Cultivating Authentic Self-Esteem

Part 2: Alexandria Macko-Millard presents: Cultivating Authentic Self-Esteem

For women in tech, the idea of self-worth is conflated with degrees, certifications, promotions, and long hours in the office, often leading to burnout and self-doubt that creep in when our competence and worthiness are out of balance (Hippler, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). This doubt could lead us to stop working, asking questions, taking risks, or getting involved. It could even lead to us leaving the computing profession. The good news is that cultivating authentic self-esteem goes beyond ego-boosting, leading to stronger feelings of fulfillment and overall well-being. This seminar presents the opportunity to apply the lessons offered by Dr. Christopher Mruk in Part 1 of this speaker series. Through reflective discussion, participants will embark on a journey to deepen their understanding of authentic self-esteem as it applies to their lives. Key topics include understanding the interplay of competence and worthiness as it supports our authentic self-esteem, being mindful of positive self-esteem moments, and aligning our values with pursuing our career goals.

Learn about Alexandria Macko-Millard

Alexandria Macko-Millard is a senior Computer Science major at Baldwin Wallace University. Her research focuses on solving humanitarian problems through the use of IoT technologies. She is the Product Owner for BW’s Mission Guatemala Medical Records software project, utilizing her five years of industry experience as a software engineer and quality assurance engineer. As President of BW’s ACM-W student chapter and OCWIC’s ACM-W Student Chapter Coordinator, Alex is driven to make computing more inclusive and accessible for women and neurodivergent individuals who may feel like they don’t belong based on the current demographics.