2024 Women's History Month

Breaking the Mold: Meet the Women Revolutionizing Tech in ECE at LineLeader

Join us in celebrating Women's History Month as we shine a spotlight on the remarkable women leaders driving innovation and progress in the tech industry. Explore the inspiring stories and achievements of our female trailblazers as they continue to pave the way for future generations!

At LineLeader, we’re celebrating National Women’s History Month… with a twist.

Instead of highlighting the countless accomplishments of women in childcare (we’d need an entire book for that one!), we asked the women in our own team to share their stories.

Because, unlike many other professions, women dominate the world of childcare. But when it comes to software and tech, there’s still a long way to go.

According to DDI’s 2023 Global Leadership Forecast, which surveyed 1,827 human resources professionals and 13,695 business leaders from over 1,500 companies around the world, the share of women in tech leadership roles has fallen to just 28%.

This decrease was driven by pandemic-related issues around caregiving responsibilities, the insular nature of the industry itself, and a disproportionate amount of inequity, stress, and burnout impacting women in the workplace.

But not at LineLeader. Today, we’re proud that ten of our thirteen leaders are powerful, mission-driven women determined to deliver best of breed childcare software that makes life easier for administrators, educators, and families.

Let’s take a closer look at who they are and how they got here.

Meet the LineLeader Lineup:

Asheley Wagnon, Vice President, People
Julie Blackhall, Head of Finance & Business Operations
Lisa Henkel, Vice President, Customer Operations
Sierra Rossing, Head of Marketing
Selene Di Prisco, Head of AU Business Operations
Imogen Shelton, Head of Services & Success
Madison Carlson, Director of Product Management
Hannah Peake, Director of Customer Success
LT Kravetz-Stansbery, Professional Services Manager
Aruna Durbhaka, Quality Assurance Manager

Julie:

My older sister is my mentor and biggest cheerleader. I go to her for work advice constantly and attribute my success to having her as a sounding board. She’s a successful working mother who is always honest about what that looks like — the good, the bad, and the ugly. Her perspective always grounds me and reminds me that most times the answer is: “work hard and do the right thing”.

Aruna:

Numerous women have left their mark on my career journey, yet none have influenced me as profoundly as my mother. An unwavering educator, she instilled in me the drive to collaborate with others to accomplish the seemingly unattainable. Through her own example, she illustrated how the delicate balance between work and family can be achieved through unwavering dedication and resilience. My meticulous approach stems from witnessing my mother's success in nurturing countless children throughout her career, offering each one personalized care and attention.

Madison:

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been mentored by one of the most inspiring leaders I've ever met, Caitlin Coffman, the founder of MomentPath. Caitlin is not just a mentor to me; she's been a guiding force in my professional journey, shaping me into the leader I am today. Caitlin stands out for her fierce commitment to innovation and her unparalleled ability to inspire those around her. Working under her leadership at MomentPath was a transformative experience. She possesses a rare blend of visionary thinking and pragmatic execution, which not only propelled the company to new heights but also instilled in me a profound sense of purpose and drive. She taught me to push boundaries, think critically, and embrace challenges with a solution-oriented mindset. Caitlin's approach to leadership — leading by example, with compassion and integrity — taught me the importance of fostering a culture that values continuous learning and open communication.

Sierra:

My mother was my first ‘manager’. She became a Mary Kay representative when I was in elementary school and very quickly became one of the country’s fastest-growing directors. I would often organize her cosmetics and magazines for her. Years later, she helped me get my first ‘real’ job at the school district in her department of Human Resources. It was easy to see that her coworkers not only respected her but genuinely enjoyed working with her. As I continued through my K-12 schooling, all the teachers, principals, custodians, and cafeteria staff knew her. Upon seeing my last name, they would often comment, “Oh, you’re Amy’s daughter. I love her! She is so sweet. Please tell her I say ‘hi’.” Seeing how she impacted people from all walks of life (during a process as tedious as filling out your W-2, your I-9, and performing a background check), inspired me to always put my best foot forward in my own career. You never know who you might be leaving a lasting impression on.

