Women in Technology Rachel KingThis blog is part of our on-going Women in Technology series.

Rachel King is a Hosting Analyst here at Consilio. Rachel has been with Consilio for about four years, and in the field for ten. Rachel earned her Bachelor’s from Emerson College and her Master’s in Business Law from the University of Chicago. To Rachel, the most exciting part about working at Consilio is the close-knit, supportive family that makes up the data operations department.

How did you get into the industry?

I got into the industry by accident. I was looking for work, and I came to Chicago from out east. I had been working in the TV industry, writing and producing, but was open to working anywhere.

My roommate at the time, Denise Monteil, told me that they were looking for a production manager in the office. I was like, “great, I don’t know what exactly it is or what it entails, but I’ll take it.” And that’s how I entered the industry by accident, it wasn’t necessarily about my expertise, but more so my willingness to learn more about the industry.

Has there ever been a time in your career where you noticed that your gender was an apparent obstacle?

Gender has actually never really been an obstacle for me. Hosting engineering, the back end, and most technical positions are 99.99% men, and to be honest, 99.99% young white men. Being a black female in the industry, as I am, is not something you see every day, but at Consilio, I feel welcomed. Everyone here has the same opportunity.

What is your advice for other women working in these kinds of male-dominated environments?

My advice would be to align yourself with some of the best people in your field, both men and women. Believe in your ability to accomplish what you set your mind to and study as much as you can. Do not doubt yourself, feel intimidated, or think that you can’t do it.

What do you think companies should do to motivate more women to pursue careers in technology?

Internships — market these kinds of opportunities to women in school. I know that many women are intimidated to move in this direction with their careers. Give it a shot and be open to learning new information and grasping new opportunities.

I am a mentor with Consilio, and at the moment, I am working with someone who has been given the opportunity to check out various positions here to see what he wants to do. Finding others in the industry to support you and learn from can make the job more welcoming. Tell them that you’re looking to learn more about x or get more involved in y.

What is something that you are particularly proud of accomplishing during your career?

Being able to help train other folks and giving them the confidence so they feel like they can do it. I may not be the fastest or the best at something, but I am proud to share my wealth of knowledge.

When you’re not working, how do you spend your free time?

I am a baseball fanatic, so I am having a really tough time right now! For the duration of the lockdown, I have been relaxing and watching Netflix, probably like everyone else. Outside of the pandemic, I am very social and belong to a couple of groups. One group I am particularly missing right now is centered around finding new restaurants and new neighborhoods to explore.