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<v ->As leaders in digital, we have to be willing to open doors</v>

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and mentor the next generation of tech professionals.

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(bright music)

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<v ->Lydia, I know you are passionate about diversity, equity,</v>

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and inclusion, and especially about encouraging girls

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and women to enter STEM fields.

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Could you please tell me

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about the efforts you have been driving

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to close the gender gap in technology especially,

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and what bold moves do you think the industry

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should take in this field?

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<v ->This is certainly a passion of mine,</v>

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ensuring we have more women entering tech,

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and eventually taking on leadership roles.

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I believe it's critical to start early.

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So as a sponsor of Pfizer's partnership with Girls Who Code,

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I spend time with high school girls to open their minds

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to the positive impact they can have

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in the world through STEM careers.

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And this program does a good job of reaching out

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to underrepresented communities:

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Latinas and African American girls.

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I feel hopeful for the future knowing

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that many of these girls will take on leadership positions

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as they grow their careers.

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When women are in their early career,

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we need to provide robust opportunities

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for them to enter the field,

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such as the digital rotational program I described.

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And when they are in the field,

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it is critical to support their growth and development,

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providing mentorship opportunities for women

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so that they can navigate their careers.

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I certainly know from personal experience

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that I have been often the only woman

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in the room, and the only Latina.

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I know I have personally benefited from having access

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to incredible mentors and sponsors throughout my career,

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and there are several things we need to do to close the gap.

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As leaders in digital, we have to be willing to open doors,

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and mentor the next generation of tech professionals.

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Second, when we bring them into the field,

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we need to create an environment

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where they feel they belong and they can thrive.

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It's not only about having diversity,

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but it's also driving a culture of equity

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and inclusion, without which it creates a revolving door

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and talent won't stay at your company.

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At the end of the day, this is about both individual

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and collective responsibility,

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and I feel strongly that it is my responsibility

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to pay forward in my role as a leader in tech.

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We all need to carry this responsibility

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to bring others along with us,

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to create a stronger, more diverse industry

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that reflects the global populations that we serve.