Imogen:

One female lead mentor I had (she led the Support and Success teams while I managed Implementations at the time) pushed me to develop my experience and expertise outside of what I can learn “in the field” and encouraged me to get my Project Management Professional certification (PMP). This was a grueling process and the most difficult exam I ever sat for — but it was worth it. I walked away with invaluable knowledge, the confidence to stand toe-to-toe with other experts in the field of project management, and the ability to feel grounded in my perspective and approach to future projects.

LT:

I had female coaches my entire career in high school, college and pro career who helped me become the leader I am today. Attitude and effort are cornerstones of my character because of them and how they led. I knew I wanted to coach, teach and lead because of the leadership. My last mentor was smart, encouraging and always challenged me. She helped me start to understand my worth and that my contributions were important. She trusted only me with certain tasks and gave me confidence to move forward in my career although it meant leaving my current role. That is a true mentor.

Lisa:

It has been my privileged experience to have grown up professionally within the female-dominated childcare and ECE field. Childcare is 94% women (and that is a statistic, not a euphemism: EdSource.com February, 2022). It was an adjustment to transition from childcare to the tech SaaS space. As it was not part of my experience to not be “heard”, I just kept speaking louder and louder until I was acknowledged. I think being a part of a company bringing software and tech tools to the female-dominated childcare field is one way we re-arrange the seats at the proverbial table. To be successful we have to hear the voice of the customer — and for us that voice is female.

Imogen:

I have been the only female on the leadership team for more than one year twice in my career to date. The first time, I was also the youngest member of the leadership team. What I hope was subconsciously, my VP at the time would repeatedly wrap meetings and call on me to handle the notes/follow-up distribution. After about two months of this, I used our one-on-one time to tell him my plate was piling up and I would appreciate a more round-robin, equal share in this task from the rest of the leadership team. He immediately understood and the task went in a rotation after that.

Julie:

Earlier in my career, I had (multiple) business partners tell me, “I’ve been doing this job longer than you’ve been alive”. That’s a really hard mindset to try to partner with, which perpetuated my already existent imposter syndrome. I had to work so hard to prove my value and change their perception of me to finally have a seat at the table. It’s shaped my approach to every other role, with my first focus now being building trust and becoming an expert on the business.

Asheley:

Many companies don’t understand the value that human resources professionals bring. HR getting a seat at the table is sometimes rare and I have firsthand experience seeing how hard it is to be an influential member of a company’s leadership team if they don’t understand the value of HR. Women have historically been underrepresented in leadership roles and it is crucial for organizations to foster inclusive environments where diversity is valued and everyone has an equal chance to contribute and succeed.

Childcare software, school management software, childcare crm, childcare management system

I recognized that earning my place at the table would require more than just hard work; it would require me to become a subject matter expert in my field. This meant dedicating myself to continuous learning, keeping up with industry trends, and developing a deep understanding of the ECE market. By doing so, I ensured that my voice was not just heard but valued.

Madison Carlson

Director of Product Management, LineLeader

Madison:

Throughout my career, particularly in the tech and SaaS sectors, which are traditionally male-dominated, I've often found myself to be one of the few, if not the only, woman in the room. Despite this, I can confidently say that I have rarely felt marginalized or without a seat at the table. This isn't to say that the journey was without its challenges, but rather that I approached these challenges with a commitment to proving my worth and expertise. I recognized that earning my place at the table would require more than just hard work; it would require me to become a subject matter expert in my field. This meant dedicating myself to continuous learning, keeping up with industry trends, and developing a deep understanding of the ECE market. By doing so, I ensured that my voice was not just heard but valued.

Sierra:

At one of my first positions out of college, I was still growing in my career but excited about the opportunity to dive into what I felt was very meaningful marketing-focused work. Well, within just a few months, the executive team began to lean on me for many tasks outside of the marketing specialty. Soon, I was making people’s schedules, booking their hotels, coordinating flights, and setting appointments. I had fallen into an EA role almost overnight with no discussion. I was eager to be helpful and retain my position (and earn my own seat at the table) so I never questioned it. But considering I was performing what was essentially two jobs at the time, it was a really exhausting period in my life and although I didn’t have the confidence to speak up for myself at the time, that manager showed me exactly who I didn’t want to be when I got my own chance to be a leader one day.

