Growing up, I heard about how often my sister was the only woman in some rooms. She is an electrical engineer and her field was heavily dominated by men.   The lack of diversity isn’t just a numbers issue—it affects how tech solves problems and perpetuates existing biases. So on today’s episode, we're diving into a hot topic with Marissa McNeelands: tackling gender diversity in tech and its impact on building equitable systems.  Marissa is on the frontline, championing the push to level the playing field in tech. We're exploring why having a diverse team isn’t just good ethics, it’s smart business, sparking innovation and creativity.  Join us as we discuss the challenges, the victories, and why every step toward diversity is a step toward better technology. 00:03:45 - The Key to Maintaining Strong Relationships at Work 00:06:37 - The Origin Story Behind the Creation of Toast 00:11:24 - Transitioning From Project Management to Tech 00:14:37 - Common Challenges Women Face in the tech Industry 00:20:53 - Why Gender Diversity in Tech Creates a More Innovative Culture 00:24:03 - How to Motivate Companies to Prioritize Diversity  00:31:20 - Trends Emerging Between AI and HR in the Next Few Years 00:35:25 - Advice for Women in Tech Who are Struggling to Integrate And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Marissa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissamcneelands/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef