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Tijen Onaran is committed to empowerment and visibility of women in the IT industry and is one of the top influencers on LinkedIn. What we would like to learn from her.
Tijen Onaran is a moderator, speaker and founder. But above all, the 36-year-old is a feminist. Because with her company "Global Digital Women", the Berliner with Turkish roots advocates empowerment and Visibility of women in the IT industry a. And: She advises companies on diversity issues.
All of this has been quite successful: Tijen Onaran was voted one of the top 100 women who move Germany in 2021 by Handelsblatt. Also on the Business platform LinkedIn now ranks her among the top influencers. Although - or maybe even now - because the founder always stirs things up there with her feminist contributions.
So she discusses sexist or underhanded comments by men and industry colleagues also like to be public with their community. For example, if any Hans Jürgen thought that red lipstick - Tijen Onaran's signature look - was unsuitable for a business woman.
"For 2021 I have an extremely crazy proposal: Let's let women (and, by the way, men too) be the way they want to be - with or without lipstick, with sneakers or high heels, colorful or dark. Lipstick doesn't shrink the brain I've tested it for a few years and I have positive things to say, "countered the successful entrepreneur in a LinkedIn post.
We think so much commitment and empowerment is great and have thought about what else we can learn from the entrepreneur.
3 things we want to learn from Tijen Onaran
1. Position yourself with topics that really interest you
Tijen Onaran has clearly positioned herself for topics that are important to her: No wonder, after all, the founder and author is also an expert in personal branding. In her book "Only those who are visible will take place" (Goldmann Verlag) writes Onaran: "Without personal branding, I wouldn't be where I am today." And that's pretty high on the success barometer. Her conclusion: "" Your message, your topics and your brand core should always be clearly recognizable - regardless of whether online or offline. ""
Knowing what you can do not only help you advance in your career - it is also incredibly empowering in everyday life. "Because only when we trust in ourselves relying on our consciousness, our strengths, our skills, our step will be safe. The view opens up and new paths and possibilities open up for us, "writes Tijen Onaran in her LinkedIn newsletter" Diversity Notes ". With" Global Digital Women "she has built up an entire company around her favorite topics.
What else can we learn from Tijen Onaran? To stand by yourself - and don't let old white men choke you down. Especially not when it comes to banal things like outfits or lipstick. Authenticity is key!
2. Solidize yourself with other women
In her Rolemodel Talks, Tijen Onaran gives Women in the IT industry a stage and thus contributes to greater visibility. Why is it important? Because this also gives those experts a chance to speak who are often not invited to panels - simply because they are female (and unfortunately most managers are still male).
In addition, like-minded and interested people can network, exchange experience and support one another. New perspectives and possibilities often only arise when we start talking to others. Based on one of Tijen Onaran's favorite quotes: "If you can see it, you can be it".
So: network if you can! There are numerous great women's networks and interest groups that regularly invite you to meet.
3. Raise your voice for equality
"I firmly believe that there is no need for 'bonus arguments' when it comes to Diversity in teams, boards or supervisory boards goes. Because this creates the impression that good justification is still required for equal participation - as if it were a must Demonstrable added value for women to be part of the whole, "writes Tijen Onaran in one of her posts on LinkedIn.
Most women would probably agree with this opinion immediately. Yet many people just put up with outdated, patriarchal structures. Stop it! Only when we publicly position ourselves for equality can we shake deadlocked structures - and change them as a community in the long term.
