The rise of women leaders is a remarkable phenomenon that has transformed the global business landscape. Women have broken through the glass ceiling, shattering traditional barriers and stereotypes to assume leadership positions in various industries. Their unique perspectives, skills, and experiences have brought about innovative approaches, new products, and services that have positively impacted society. Among these trailblazers is Yarrow Diamond, CEO of RootLytx LLC, who has made a name for herself as a pioneering female leader in the tech industry.
CEO Views had the pleasure to interview Yarrow. Here is the excerpt.
Congratulations on being recognized as one of the “Best Women Inspiring Leaders of the Year of 2024.” Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to get where you are today?
Thank you so much for the kind words! Twenty years ago, I was tending bar, completing a degree in Information Technology, and working a day job while raising my young son on my own. Perseverance and creativity are core to my nature, and I believe my journey to this point illustrates that. It’s also been a blend of continuous learning and a passion for making a difference.
My first introduction to tech roles was working part-time with IBM, where I learned the ropes of IT support. However, I originally started in psychology and organizational designs with a minor in International Business. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working across diverse industries and roles, which has given me a unique perspective on how technology can drive meaningful change and make people’s lives easier throughout enterprises. As I advanced, I realized that understanding the human element behind the tech change was crucial. This led me to embrace and develop more holistic approaches, combining technology with insights into human behavior and needs which led to rapid growth and opportunity to make a difference.
Leading teams through organizational and tech transformations taught me the importance of empathy and commitment, but it hasn’t always been easy.
How do you define your leadership style, and how has it evolved?
I’d define my leadership style as one of empathy and agility.
From the beginning of my career, I’ve believed in the power of understanding and valuing people. This belief was shaped early on, while studying psychology and the eective strong frameworks in organizational development during mergers and acquisitions in international business.
As my career progressed, I learned the importance of clear communication and setting transparent goals. Clarity helps teams understand not just what we are doing, but why we are doing it, which fosters greater engagement and alignment. Receiving those goals late in the game, constantly changing them, or discounting the needs of your team members has a demotivational effect. This focus on transparency has been crucial in driving successful tech transformations and building trust within my teams through the years.
Agility has also been a cornerstone of my leadership style. The tech industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving, so being adaptable and responsive to change is vital. This means not only being open to new ideas and approaches but also encouraging my team to experiment, learn from failures, and continuously improve.
The journey to entrepreneurship might not have been easy for you. Have you encountered any barriers to your success or growth as a female leader?
The journey has definitely had its ups and downs, and has been a surprise where the occasional barriers I’ve come up against have actually been other female leaders rather than male. This has been a surprising and sometimes disheartening part of my experience. I’ve noticed that the pressure to succeed can sometimes create competition rather than collaboration among female peers. This was unexpected. However, these experiences have taught me the importance of being a supportive ally to others and to encourage diverse leaders in the industry.
On the flip side, I’ve been lucky to have some amazing male and female allies who’ve supported my growth and development through the years. Their mentorship, encouragement, and willingness to open doors for me have been crucial in my journey. They helped me see potential in myself that I might have otherwise overlooked.
These experiences have reinforced my commitment to lead with empathy and to create a culture of inclusivity and support. I want to be the kind of leader who lifts others up, no matter their background, and fosters an environment where everyone can succeed. While we might face barriers, we also have the power to break them down and build bridges for future leaders.
In light of the industry’s volatility, what are the key strategies you’ve implemented to drive growth and success as a leader?
I’ve found a few key strategies that really help drive growth and keep things moving forward. One of the big ones is focusing on adaptability and continuous learning. Tech is always changing, so it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve by encouraging teams to embrace new tools and approaches. Another is all about understanding within the team. Creating an environment where everyone feels valued and heard makes it a lot easier to handle the uncertainties that come with this industry. Plus, it boosts morale and sparks some amazing innovation and creativity as well as a safe space for them to come back to when they need to just vent a bit about their day while also coming up with creative solutions to the problems faced.
I also lean heavily on data-driven decision-making. This industry buzzword can be a bit overused these days, but it’s one of the most important. Using advanced analytics and business intelligence tools helps us make smart choices, anticipate market trends, and respond quickly when things shift.
Diverse perspectives are also huge for me. Bringing together team members with different backgrounds, genders, experiences, and viewpoints leads to better solutions and problem-solving processes. This diversity of thought is key to staying innovative and resilient in volatile times.
And, of course, having a clear vision and strategic plan that is aligned across all functional units – marketing, sales, finance, technology, operations – is essential.
As a leader, I love engaging others and ensuring all on the team are heard.
Do you believe diversity at the workplace impact team performance? As a leader in your business, how do you engage and empower others?
Absolutely. When you mix people with different backgrounds and perspectives, you get an environment where innovation can really take off. Diverse teams tackle problems from all the different angles needed, leading to more creative and effective solutions.
As a leader, I love engaging others and ensuring all on the team are heard. I make it a point to actively listen to my team and encourage open communication, encouraging those that haven’t had a chance to speak are actively given the time during collaboration sessions or have time before or after with some one-on-one time in case they just don’t want to share openly at the moment.
I’m also big on professional development and continuous learning. Providing opportunities to learn new things helps my team build their skills and confidence. Whether it’s through workshops, seminars, bootcamps, shadowing other roles, or regular one-on-one mentoring sessions, I’m always looking for ways to support their career goals and growth plans.
What leadership opportunities for women do you see in the industry? What are the challenges the industry should address? What can be improved, and how?
With the growing emphasis on DE&I, more companies are recognizing the value women bring to leadership roles. With the presence of tech in virtually everything we do and therefore impacting all sorts of teams and diverse needs, the need for diverse thinking in tech leadership has never been greater. From leading innovative projects to driving strategic initiatives, the possibilities are endless, especially with new types of tech leadership emerging such as AI-focused, Tech-Ethics-focused, and Data-Science-focused roles.
However, there are still some hurdles to overcome. Right now, we’re seeing significant challenges in the labor market, with many people out of jobs and looking for new opportunities. This creates both a challenge and an opportunity for the tech industry to tap into a diverse yet saturated talent pool. Women, who were already finding it tough to get into higher STEM leadership positions, are now competing in a crowded job market. To make the most of this, companies should focus on inclusive hiring practices that value diverse experiences and skills beyond just standard certifications.
I think that creating more inclusive and supportive workplaces is crucial too. This means unbiased hiring practices that consider people who have taken maternity leave, which might have slowed some of the time spent specifically on the job, offering mentorship programs, and making sure women have access to the same growth opportunities as everyone else.
What are your advice and tips for aspiring women leaders, especially in your field?
Though there are many out there, my top five recommendations would be:
Believe in Yourself and Stay Resilient: Believe in your abilities and embrace challenges. Remember, you have valuable perspectives and skills to offer even when you feel a bit of doubt. The journey can be tough, but resilience is crucial. Learn from your setbacks and keep moving forward.
Network and Build Relationships: I didn’t do this well until very late. Connect with other professionals right from the start. Networking can open doors to new opportunities and provide a support system, as well as an opportunity to learn a ton.
Embrace Diversity: Surround yourself with diverse perspectives. Collaborating with people from different backgrounds, genders, and experiences can lead to more innovative solutions and a richer life experience. Embracing diversity helps create a more exciting and dynamic personal and work environment, creating balance in all that you do, and often opening up solutions we wouldn’t have imagined otherwise.
Balance Work and Personal Life: Maintaining a healthy work-life and personal-lif balance is important for long-term success and well being. But I’d like to not that what is “balance” to you is not necessarily “balance” to someone else and that is ok. Some like to work more than others so perhaps in balance for them is more time spent on one side of the scale. We all have our own unique mix or favorite recipe for what feels good at the end of the day. Like networking, I haven’t always done this well, but when I do, I’m much more successful all around. When you’re in a role or working for a company that makes this difficult, it’s okay to begin to work towards alternative solutions. Make time for multiple interests and the people, places, and things you love outside of work as best you can so that your personal recipe is always at the right balance of flavors.
Leading teams through organizational and tech transformations taught me the importance of empathy and commitment, but it hasn’t always been easy.
