Earlier this month, the 11th Annual GeekAwards Ceremony was held in Tel Aviv, Isreal, honoring outstanding achievements in the local high-tech industry in the past year. We’re proud to share that one of the winners was Own’s own SVP of Engineering, Liat Ashkenazi!
As the leader of Own’s global engineering team, Liat manages more than 150 people across Tel Aviv, New Jersey, San Diego, and Hyderabad (India).
Recently, she shared with us what drew her to Own, how she got interested in tech, and advice for women in the industry.
When did you first become interested in technology?
It was when I first realized that I really liked to study math (and was good at it). And then in high school when I started to learn computer science, it was exciting for me because I realized I really liked it. It reminded me of solving a puzzle. Then I realized, "Okay, I like this area of technology. I want more."
What skills do you bring to the table as a woman in tech?
For me, it’s the combination of a few things- technology, processes, and people. For someone in my role, you need to have a strong grasp of all three and how they work together. I also have a desire to constantly learn and continuously improve, which fits well with Own’s value of “always driving forward”. Finally, above all, I practice egoless collaboration, which I believe helps the best ideas come forward.
What challenges do you face as a woman in technology?
I think as a woman in technology (or almost any field), you feel a responsibility to constantly prove yourself. I learned to overcome this challenge by always being as professional as possible, collaborating with my teammates, and be opening to learning from other people.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in technology?
Just do it! Women tend to not be as confident in bringing their ideas to the table or speaking up, especially in more male-driven environments. So while it can be challenging, it’s also very rewarding. If you enjoy problem-solving and collaboration, this is the space for you.
What do you like most about working at Own?
First, I feel that the company is very open-minded to changes and I have the freedom to make an impact in the organization.
The other reason is the people. There is great collaboration between all the departments in Own, and we are all working toward a common goal. There are some companies that want to succeed but at the expense of individual team members. So the fact that we want to succeed together is very important.
Want to learn more about working at Own?
Check out our careers page, as well as our team and culture videos. We are currently hiring for roles across most departments, including sales, marketing, customer success, engineering, and more.
