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Inspiration June 28, 2018
Motivate your fellow woman.
When we think about the field of technology, we don’t usually imagine a woman being at the helm. However, Lenora Porter is changing the way the world sees the tech industry.
Porter is a front-end developer and product designer based in Miami. She is currently working with IDT Corporation on the mobile design team, according to her Facebook page. She obtained her degree in family, youth and community sciences from the University of Florida.
Porter is not only known for her design work in the tech industry. She also focuses on empowering others in product design and in building community.
“If you don’t like the process, use your voice, your influence and your presence to change it,” Porter tweeted.
Porter is definitely using her influence to encourage a change within her industry.
Through her social media accounts, Lenora Porter shares inspiration, design tips and tutorials to aid other designers. She also uses her platform to share resources that could be beneficial to her fellow designers.
Porter shares her experience as a woman of color in the tech world with her followers. By doing so, she hopes to inspire others like her to step up to the challenge.
According to Porter’s Facebook page, her “mission is to inspire other women and minorities to take a fearless leap into the world of tech.” Taking the time to ensure she uses her knowledge as a stepping stone for others proves that she uses her career as an influential platform for her field.
“Having a seat at the table is nice but having influence at that table should be the ultimate goal,” Porter tweeted.
Building community is one of Porter’s passions. She tries to build this community among women in her field and among tech professionals as a whole.
She hosts two Facebook groups: Product Design and UI/UX Resources, which is a support system for product designers, and Black Women in UX Design, support for black women in the field of web design.
The purpose of both groups is to facilitate community among colleagues within a safe, motivating space. In the group descriptions, Porter mentions these groups were created to encourage communication and feedback between web design professionals. The groups are also used for posting and finding internships and job openings to assist professionals who may be looking for a new opportunity.
“Lateral partnerships and alliances can be a safe space for development and growth,” Porter wrote in a blog post. “This kind of foundation can be the catalyst for long-lasting relationships, freelancing opportunities, job opportunities, entrepreneurial opportunities, and many more. Networking with the Steve Jobs’ of the world can be important, but it is also important to save time to fellowship with your lateral crew.”
Porter stresses the importance of networking with like-minded individuals and with individuals who can relate to your journey. This not only shows you that you’re not alone in your experience, but could also connect you to other ways of tackling those experiences.
Lenora Porter is the perfect example of a woman who believes in building up her fellow man. Not only does she try to provide tools to up-and-coming tech professionals, she also lends a helping hand to her female counterparts.
It is motivating to know that Porter is using her knowledge to help other women get their foot into the industry. We should have more women who embody this practice.
We as women should not be tearing each other down in order to compete for the top spot. Instead, we should be building each other up, ensuring that we all make it to success.
Whether through support or providing information, women need to have each other’s backs in the professional world. We are the only ones who can look out for each other.
So with that in mind, let’s all strive to be more like Porter by lending a helping hand when we’re able to. Even one seemingly minor effort could make a world of difference in one woman’s professional journey. So don’t just talk about a change, be the change.
