance of work allies and mentorship. Her book really helped me frame my experience in tech so far and, I value that she included many voices of women in tech rather than only engineers.
November 2, 2020
An inspiring account of the successes and challenges of a career in tech. Alana Karen covers a broad range of topics - developing your career, having real impact, raising awareness, pivots, coaching (yourself!), resilience, self-belief, tech cultures, surviving and thriving. The toolbox - with five top tips for navigating a career in tech - was practical and enlivened by real stories from leaders in the industry. This book was moving and enlightening.
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May 4, 2022I thought it was really good. Many of the anecdotes came up in my personal life so I found the book to be insightful and well constructed!
May 1, 2021
An insightful and delightful book in which Alana Karen shares a collection of stories and interviews with women in tech, enriching the conversation on why women belong in tech, the pros and cons of being rare and the power of example.
The book is so we'll written that it flows, even following a clear academic rigour, and the last chapter hooked me in a way that I couldn't stop reading it.
I strongly recommend to everyone who works in tech as it's a powerful way to empower women and show men how to be better allies. I've learned a lot on the relevance of supporters and mentors for my own career and I can definitely say that this is one of those books that changes you for better.
The book is so we'll written that it flows, even following a clear academic rigour, and the last chapter hooked me in a way that I couldn't stop reading it.
I strongly recommend to everyone who works in tech as it's a powerful way to empower women and show men how to be better allies. I've learned a lot on the relevance of supporters and mentors for my own career and I can definitely say that this is one of those books that changes you for better.
December 4, 2020
I started TAOWIT last night and am almost done -- I cannot put it down! This is the modern-day Leaned In, taking into account more than just one person's experience. The research that went into this book to represent the full gamut of perspectives is truly amazing. As someone in the tech industry who often has imposter syndrome, so much of Alana's research resonated with me. This book is truly a celebration of diverse women in tech and I know it will inspire the next gen of female leaders, myself included!
November 5, 2020
Alana has provided a clear and accurate view of what it means to be a woman in tech. This is NOT a book that paints a simple picture of "It's hard" with little nuance nor insight. It goes deeper and covers topics that many others either don't know of or are too afraid to write about. The style of direct sources from a large sample size gives it power and poignancy.
A must read for anyone who either is working with women, for women or around women. This means a must read for anyone.
A must read for anyone who either is working with women, for women or around women. This means a must read for anyone.
October 2, 2020
Fantastic!
A fantastic book that will no doubt guide women in the tech industry for years to come.
As a man, I learned a lot about the struggle and different perspectives, some of which surprised me and I hadn't thought about. There are also a lot of things that are universal and I can use in my own career.
There is a lot of wisdom here. Recommended.
A fantastic book that will no doubt guide women in the tech industry for years to come.
As a man, I learned a lot about the struggle and different perspectives, some of which surprised me and I hadn't thought about. There are also a lot of things that are universal and I can use in my own career.
There is a lot of wisdom here. Recommended.
October 31, 2020
Great Tips!
Reading this gave me lots of good ideas on how to thrive and improve my performance in the tech world. It also felt like getting a virtual hug from the women in the book, telling me that I'm not alone in my challenges .
Reading this gave me lots of good ideas on how to thrive and improve my performance in the tech world. It also felt like getting a virtual hug from the women in the book, telling me that I'm not alone in my challenges .
August 24, 2021
I wish I had read Alana's book early on in my career. So many of the stories resonate with me
and have triggered a much-needed, well-timed reminder of my "awesomeness". As someone who took a 15-year career break, and "relaunched" at a tech company, the chapters on imposter syndrome and "Our Magic Toolbox" were particularly powerful. I recommend Alana's book to any woman who has ever doubted her ability to thrive in the world of tech.
and have triggered a much-needed, well-timed reminder of my "awesomeness". As someone who took a 15-year career break, and "relaunched" at a tech company, the chapters on imposter syndrome and "Our Magic Toolbox" were particularly powerful. I recommend Alana's book to any woman who has ever doubted her ability to thrive in the world of tech.
September 30, 2021
DNFed 30% ish in.. it just did not work for me. I think earlier in my career this would've been a great book to read, but for me at this point in time, it did not work for me :(
April 5, 2022
Momentous
Breaking the glass ceilings, building a niche for us, and even combating negative stereotypes; women in Tech have to deal with a lot but their stories aren't often told, or even told well. The author Alana grew up with a feminist mother in the 70's and 80's and started in the Tech field in the late 90's when it all started to get big. This book chronicles her journey as well as shows the misogynistic nature of silicon valley and relentless bullying a woman must overcome. This is a poignant book as so much of women's stories aren't told, so it's important that books like these are made and do well. With that, I liked the book, it was interesting and relevant and easy to read.
