This blog is part of our ongoing Women in Technology series.
Cecilia Fox, Esq. is a licensed attorney who practiced Criminal Law for five years as both a prosecutor and public defender in Florida. In 2011 she joined Huron Legal as a contract reviewer and worked in many different roles in Review Management before moving into Project Management. She is now a Senior Client Success Manager in Consilio’s Self-Service Business Unit.
How did you get into this industry?
After practicing criminal litigation for over five years, my husband and I decided to move to Chicago from Ft. Lauderdale. Since I was only licensed in Florida, I couldn’t go straight into litigation practice. I found a job as an eDiscovery contract reviewer in Chicago, with the intention of getting licensed in Illinois and going back to practicing criminal law. It’s been ten years since we made that move, and I never left the industry.
What were some pivotal moments in your career that helped to get you to where you are today?
Every pivotal moment throughout my career has been centered around relationships. Building genuine relationships with my coworkers across departments was and still is the key to every progression I have made in my professional career. I am constantly learning, growing, and evolving. At Consilio, we have some of the best in the industry willing to teach, and learning from them has always paid off in dividends for me.
Have you ever noticed a time in your career where your gender proved to differentiate you?
There have been times when I “noticed” I am a woman, but that has never been a hurdle for me. I think in a funny way, when I see this, I get an added boost of confidence. If I had a dollar for every time someone has told me you’re not like a normal girl (whatever that means) in my life, I wouldn’t need to work. Once when I was a prosecutor, I was wearing a skirt suit with four-inch heels because the judge I was in front of that day required women to wear skirts or dresses. Then that same afternoon, I was in the parking garage fixing a friend’s AC in their car in that same suit and heals. Eventually, that antiquated rule was done away with, but I never let those obvious inequalities change who I was or what I knew I could do.
What is your advice for someone working in a predominately male workplace?
Learn to recognize your talents and what you can bring to the table. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help with the things you don’t know. And most importantly, use your voice. Trust your instincts and speak up when you have something to contribute.
What do you think companies could do to motivate more women to pursue careers in technology?
It all starts with kids. Getting girls excited about technology starts the ball rolling for the future generation. A great way for companies to contribute to this is to partner with an organization like STEM for Her.