Hannah:

I have no doubt that my voice is heard at LineLeader. Our leadership trusts my opinions and vision immensely. I love working with a team that knows that I was hired for a reason. We have a very trusting team and we know we have the right people in the right seats to be successful. We cannot afford to wait around to innovate and improve — each contributor must be trusted and able to make decisions without hesitation or excessive red tape.

Aruna:

At LineLeader, I not only feel heard but also valued for the contributions I make. My collaboration with Mike Widner and the Engineering team, in particular, has been exceptionally productive. When I present ideas, we engage in a joint effort to refine and implement them successfully. What distinguishes LineLeader is its culture of open communication, where I feel empowered to share my perspectives with the leadership team, including our CEO, knowing they will be thoughtfully evaluated. This environment fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among all team members, enabling us to make substantial and impactful contributions.

Asheley:

I feel extremely grateful to work at LineLeader where the majority of the leadership team is made of women. I feel represented and heard. We have a great CEO who really cares to hear feedback. I feel comfortable going to him when I need to, knowing that he is actually listening and wants this to be an inclusive environment and for all of us to succeed.

LT:

I feel leadership really heard the feedback from our team during RKO [Revenue Kick Off] this year. I am proud to be one of the voices for our team and we are seeing direct strategies adjusted partially as a result of our feedback to processes and past strategies.

Julie:

In my short time so far at LineLeader, my voice has been welcomed and supported. The culture of the leadership team is a very special dynamic of trusting each other while pushing each other to level up.

Selene:

I feel lucky to work at a company like LineLeader. Not only do we have a great company culture and team, but the organization is truly invested in their people and wants to hear from their employees.

Lisa:

I feel heard, seen, and appreciated by the team at LineLeader. I am the voice of the customer, not only because I was a customer, but because the customer’s perspective is valued. I recognize that my voice is heard because I am afforded the time and opportunity to be in-person with customers on a regular basis. We are more than a software developer; we are a partner to the industry. I am fortunate that my fellow leaders allow me the platform to share my unique perspective.

Imogen:

Amazingly! Not only is the leadership team made up of several strong female leaders, I feel that Brett, our CEO, truly values everyone’s voice, opinion and experience and asks for it often. Recognition and reward feel very evenly earned.

Sierra:

Working at LineLeader is a breath of fresh air and has been an amazing opportunity for me, personally. I joined the company nearly four years ago as a Content Marketing Specialist and am now the Head of Marketing. WOW. That’s still hard for me to even believe… I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by people who believed in me, invested in my growth, and never questioned if I was ‘experienced enough’. As I continue to expand my network and meet other marketing leaders, I realize even more that what we have at LineLeader is special. The bonds our leadership team shares and our eagerness to collaborate cross-functionally and work together to achieve business objectives, support our customers, and develop the BEST product we can is unparalleled. It’s an empowering experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside these amazing individuals.

Madison:

At LineLeader, my voice has always been heard and valued, which is a testament to the inclusive and supportive culture fostered by our leadership team. Being part of a woman-dominated leadership team in the tech industry is rare and empowering. The environment at LineLeader encourages open dialogue, values diverse perspectives, and makes everyone feel seen. The leadership's strong support ensures that no one feels small, but rather, integral to our collective success. This culture of inclusivity and respect makes LineLeader a remarkable place to work, where innovative ideas are nurtured, and collaboration thrives.

Lisa:

I have a motto that has led me through my time in ECE: No Money, No Mission. In short, if we want to accomplish our goals as early childhood educators to provide high quality preparatory programs for children, it takes money to do so. We need money to provide developmentally appropriate classroom materials, playgrounds that make education fun, and the funds to pay early childhood teachers and caregivers what they deserve. It takes money and resources to make that happen. The reality is, that means we have to maintain enrollment. This is true in for-profit and not-for-profit situations. Our software tools help childcare centers earn and retain enrollment. The resulting income means better programs for children. Too many owners, operators, and practitioners fail to recognize the link between sustaining their business and ongoing enrollment — we power the business of childcare.

