Alison Falk is a Pittsburgh-based application developer working in the healthcare industry. Outside of her day job she is working on completing her Master’s in cybersecurity engineering at the George Washington University. She is the founder of Women In Tech Pittsburgh and a member of Women of Sex Tech where she focuses and spreads awareness on the intersection of technology and sexuality.
Tell us a little bit about what a typical day looks like for you.
I have recently committed to a morning routine that has been making me feel motivated and energized. I wake up at 4:30, write in my gratitude journal, say my affirmations, read on the bus, and head to the gym. I start my work day around 7 A.M. My routine helps me stay focused at my day job because I know that I dedicated time to investing in myself and won’t be stressing about when I’m going to find time to do that later in the day. At work I often find myself delegating tasks to my team as SCRUM master, resolving impediments with clients, and writing code. I’m also going to school for my Master’s in cybersecurity, so if I don’t have class after I clock out, I’m usually glued to a table at a cafe downtown working on my side projects.
How do you stay passionate in your career?
I stay passionate knowing that every action I take is helping me grow and stretch into the next version of myself. I love reflecting and observing as I uplevel every month in different facets of my life. Even if that growth was small, the lesson is always meaningful and applicable in some way.
Are there any apps, software, or tools you cannot live without?
I love Trello for organizing all my to-dos. As a sexual health and wellness advocate I’m obsessed with the MyFlo app because it reminds me to rest, unplug, exercise, and eat healthy when most needed during specific parts of your cycle.
What’s your favorite thing about being a woman in tech?
The reality is that when you say the word programmer, the image people have in their heads is some white dude in a hoodie that graduated with a Harvard CS degree coding in a dark room. I love that I came from a non-tech background and accomplishing things I was told I never could. I love breaking stereotypes and showing up as my authentic self. I love bringing my feminine energy into an industry that is very masculine in terms of energy.
What is a piece of advice you would give to others wanting to or currently pursuing a career in tech?
EVERYONE experiences days where they are flooded with imposter syndrome – even those we deem extremely accomplished and successful. But overcoming these obstacles will take you places you never thought you’d go. For every low there is an exhilarating high just around the corner.
Favorite quote:
“Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her.”