This blog is part of our ongoing Women in Technology series.
Kathleen Frawley is the VP of Project Management for Xact Data Discovery, which recently merged with Consilio. Kathleen has 15+ years of experience in eDiscovery, having started her career on the client-side at a Fortune 500 company. Having transitioned to the vendor-side several years ago, she uses her client-side experience to provide stellar service to customers by utilizing XDD’s advanced processes and practices. She currently leads the XDD PM, Hosted Support, and Analytics teams from Dallas, TX. Kathleen has also been instrumental in developing, implementing, and optimizing many of XDD’s internal processes and procedures, training, and integration workflows.
How did you get into this industry?
I’ve always worked in the legal industry, but in a few different capacities. I always gravitated to the technology side, especially as it related to litigation. After spending a great deal of time on the client side, I made the jump to the vendor side and I intend to stay here!
What were some pivotal moments in your career that helped to get you to where you are today?
Funny that you ask – acquisitions have played a fairly big role! When I was on the corporate side, it was an acquisition that prompted me to move to the vendor side. Once on the vendor side, integration work helped me learn the business inside and out and understand how others do things. There has been so much valuable information!
Have you ever noticed a time in your career where your gender proved to differentiate you?
Absolutely! Being a woman with a strong voice and the knowledge to back it up has always helped me stand out. While women have been gaining traction for years, we often still have to make sure our voices are heard a little more. I’ve been lucky to work for companies that listen to, encourage, and support women. I wouldn’t be here otherwise!
What is your advice for someone working in a predominately male workplace?
Don’t overthink it, but know your value. Show up, kill it, and the rest often falls into place. If you don’t feel valued, move on.
What do you think companies could do to motivate more women to pursue careers in technology?
Get involved locally and start young. Find programs where there are women in leadership. Also, talk to communities/small groups about their industry and career and how they got there. Think of it as a modern-day “Career Day” at an elementary school. Public libraries have programs, as do schools.