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Renita DiStefano named one of three Trailblazing Women in Buffalo’s Tech Industry

June 21, 2022 | By Liberty Darr | buffalorising.com

Photo: Women In Tech on Stage. Photo by Devin Chavanne

Believe it or not, the tech and start-up world is booming here in​​ the Queen City. With the biggest start-up competition in the world happening right downtown, there should be no surprise that tech and start-ups are influencing Buffalo’s economy in a big way. We owe a majority of this start-up renaissance to the 43North team at Seneca One Tower since they are responsible for the pitch competition that brings a lot of these businesses to Buffalo in the first place. The team works around the clock to break down myths surrounding start-ups and show that this work really is for everyone- especially for women!

In recent past years, the tech world proved to be a majority male-dominated industry, and according to data from CompTIA, “the composition of the tech sector workforce in 2019 consisted of 5.1 million men and 2.5 million women, translating to 67% and 33%, respectively,” but the face of tech seems to be changing according to these women in tech: Courtney Caldwell with ShearShare, Maura Duggan with ACV Auctions, and Renita DiStefano with Seneca Gaming Corporation. At a recent 43North Women in Tech panel discussions, each of these women discussed their unique journeys into the tech industry and how determination, perseverance, and recognition of their own strengths played a major role in their success.

Renita DiStefano

Renita is no stranger to the tech world, and her dedication to the industry is something that comes as second nature to her. She attributes much of her success to mentors and teachers along the way and her passion for technology. This passion was the flame that ultimately paved the way for her accomplishments. Renita credits her fearless, self-starter attitude, and a dedication to lifetime learning that made it possible to be a master of her craft. Renita is a member of the Seneca Nation and became one of the first Native females to achieve the title of Chief Information Officer- the highest title acclaimed in her field.

“So much has changed in the 25 years that I’ve been in tech, specifically the face of technology. Just look around the conference table and the Board room and you will see unprecedented diversity. I was fortunate to start my career at a company where I rarely thought about the fact that I am a woman. I was treated with respect. I do have to say though, that I have had my share of, ‘okay, honey, let me talk to one of the techs’ or ‘Let me talk to one of the guys.’ I thought to myself, ‘I am one of the techs.’ I didn’t allow the condescension to slow me down; I didn’t let it marginalize me. Instead, it motivated me to prove to the world that I can achieve greatness in this thing called tech.”

She stressed that her key to success with over 25 years in the tech industry is due to surrounding herself with people who are inspiring — and by being fearless. “Leaders aren’t always the people with the fancy job titles at the top of the org chart. Some of the best advice that I’ve gotten has come from people that didn’t have an impressive job title. They are just good human beings; good people with wisdom and leadership qualities far beyond a title. For me, leadership is really about that – being kind and treating people with trust and respect. It’s about serving and giving everything you have to make sure that others are successful in whatever they do.

More than anything, be a student of your craft and take calculated risk; there is no telling how high you can go. Just take it from Renita.

Source: https://www.buffalorising.com/2022/06/three-trailblazing-women-in-buffalos-tech-industry/