Breaking the glass ceilings, building a niche for us, and even combating negative stereotypes; women in Tech have to deal with a lot but their stories aren't often told, or even told well. The author Alana grew up with a feminist mother in the 70's and 80's and started in the Tech field in the late 90's when it all started to get big. This book chronicles her journey as well as shows the misogynistic nature of silicon valley and relentless bullying a woman must overcome. This is a poignant book as so much of women's stories aren't told, so it's important that books like these are made and do well. With that, I liked the book, it was interesting and relevant and easy to read.
March 30, 2022
The Adventures of Women in Tech is an insightful and thought-provoking book written by Alana Karen. In this great work, the author reflects on the position women take in the technology industries and how their work and abilities are portrayed and perceived by society. She starts from the idea that stereotypically the technology realm seems to be a field ruled exclusively by men and one where women have no room to develop and participate. In order to tackle and analyse this stereotype, the author presents the stories of different women who work and thrive in technology companies. She herself has extensive experience in the field.
I enjoy all types of books. However, many times, I feel myself drawn towards stories based on real events and real people. True stories are more compelling and gripping, in my opinion. This book is wonderfully written and I really enjoyed reading it.
I enjoy all types of books. However, many times, I feel myself drawn towards stories based on real events and real people. True stories are more compelling and gripping, in my opinion. This book is wonderfully written and I really enjoyed reading it.
April 1, 2022
An excellent reading
What a great and helpful book! “The Adventures of Women in Tech” is an excellent piece of writing that helps to highlight the importance of women in society and how they are considered. Alana Karen has come up with a book that will enlighten some women´s minds as regards tech.
Throughout these pages, the author shares insights, experiences and some pieces of advice for women who want to feel in contact and thrive with technology companies. It's a challenging idea and women can become good leaders and as the author says: “we all belong in tech”. This message is great as well as the way this book is developed. Everything is explained and backed up with theory, experiences and insights. I learned a lot after reading it and I think that it's a gem for women.
What a great and helpful book! “The Adventures of Women in Tech” is an excellent piece of writing that helps to highlight the importance of women in society and how they are considered. Alana Karen has come up with a book that will enlighten some women´s minds as regards tech.
Throughout these pages, the author shares insights, experiences and some pieces of advice for women who want to feel in contact and thrive with technology companies. It's a challenging idea and women can become good leaders and as the author says: “we all belong in tech”. This message is great as well as the way this book is developed. Everything is explained and backed up with theory, experiences and insights. I learned a lot after reading it and I think that it's a gem for women.
March 29, 2022
Alana Karen is the author of this amazing book and thanks to her, one can become more acquainted with tech and women can even become or keep developing as real leaders of the techy world.
The Adventures of Women in Tech delves into why we join tech, the challenges we face, and the skills and support we need to succeed and stay in an often-challenging environment. The narrative is filled with useful advice for women working in technology companies and start-ups, but also, it can be really useful for those who want to
get into this field or are just starting and need some kind of enthusiastic support or booster.
In twelve chapters, the author presents her ideas in a crystal-clear way, using friendly language and easy-to-grasp concepts for any type of female reader out there. Loved it!
March 13, 2021
It's really rare to find a candid book that captures different experiences of women in tech in a broad sense - all the way from engineers to people managers in the industry. This books does a really great job of showing what these experiences can look like, and what battles/successes women go through in careers in tech companies. If you're someone who's wondering if your experience as a woman in tech is unusual or even if you're still figuring it out, I really recommend it - as it made me feel like I was having a conversation about this with a large number of women, and they're all telling me the same thing with varied examples- that we all have our uniqueness but we're also not alone. It's really honest & gave me what I wanted out of the book :)
A side note: This book is definitely a bit swayed towards experiences in the US, and also specially in Google, but the author explicitly mentions this in the beginning so I knew that going into it.
A side note: This book is definitely a bit swayed towards experiences in the US, and also specially in Google, but the author explicitly mentions this in the beginning so I knew that going into it.
October 20, 2020
Ever since I transitioned into the tech industry 5+ years ago, it's been rare for me to see other women on my team, function or leadership. I found this book to be incredibly illuminating.
