With only 20% of all tech jobs held by women in the United States and 26% of all computing jobs being held by women across the globe, Molson Coors is dedicating the month of July to spotlight the women in our tech department who lead and inspire other women to pursue technology as a career.
Meet Kristie Benbazza, senior director of business intelligence, data and analytics. After 15 years of consulting, Kristie decided to become a member of our team and has been with us for nearly a decade. Kristie had the opportunity to begin her career with Molson Coors in the reporting area which led to data warehousing and now to the world of business intelligence, data and analytics. "It is definitely a fast-paced, ever-changing technical space to be in right now, but I never knew that, 23 years ago, data would be so cool today," Benbazza says.
Q: Why do you think it's important for more women/ women of color to join the tech industry?
A: There is no reason they shouldn’t! There isn’t anything in the tech industry that a woman can’t do. In fact, I find women quite amazing at solving puzzles and problems, which at the end of the day, is all we are doing in the tech Industry. The more women who enter the industry the more they'll continue to influence other women to join.
Q: How do you differentiate yourself?
A: Over my career, I’ve been extremely fortunate to have amazing managers and leaders. That alone could be a differentiator, as not everyone has been blessed with that. It shaped me early on to understand what it means to lead a team and not manage a team. I am an empathetic and team-first leader, and I get more joy out of seeing a team come together to solve a problem than what they may actually be delivering.
Q: How would you describe your experience at Molson Coors?
A: I’ve developed a lot of relationships here, and one thing is certain: MolsonCoors has some amazing people. Our core values come through in our employees and our relationships. I have found that it is the people with whom you work who help you overcome challenges, and that definitely rings true at MolsonCoors.
Q: What advice would you give to women entering the tech field?
A: Whether it is IT or any other part of an organization, there is always space for a woman’s perspective. Sometimes we just need to build ourselves up enough to provide it. Surround yourself with positive influences who encourage you to put yourself out there. And, most of all, be curious about everything. There are many ways to solve a technical challenge and just because it was always done one way, doesn’t mean you can't find a better way to do it.
Q: What's a fun fact about you?
A: I love minions. They just make me laugh. Even though they are inept, they can usually still come together to solve a problem, and I just love it.