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Who is
this diva?
Winner of the 2002 National Women of Color Technology Award—Business Person of the Year, Monique Boea has worked as a Web designer and programmer for more than six years. After struggling to launch her own career in I.T., she founded an organization to help other women. Using the latest technologies, Monique has helped dozens of women pursue their career goals and find success in I.T..
What
do you do at work?
I am the President and Founder of
African-American Women in Technology (AAWIT), a not-for-profit
organization. I provide mentoring and training resources
for African-American women who are inspired to enter the
field of Information Technology.
A typical day for me would be answering numerous inquiries
from women wanting to know how they can change their lives
by changing careers. I help them understand what education
and background they will need to get a good job in Information
Technology.
How does your job help other people?
I support the advancement of women and men by letting
them know that they are important, they have purpose,
and they are alive for a specific reason.
I encourage them to find this purpose and pursue it with
everything in them. I also provide life counseling to
women who are facing problems in their marriages, careers,
relationships, or those who can’t seem to get past
what they used to be or do.
Do you work alone or with
a team?
I work alone to counsel others on
living successful lives. However, I do work with volunteers
who help me with the daily upkeep of the AAWIT Web site.
What's
the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is when
I receive e-mails and letters from women all across the
country who tell me that, by reading my story, they have
found hope that they, too, can pursue their dreams and
live the life they desire.
I'm also mentoring a young lady who has suffered under
the hands of others, sharing my story with her and letting
her know that no matter what she's been through in the
past or what she is going through right now, she can be
and do whatever she desires. It is wonderful to see her
gradually flourish into a positive, productive woman.
Yes, I have fun at work. I help to bring joy and fulfillment
to other people.
What's
the worst part of your job?
There is nothing bad about my job.
I love coming to work every day.
Where
do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I'd like to own a
multi-million-dollar dot.com company and also work as
a family and marriage counselor.
What
do you do when you're not at work?
When I am not physically at work,
I am still sometimes thinking about how I can help people
change their lives.
I have a husband and a six-year-old son whom I share my
days with. We do typical family things mostly on the weekends.
An evening for me involves overseeing homework, having
dinner, and spending quality time with my family and then,
reading the Word of God.
What advice would you give
a girl about the I.T. field?
Be the best in all that you do.
Practice excellence and give superior work.
Give 150% and your reputation and work ethic will supercede
your race and/or gender.
What
were your hobbies when you were 11-14?
When I was 11 to 14, I aspired to be a broadcast journalist
and to become a rich, powerful, black woman.
Describe technology you
wish was available now.
I wish that we were able to travel
without cars. I would like to have a new way of traveling
that would make crashing impossible, thus reducing the
amount of death caused by car accidents.
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