In 2016, Rebecca Bormann took on the role of Managing Director of Sales and Service for Bell Techlogix, a Gartner-recognized leading IT managed services and solutions firm headquartered here in Indianapolis. “Myself and my peers across the country are the faces of Bell Techlogix in our respective communities. We listen to IT leaders speak about what’s important to them in their organizations, and what functions of IT they need most help with. We also host technology events and participate in national IT symposiums,” Bormann explained. “Bell Techlogix is extremely proud to have predominantly women in these outward-facing roles, and each is highly successful. My peers and I are proud that as female technologists we get to represent women in STEM through our engagement in local and national IT forums and symposiums, presenting at the executive tables and boardrooms of our clients, and building strong and lasting relationships in the IT community.”
Around the same time Rebecca took on her role at Bell Techlogix in 2016 is when she joined Women & Hi Tech. “When I joined, I started out as a volunteer just helping set up for the Leading Light Awards. I quickly realized this is an organization that aligned with my core values and my passions of supporting other women and inspiring and empowering our youth. When I heard about Ignite Your Superpower (IYS) I knew I had to help launch this event. I asked to be part of the IYS exhibitors committee, since I knew that was an impactful way I could contribute,” said Bormann. Her involvement in that committee led to Rebecca’s nomination as Director of Corporate Engagement, where she has served for two years.
Relationships are one of the things Bormann appreciates most about her seat on the board, and also a big part of why she enjoys her business development career. Originally, she was enrolled in pharmacy school, following the footsteps of both her parents. “As much as I have always loved science, after a couple of years working as a pharmacy technician, I knew it wasn’t the career path for me,” she said. So, Bormann dropped out of pharmacy school, did some research about companies she might like to work for, and landed a sales and service job in Verizon’s business division after a rigorous interview process. “Working at Verizon introduced me to the broad world of technology. Tech is continually advancing and changing. I love that there is always something new and different to learn. And I love that with each new IT innovation I get to help my clients learn and advance their businesses.”
In the two years Rebecca has served on the Women & Hi Tech board as Director of Corporate Engagement, both the number of corporate sponsors and the amount of corporate contributions have nearly doubled. “I see our corporate sponsors as vital to Women & Hi Tech’s continued success and growth. Our sponsors directly empower us to make the future of STEM more inclusive to all by enabling us to expand our programming and events that support women in STEM, as well as reaching more girls to inspire them to pursue a passion in STEM. Our corporate sponsors enable us to provide scholarships and grants to females seeking STEM degrees and certifications. And our sponsors allow us to reach more women working in STEM today, by helping us spread our mission within their organizations and encouraging both their male and female employees to become active Women & Hi Tech members.”
When it comes to her predictions for what the next twenty years of growth for Women & Hi Tech will hold, Bormann thinks more robust diversity will be an essential factor. “I believe deeply in the mission of Women & Hi Tech--we need STEM career opportunities and paths to be equally inclusive to all.” Rebecca says she sits at executive IT meetings and across the negotiation table with women more often than she used to, but that breaking down gender barriers is just the beginning of the work required to diversify STEM fields. “Race, religion, age, and socioeconomic backgrounds are all part of changing the landscape of women represented in STEM to be equally inclusive to all,” she said. “Historically, one perspective has dominated these industries."
"We all recognize that advancement and innovation can’t happen in a bubble. Each unique and diverse perspective brings new ideas, new angles, and new strategies that make us, our businesses and our organizations better.”
Bormann says that in the next two decades, she wants the vision and reach of Women & Hi Tech to empower individuals of all backgrounds to have the hope and vision to chase their dreams in STEM. “I want to see us do more to reach out, inspire and teach underserved girls about all the possibilities in STEM fields. I want to see male allies recognized at the Leading Light Awards—much sooner than twenty years from now! I know there will be a day that we will look at our membership and event attendance and see a diverse group of men and women representing all of the STEM fields. This is Women & Hi Tech’s future because from the beginning this organization has been committed to the idea that it takes all our contributions to drive meaningful progress. Whatever that mission looks like in the future, I know we will rise to meet it.”
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