Warning: live blogging. There are typos.

Lynne D. Johnson, Fast Company
Allyson Kapin, Rad Campaign and Women Who Tech (panel moderator)
Charlene Li, Altimemter, co-author of Groundswell (!)
Susan Mernit, Consultant
Connie Reece, Every Dot Connects

The panel is slated to discuss topics such as getting heard by upper management, how to effectively advocate for your work and expertise as well as how to break through the barriers of being too young or too old in the tech sector.

Allyson Kapin
Has questions will present to panelists

1. What is building the digital ceiling and why does it exist in the first place.
Lynne - Funny. Part of the answer is obvious. In the tech world has been majority white males. Like glass ceiling
anywhere else in bz. BUT we women tend to create the ceiling ourselves. Think won't be let in. Afraid.
Have dealt with discrimination and misog in past and clouds our worldview.
Industry created by men and men look out for each other

Have you broken through?
Lynne - I have on some levels I have, e.g. places I speak as a representative of social media.
It took a small dart, e.g. speaking at BlogHER and SWSX. That landed her at Fast Co, which opened up more opportunities.
Started working on web in late 1990s. Helped me gain confidence.
Used all marketing opportunities had, e.g. blogging, even Facebook.
Have enough courage to be able to speak up for your self (!).

Susan
VP at AOL. Sr director at Yahoo,.
Wanted to be CEO, and hasn't done this.
By most stds succesful, but haven't gotten as far as I wanted to.
Figured out wanting to be CEO of large co was more about ego, so has recast what success is.
Used to having 1 or 2 exceptional women at top who represent women. People of color face similar things.
Women ask for permission too much. Too concerned about being likable and not seeming ambitious.
Being nice, asking permission, doesn't get you ahead.
Women are often viewed as someone to hire from outside.
Speak up and be clear about ambition. Make ties with sympathetic men and build bridges with other women.

Connie.
Hasn't broken thru, but removed herself from the digital ceiling.
Grew up in auto industry -- very much same.

Charlene.
What comes down to is people comfort level and working with people who are not like them.
Many barriers, gender, socio-economic, etc.
Doesn't see people actively saying don't want... Rather it's because lazy -- e.g. hire friends instead
of digging through lots of applications.
Shake people out of complacency.

2. What are the privacy risks in promoting yourself - build high profile?

Connie
Realize how little privacy exists - period. Made concious decision to use real name. Before hadn't - fear of stalkers, etc.
But doesn't put home phone number and address.
Has not had problems, but knows some who have
High profile brings great advantages

Charlene
Issues balancing public and private
Need a strategy of how to engage with public -- including family, friends.
Had to give up privacy on FaceBook. Have to go through other channels.
Have rules about what will and won't talk about.
Am comfortable talking about things like dealing with her kids and other things not everyone feels okay talking about.

Lynne?
Chose very public persona, e.g. on blog.
Focus on what can you give the community, but set rules for yourself.
Transparent about some things in part as political statement, but not others.
Don't let yourself be silenced by the threat of what could happen.
Be recognized for what you do[!]

3. How do you decide how far you want to go?

Connie
Personal decision -- comes with time and reassessing your goals in life. How do you define success?
At 59 have redefined several times. Harder to do when younger. Do this maybe annually.

Charlene
It has to do with your definition of success. For me been making a difference.
Didn't want to step up into management.
How much is barrier real? vs. how do you define success?
Works for herself now.

Lynne
Not every guy who is CEO or VP should be.
More about what is going to be rewarding to you, and fit into your lifestyle.
Old role - never got to go home. Wanted to go home.

???
Men go down same path with health crisis. Women come to this for different reasons, e.g. family.

Susan
Lots of women don't have careers want to have. Important to support those peoples.
How about serving on boards? Have an impact.
To be successful in anything have to make investment over and above definition of job.
You can leave a job not working for you, e.g. Charlene. She was a thought leader and resource for people.
Be a leader in broader community that you define.

From chat
Might be more interested in mgt if more more women in mgt

4. How do you address situations when boss or client takes male collegues' more seriously than yours?

Lynne
Just by speaking up. Being African-American and lesbian -- triple strike.
The weight to prove myself and show I was right. Guys don't worry about that. Learned to not worry
about it when don't have to.
Move ahead and get point across -- sometimes show some one up. Bring out proof and research.
Sometimes doing in a public setting. Got called out on Twitter and FriendFeed. Done in sexist way.
Had to set record straight. X, Y, so Z why I said what I said. Then had a lot of support.

Susan - you often use humor
Tired of all BS at certain point. My way of going after people to use humor and poke at them.
Some of their assumptions are ridiculous. "You really believe that?"
Didn't want reputation of being b*** -- but did want to get things done.
Goal -- not to humiliate anyone.
Don't take s**. Stand your ground.
One women first week with students a complete b***, but then a relief afterwards.
Don't let them extend their authority at your expense.
How are you with someone who is nasty to you? Just work.
Men don't get called a b***. If tough also be fair and balanced.

Charlene
Co-author is white and a foot taller and loud. Talked to him.
Got him to sit down. Planned it out.
Have a good working relationship. Don't take it personally.
Find it hard to call people -- except when integrity is question.
When it's public it's easier to deal with. Much harder in private board room. [!]

Susan
Healing process. People who have ahd rough times with, and put much energy into healing.
Be a leader. Look to higher goal and move towards it.

Connie???
Speak up collectively.
Don't think you have to continually speak up. Can backfire.
Google five white men.
Able to defuse with humor.

5. How do we develop in gender balance in tech teams and at conferences? I think.

Susan
Totally pushes her agenda of women and people of color in conference planning. [Go Susan!]
Talks to organizers and suggest people.
When organizing herself, thinks of women. Wants to spread around.

Connie
Take time and effort to initiate panel proposals. Don't wait to be asked. Go after it.

CHAT Q & A

Q How best prepare yourself and educational component?

Lynne
MBA in media management. Thought it would be helpful.
Worked for her. Doesn't work for everyone.
Wanted to teach in college.

Charlene
MBA from Harvard - male dominated as you get.
Excellent training in finding her voice - good credentials which always include in bio.
Ddin't feel comfortable speaking up before business school.

Sussan
Grad degree can be helpful, but learning to tell your credentials, of jobs you've had.
Personal elevator pitch -- we all need.

Q Your journies -- how did you get there? What are questions you asked yourself? Make sure headed in
direction you wanted to go?

Charlene
Change your job every 18 months -- advice in bz school. Regularly evaluates.
Sometimes get help, through mentors -- or sometimes going to quiet place.
Set aside time. Most important thing.

Connie.
Take every opportunity to mentor. Younger -- look for. Older -- give back.

Susan??
Anyone willing to mentor? Lot of resources on web. Great talk about how mentor. Her start up Pink Garage is a resource.