The value of gender diversity is widely acknowledged. Those who identify as women bring different perspectives and approaches, often resulting in more inclusive workplaces and better performance – and it’s their learning journeys that shape who they are. Pearson leaders Elaine Montilla and Shantel Love share their life in learning.
Q: What advice would you have for those who identify as women entering the workforce?
Shantel: It’s important that we capitalize on the uniqueness and the differences that we bring to the table as women. I’ve found myself in situations where I’ve been the first or only woman, or the first minority, within organizations. Oftentimes when you’re the “only,” you bring a unique perspective that may not always be welcome or considered, but it is needed. Lean into your authenticity and embrace your unique superpowers.
Q: What’s something you learned from your first job that you still use or practice today?
Elaine: The huge impact diversity, equity and inclusion has in creating an effective organization. Being exposed to people of different backgrounds and perspectives in my first job helped me become a better leader; I learned how to create inclusive and welcoming environments for everyone to be themselves and thrive.
Shantel: I got my first job when I was about 14, and I worked in an ice cream shop. And while it was amazing to get free ice cream and treats any time I wanted; I had a really good boss. He was firm in the old adage: “If you do the job you have well, other opportunities will present themselves.” And I’ve continued to live by that.
Q: What have you learned throughout your career that your formal education didn’t prepare you for?
Elaine: The importance of being assertive and learning how to advocate for myself, even when it felt uncomfortable and intimidating. Some company cultures can be competitive, so I have learned how to speak up in meetings, how to negotiate my salary, and how to stand my ground when I believed in an idea or solution.
Q: What’s a learning goal you hope to achieve?
Elaine: I want to understand how gender and race intersect to create unique experiences for women. and how we can work to create more inclusive environments that value and uplift our voices. I hope to become a stronger and more effective advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Shantel: The one thing I find myself really curious about is artificial intelligence. I’ve been spending time consuming articles, joining conferences, speaking with experts, and leveraging resources within our company. It’s important to stay in front of or aligned to technologies like AI to understand how they may impact your work and organization.
Q: To celebrate Women’s History Month, tell us about someone in your personal or professional life who has inspired or motivated you.
Elaine: My mother has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation for me. She came from a humble background and faced many obstacles as a single mother who was forced to leave her country to give her children a better future. I watch my mom work hard to provide for her family and I am so grateful for her presence in my life. She always pushed me to believe in myself and my abilities, even when I didn’t believe in myself, and she instilled in me the importance of education and hard work. She showed me that no matter how difficult the road may be, with hard work and a positive attitude, anything is possible.
Q: Our purpose is to add life to a lifetime of learning. And adding life can mean many different things. What is a word that describes “adding life” for you and why?
Shantel: The word that comes to mind for me is “Growth.” As I reflect on my journey, there are various stages where I either ran towards something or ran from something – and in those instances where I ran toward the thing that made me scared or uncomfortable, it stretched me beyond my comfort zone and forced me to grow.
Elaine Montilla is the Chief Technology Officer of Pearson’s US K-12 School Assessment division; Shantel Love is the Vice President of Customer Success for Pearson’s Clinical Assessments.