Working Moms in Tech Pushing Past Career Barriers with Joanne Gates

2026-02-19

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In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Joanne Gates about navigating motherhood, career ambition, and the realities of working in the male-dominated tech industry. Joanne, joining from Scottsdale, Arizona, recounts her move from Boston to Seattle, her nearly 30-year career at Microsoft, and the pivotal choices she made as both a mom and a leader. Listeners will discover how Joanne carved out success in corporate America, confronted workplace bias, and now channels her expertise into coaching...

About Joanne Gates:

Joanne Gates is a certified executive life coach who helps professional women in tech and male-dominated industries unlock their career potential with clarity, confidence, and purpose. After a 30-year career at Microsoft—rising from entry-level to executive—Joanne now empowers women to overcome imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, and perfectionism while building authentic leadership presence. She’s especially known for helping women get promoted into senior leadership roles and then kick ass once they’re there—navigating high-stakes environments with emotional intelligence, strategic influence, and unapologetic power. Joanne blends deep empathy with sharp business acumen to help her clients lead boldly, drive impact, and rewrite the rules of leadership.

Main Topics Covered:

The life-altering impact of motherhood on career paths, especially for women in tech and male-dominated corporate environments.
Facing and overcoming gender bias and assumptions about working mothers in the workplace.
The challenges and family dynamics of being the primary breadwinner and having a stay-at-home dad partner in the late '90s and early 2000s.
Navigating pivotal career decisions, missed opportunities, and the trade-offs of prioritizing family vs. pursuing senior leadership.
Advocating for oneself in corporate hierarchies, especially when faced with unfair evaluations or lack of managerial support.
The evolution (and limitations) of maternity leave policies and the importance of workplace systems that genuinely support parents.
Joanne’s transition from a senior leader at Microsoft to executive and life coaching for women, with a focus on helping others define and achieve their own success.
Practical tips for protecting your career trajectory, handling performance reviews, and knowing when (and how) to escalate workplace concerns.

Quote from the Episode:

"I felt like I had to, like, shake him by the shoulders… How many guys have to have this conversation? That just pisses me off. We have to because, obviously, it’s pretty apparent that we’re having a child." — Joanne Gates

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Welcome, Joanne’s location, and adjusting to life in the desert [00:00:46] Childhood winter activities and chasing the sun [00:01:37] Introducing today’s topic: balancing motherhood and career [00:02:29] On generational change—and how much (or little) has shifted for working women [00:03:19] The Covid reset and women leaving corporate roles; Joanne’s new passion for helping women succeed [00:04:24] Joanne’s career start, move to Microsoft in the dot-com era [00:07:21] Early influences, engineering in college, and professional aspirations in a male-driven world [00:11:19] On early career choices, family expectations, and the pressure to decide your future “from a very young age” [00:13:14] Strategic family planning vs. reacting to life—how Joanne and her husband made tough choices [00:17:55] Deciding which parent would stay home, and the financial/logistical realities in a pre-remote work world [00:19:25] The loneliness and community gap for stay-at-home dads [00:22:18] Microsoft’s corporate culture around mothers in the ’90s/early 2000s—assumptions, bias, and policy limitations [00:25:27] The invisible penalty of motherhood: performance reviews, pay, and navigating “fairness” [00:31:10] Maternity leave policies then and now—fears around job security and returning to work [00:36:32] Systemic challenges: why do big companies struggle to change on women and family policy? [00:38:25] Lack of diversity, groupthink, and the value of disruptors in changing corporate culture [00:41:46] How Joanne stayed and thrived at Microsoft, even as most opted out [00:42:03] Major trade-offs: missing opportunities for the sake of family [00:47:06] Facing career setbacks, fighting for promotion, and deciding not to “rage quit” [00:53:12] Tactical advice: documenting your worth, knowing when—and how—to advocate for yourself [00:55:01] Joanne’s mission now: mentoring and coaching women in corporate life [00:56:08] What’s different for working women today, and a special offer for listeners [00:57:27] Lightning round: morning routines, relaxation, and spending on self

ABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life's choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individuals (not celebrities) who share their personal experiences and insights. Through these authentic stories, listeners find validation, motivation, and inspiration for navigating their own path through modern life. Because there's a big difference between expert advice and shared experience, and hearing another person's lived experience helps us feel less alone in our own situations.

GET JOANNE GATES’ SPECIAL OFFER: 4 Steps to Navigate Your Career Journey workbook

A Free PDF that provides actionable steps to demystify the steps to landing your next job, or that job several years in the future.

Link to download the pdf: https://www.execcoachjoanne.com/4stepsworkbook

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