Selene:

LineLeader cares about their customers, having been a LineLeader customer myself I can say this was my experience. Now working at LineLeader, I try to bring the same level of care and attention to the customers I work with. Not only is our team dedicated to the continued improvement of our software, we are genuinely interested in hearing from our customers on how we can make improvements. We understand that the ECE sector is a forever changing and dynamic industry, and our team is committed to continued innovation allowing our customers to focus on what’s most important.

Imogen:

Nothing is more valuable than giving leaders, be they center directors, staff or regional managers, time back in their weeks to focus on what is most important — the kids, the programming, and the curriculum. Not the admin tasks that take up too much time!

LT:

Our focus on bringing a personal connection to how we are relating to our partners (aka our customers) is really a testament to understanding the nature of the business today. We are committed to understanding how we can best help our partners provide the best for their children and parents.

Hannah:

The ECE industry is hungry for technology solutions that are digestible to their internal stakeholders, end users, and administrators. The clientele we serve is very diverse, and not universally comfortable with change management and technological evolution. Our business model is extremely hands-on and customer-focused, which allows us to provide an unparalleled customer experience. Every member of our team truly treats each issue that arises as urgent, and they understand the real world impacts when our product has an issue. This is sorely needed in a space where our customers are dedicated to nurturing and teaching the future of our world. We can do no more than to reflect that energy and drive in our efforts to innovate within this industry.

Aruna:

LineLeader excels not only in delivering an outstanding software solution tailored for the ECE industry but also in demonstrating genuine care for childcare administrators, teachers, and, most importantly, the children they serve. By streamlining administrative tasks through LineLeader's products, childcare providers can devote more time and attention to the children under their care. This not only enhances the quality of interactions between providers and children, but also fosters an environment where children feel valued and supported, making their time away from parents more enriching and fulfilling.

We have engineers who meet individually with customers to get product feedback, support managers who are waking up at 4am to ensure that questions are resolved promptly, and marketing team members who hop on customer calls to give deep dive consults on their CRM workflows and enrollment strategy. We have an amazing product — no doubt about it. But what makes LineLeader a highly-trusted partner in the ECE sector is our innate desire to provide our customers with exceptional user experiences and help them level up their own businesses in the process.

Sierra Rossing

Head of Marketing, LineLeader

Putting Women at the Forefront of Childcare Software Innovation

With so much incredible female talent changing the game in childcare technology, there’s a lot to celebrate this Women’s History Month.

These leaders have faced obstacles head on to make a lasting impact on the industry, delivering best-of-breed software that simplifies the lives of administrators, educators, and families.

At LineLeader, we couldn’t be more proud that paving the way toward a more equitable future, is simply business as usual. Join us as we continue to defy industry norms and reshape the landscape of early education and childcare software.

Breaking the Mold: Meet the Women Revolutionizing Tech in ECE at LineLeader

Meet the LineLeader Lineup:

Question #1

Are there any female mentors in your past who inspired you to get where you are today?

Julie:

Aruna:

Madison:

Sierra:

Imogen:

LT:

Question #2

Have you ever been the only woman at “the table”? Or been made to feel like you didn’t have a seat at the table?

Lisa:

Imogen:

Julie:

Asheley:

Madison:

Sierra:

Question #3

How do you feel your voice is being heard at LineLeader?

Hannah:

Aruna:

Asheley:

LT:

Julie:

Selene:

Lisa:

Imogen:

Sierra:

Madison:

Question #4

In what ways is LineLeader working to uplift the ECE industry?

Lisa:

Selene:

Imogen:

LT:

Hannah:

Aruna:

Putting Women at the Forefront of Childcare Software Innovation

Learn more about LineLeader and our Leadership Team.

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