We are excited to celebrate Women’s History Month by highlighting the women throughout our company and asking them to share their journey in the workplace and in IT.
Please join us in highlighting our Business Operations Specialist, Lorraine Gervasi, who has been with Virtuas since 2021
Share a bit about yourself and your role at Virtuas
I am Lorraine and I am the Business Operations Specialist here at Virtuas. I do a little bit of a lot, having my hands in a few different pools. This includes billing, sales and marketing, and HR such as interviewing and recruiting.
Throughout your career what challenges have you faced being a woman and how have you overcome them?
One of the bigger challenges that I have faced being a woman is not being taken seriously enough. In my previous role, I was expected to wear high heels, a nice dress or suit, and makeup to work every day. I find it strange that women are expected to put more effort into their appearance in order to be taken seriously. Unlike my male peers who could simply show up to work, I had to look the part as much as I had to play the part.
What I have done to overcome the challenge is finding a company that is the right fit for me. This means finding a workplace that respects me and my work. I also had to learn the importance of never letting anyone make me feel inferior. I have learned that you must believe in yourself and push through the imposter syndrome that so many young people, and especially young women, face. Just because you have not figured something out yet, does not mean that you can’t do it.
For other young women, what advice do you have for them as they are starting off their careers?
Do not be afraid to ask questions or to feel stupid. A lot of times women want to avoid coming across as if they do not know what they are doing and are worried about how they will come across. Something I have learned from working with male peers is a lot of times they act before they ask. Trust that you can figure things out on your own, but if not, do not be afraid to ask for help.
Another piece of advice I have is do not change who you are to fit in. Women should be able to carve out a space for themselves and not compromise on who they are as people to fit in. I continue to be inspired by women being in positions of leadership who are changing the way things are, not just molding to the status quo.
Who are some women who have inspired you?
I really admire the everyday woman who is in a position of authority within her company. I find it inspiring to see how hard they work and that they can run a tight ship effectively. I appreciate seeing more women leading, especially in a male dominated space, like IT. Not only are these women working hard to become successful their jobs, but they are also doing more of the unspoken labor at home. The everyday woman who can get it all done in a corporate setting is who inspiring me this Women’s History Month.
We want to thank Lorraine for giving us her time for this Women’s History Month interview and all the important work she does at Virtuas!
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If you would like to learn more about our values at Virtuas, check out our About Us page.
