US Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith couldn’t get a word in edgewise on a panel with former Google chief Eric Schmidt. As head of one of the world’s most powerful companies, Schmidt’s become used to commanding the floor. But his interrupting Smith wasn’t just due to his stature in the business world. Schmidt feels free to interrupt because he’s a man–and Smith is a woman.
At least that’s the way Schmidt’s persistent “manterruptions” are interpreted by many, including Judith Williams. Williams should know: she’s head of Google’s diversity and talent programs–and she’s in charge of educating Googlers about their unconscious biases. Smith, by the way, used to work at Google.
Obligatory tweet–seem odd to anyone else that during discussions on women & tech @USCTO keeps getting cut off? #askwalker #SXSW2015
— Haley van Dyck (@haleyvandyck) March 16, 2015
