One is the Loneliest Number: Allyship and Survival Strategies for the "Only" on your team

In our modern multicultural world, it is not uncommon to have a team that is diverse in many ways. You may have one or more persons in your group who are a different ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation than the majority. This panel will share the challenges, coping mechanisms, and strategies for success used by people who have been the "only" on their team. It will also explore what it means to be an "Ally" to your "only" and how you can encourage and support your minority co-workers, improving the work environment for everyone

Moderator: Elaine Hsieh, TAO

Elaine's entire life has been dedicated to bringing people together in a meaningful way. She adores connecting with people and connecting others. She is passionate about growing relationships and forming strategic partnerships. She has helped to create, nurture, and mobilize various types of affinity groups.

In her current role, Elaine works with stakeholders to create programming for each of the TAO tech ecosystems. A central focus of her work is to support underrepresented talent and founders. She collaborates with partners and utilizes her planning skills to execute highly engaging events.

As a first generation, Mandarin speaking Chinese American, Elaine is particularly enthusiastic about supporting marginalized communities by providing professional and personal development opportunities. She has facilitated workshops, spoken on panels, and continues to volunteer with local organizations.

Panelist: Bear Rinehart

Bear has over two decades of technical expertise in various consulting, product management, web development, and QA roles. He spent 13 years working at the intersection of HR and technology for an HRC CEI 100 Award recipient company, where he developed a deep understanding of the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in the workplace.

Last year, he attended a transformative event created for trans men that changed his life and deepened his commitment to supporting the community. As part of that effort, Bear volunteers with our marketing and outreach committees, co-created, and now leads our Out @ PNSQC initiative dedicated to creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ technologists to participate and contribute to our industry's capacity for improving human lives.

When not working or volunteering, he loves to spend time with his wife and niece, dance, travel, hike, and lounge around a campfire under the stars.

Panelist: Dr. Gwendolyn Avington

Dr. Gwendolyn Avington, Founder/CEO of CLATAK Consulting, has honed her ability to work with diverse groups and individuals. She helps organizations and individuals see and remove barriers to effective communication. She is a subject matter expert in the areas of executive coaching, teambuilding, conflict resolution, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Avington brings a robust educational background that compliments her experiences working in diverse team environments. She has a Doctor of Health Administration, Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Management, Bachelor of Science in Business Communications, and Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. She is a District level leader in District 7 Toastmasters, currently functioning as the Club Growth Director.

Dr. Avington spent 32 years as a healthcare professional using a flexible, agile, approachable mindset to work within many different team dynamics in hospitals and clinics of various sizes. She uses her transformative leadership style to help others grow and reach their full potential.

Panelist: Philip Lew

After working in various management and technical positions in software development and product management, Philip Lew leads XBOSoft‘s direction and strategy as CEO. His Ph.D. research in software quality and usability resulted in several IEEE and ACM journal publications and in various trade journals as well. A speaker at numerous trade and academic conferences, he has worked with hundreds of organizations to assess the quality of their software, examine software quality processes, and set forth measurement plans to improve software quality using systematic methods.