Microsoft's Edaena Salinas Interview
What motivated you to start your business?
The Women in Tech Show (https://thewomenintechshow.com/), although not a business itself, has taught me about aspects that you need to start a business such as identifying an area of opportunity. The Women in Tech Show is a weekly podcast where women in tech talk about technology instead of the usual “what’s it like to be a women in tech”. I am tackling the diversity problem by having women talk about technology and the products they work on; this is my motivation. That way, it will no longer be perceived as unusual and others can learn about technology from women and can find role models they can relate to.
What is the number one thing preventing women from taking the plunge into entrepreneurship
Being afraid to take initiative and remaining in a comfort zone.
If I were to start my own business today, what is the the first thing I should do to take action? - Where do you start?
Find an area of opportunity that you believe in. Don’t focus on trying to solve something too big, even if you start by helping 20 people and you change their lives for the better, that is a great start.
What was the worst piece of advice you have gotten?
Good things will come to you if you follow the rules and do what you’re told.
Who has always been your mentor?
I haven’t had a person that has always been my mentor. This is one of the aspects that I want to focus on this year. I’ve gotten a lot of guidance by reading books by Seth Godin and James Altucher. Through the podcast I have met prominent women in tech that I have learned a lot from, in a way they have been mentors.
Do you think the entrepreneurial spirit is innate or can it be learned over time?
It can be learned over time when you have a good attitude.
What keeps you motivated when everything seems to be going wrong?
Thinking about the good things that I have accomplished as well as the people that I have helped grow.
Everyone has their two-cents, how do you decide whose advice to listen to?
Listen to the advice from several people, not just one. Then think about how that advice applies to you and project on a possible outcome. You will notice that some advice doesn’t apply to you, or the advice doesn’t apply in this time because it might be outdated. In the end you will tweak the advice to yourself.
What is your favorite gadget or app that you cannot live without?
My smart phone. It is very convenient to get directions, lookup reviews of places, and connect with people instantly.
At what point did you know you would be successful?
When I started failing. One example is being rejected from internships and full time jobs. By having several rejections I knew that at some point I would succeed because I kept improving throughout the years.
If you could give your former self one piece of advice that could have saved you many mistakes what would it be?
Life after school is very different, there is no syllabus, start learning how to make your own plan.
What is the key to building your own voice and brand?
Working on something you can relate to. I write software and work on technical problems; doing The Women in Tech Show comes naturally as I have a grasp of technical concepts. This translates to having engaging conversations with other women in tech.
What are you most proud of?
Being able to communicate ideas effectively. In my first jobs, I would think of ideas but would not say them because I wasn’t confident enough. I have improved a lot since then. I am also proud of The Women in Tech Show because it is a platform where women talk technology.
For your feature, please send us:
High def. photo of you!
Social Media Handles
Twitter: @edaenas, @techwomenshow
Your favorite quote:
“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's a day you've had everything to do and you've done it.” Margaret Thatcher
if you could include a link to the show in the blogpost that would be great!
Show link: https://thewomenintechshow.com/
iTunes Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-women-in-tech-show/id1126670901?mt=2