It provides a glimpse into the mind of a strong female leader who is talented, hardworking, and kind. Along the way, Alana interviews other women from different functions and levels of seniority, giving voice to their stories.
The book's most valuable takeaway? It reminds the world that women are three-dimensional individuals with a rich range of hopes, fears, and motivators. "Women in tech" may be rare but we are not a homogenous population. The book is a must-read for people of all genders who work in tech, as well as those considering joining or leaving the industry.
It provides a glimpse into the mind of a strong female leader who is talented, hardworking, and kind. Along the way, Alana interviews other women from different functions and levels of seniority, giving voice to their stories.
The book's most valuable takeaway? It reminds the world that women are three-dimensional individuals with a rich range of hopes, fears, and motivators. "Women in tech" may be rare but we are not a homogenous population. The book is a must-read for people of all genders who work in tech, as well as those considering joining or leaving the industry.
January 30, 2022
Want to make the tech industry more inclusive? Read this book to understand the diverse experiences of how women got into tech, their challenges and why they choose to stay. I have interviewed Alana on my podcast and am deeply inspired by her conviction to support other women to not only survive but thrive in the tech industry. We need people like Alana to come forward in creating a supportive environment where not just women but also the other underrepresented groups feel valued and heard.
June 17, 2021
A insightful perspective woven together from the many behind the scenes stories of a diverse set of women leaders who have, and are still, breaking ground in tech. The story is powerfully told, well researched, and a VERY enjoyable read!
October 14, 2020
This was such an amazing read! I loved the incredible advice and insight. I especially liked and really resonated with the parts on voting with your feet and destructive empathy. Alana has such a gift for analyzing, understanding, and communicating all the complex nuances of any situation.
February 9, 2021
This is one of the best books I read so far, which deals with the balance required in the personal and professional lives of women. DO give it a read!
March 6, 2021
A very thought-provoking read. It makes me think about what I want at work and how I can get there. It could use better organization in terms of the interview. Other than that I loved this book!
January 29, 2022
2021 Best Indie Book Award Winner!
March 19, 2023
I absolutely loved "Adventures of Women in Tech: Here to Stay"! This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the tech industry. The interviews are candid and honest, and the women's stories are both inspiring and relatable. What I appreciated most about this book was the diversity of voices represented. The women featured come from different backgrounds, work in different areas of tech, and have unique perspectives on the industry. Karen does an excellent job of weaving the interviews together to create a cohesive narrative that is both informative and entertaining. Overall, I found this book well-written, engaging, and easy to read. 10/10 would recommend!
April 8, 2022
the title is okay. the subtitle reveals the deceit. it is about a collective ”we” that never existed. and that ”we” seems to be a sock puppet to karen's own political church.
back to history, women never ”got there”. women were the ones doing it. and the reason to stay is money. apparently, like any self-respecting cult leader, karen likes money only for himself, and never for the followers, followers who are indoctrinated to ”care” for the others, and abhor profit. so yea, ”why we stay” is about why the audience should work in order to build a bigger temple for karen.
back to history, women never ”got there”. women were the ones doing it. and the reason to stay is money. apparently, like any self-respecting cult leader, karen likes money only for himself, and never for the followers, followers who are indoctrinated to ”care” for the others, and abhor profit. so yea, ”why we stay” is about why the audience should work in order to build a bigger temple for karen.
May 17, 2021
Unfortunately, this book didn’t have much to offer for those looking to advance their careers in technology. It felt like I was reading a thead on a discussion board instead of a book. The stories all seemed the same to me and none of them went into depth. I had this book on my tbr since it was released a few months back so maybe I had unrealistically high hopes for this book to be earth shattering?
September 26, 2023
Lots of stories by women in multiple aspects and levels of the tech industry or tech departments of corporations. The author covered everything I’ve every been concerned about plus more, and really told me how women have engaged in these situations, grown into themselves and effective leaders. Chapter 8 Our Magic Toolbox was my favorite.
August 19, 2025
This book did not match my expectations. There were many women interviewed but a majority of them were Google (overall the book was very insular to Silicon Valley). There were many stories but not were in-depth or provided enough detail to be helpful. I couldn’t follow the organization of the themes. I think I was just looking for something very different.
May 21, 2024
It is a good book touching base on many topics about women in tech. I agree this book is very US and bay area centered. I would recommend this book to people mainly for the section two
April 15, 2025
The information in the book is interesting but the organization didn’t super work for me
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews