Featuring insights from Sai Kamisetti, Engineer, Innovator & Advocate for Women in Tech
Despite tremendous progress in STEM, women in technology still face familiar challenges—being underestimated, overlooked, talked over, or simply outnumbered. Yet every day, women continue to build, innovate, lead, and change what’s possible in this industry.
For Sai Kamisetti, an engineer and minority voice at Microsoft, breaking barriers has never been about fitting into the system. It’s about changing it from the inside—through advocacy, visibility, and the confidence to take up space even when others expect you to shrink.
“Women in tech don’t just belong—we are essential to innovation. Our voices, perspectives, and ideas make the industry stronger.” —Sai Kamisetti
With lived experience navigating gender imbalance in global tech environments, Sai shares the strategies and mindsets that allow women not just to survive in male-dominated fields—but to thrive.
1. Lead With Your Strengths—Not Someone Else’s Blueprint
In tech, women often feel pressure to mirror the communication style or leadership approach of their male counterparts. Sai encourages the opposite.
Authenticity—not imitation—is what sets women apart as innovators.
- Your empathy is an advantage.
- Your intuition is intelligence.
- Your perspective is innovation.
- Your voice is leadership.
When women lead with their natural strengths, they unlock solutions and ideas that teams never knew they needed.
“You don’t have to sound like anyone else in the room to be respected. You just have to stand confidently in who you are.” —Sai
2. Visibility Is Not Optional—It’s a Leadership Skill
In fast-moving tech cultures, visibility determines opportunity.
Women are often taught to work hard quietly, but Sai’s experience at Microsoft shows a different truth:
Quiet work gets overlooked. Visible impact creates career momentum.
Women should:
- Speak confidently about their wins.
- Volunteer for high-impact projects.
- Share their expertise publicly.
- Build relationships with decision-makers.
- Find sponsors who advocate for them behind closed doors.
Visibility isn’t bragging—it’s leadership.
3. Advocacy Is Power—For Yourself and Others
As a woman and minority voice in tech, Sai has seen how crucial it is to advocate for your ideas, your worth, and your place in the room. But advocacy doesn’t stop with self-promotion—it extends to lifting others up.
This means:
- Calling out inequity when you see it
- Amplifying other women’s contributions
- Challenging assumptions or biases
- Creating opportunities for underrepresented voices
- Being the person who opens doors for the next generation
“Every time we speak up for ourselves, we make it easier for the woman who comes after us.” —Sai
4. Confidence Is a Practice—Not a Personality Trait
Confidence isn’t something you magically acquire when you land the right title. It’s built through:
- Preparation
- Competence
- Repetition
- Supportive communities
- Personal accountability
- Recovering from failure
Women often wait to feel “ready” before taking risks. Sai encourages the opposite:
Take the risk—and let confidence rise to meet you.
In male-dominated fields, confidence becomes both a shield and a strategy.
5. Innovation Thrives When Women Thrive
Teams that include diverse perspectives create better products, stronger solutions, and more inclusive technology for the world. When women thrive in tech, everyone wins.
Women bring:
- Collaborative leadership
- Long-term strategic thinking
- Human-centered design instincts
- Sharp analytical insight
- Creativity grounded in lived experience
These strengths are not supplemental—they are vital.
“The tech industry evolves because women push it forward. Our innovation isn’t the exception—it’s the catalyst.” —Sai
Being a Woman in Tech Is Not a Limitation—It’s a Legacy
Every woman who enters the tech industry writes a new part of the story—one where leadership looks different, innovation feels more inclusive, and young girls can see themselves reflected in places that once felt inaccessible.
Sai’s journey at Microsoft and beyond is a reminder that breaking barriers isn’t just about personal success. It’s about paving the way for the next generation of engineers, creators, and leaders.
When women lead boldly, advocate fiercely, and stand confidently in their expertise, they don’t just change their careers.
They change the industry.
