Women are becoming an increasingly important part of the tech landscape, but they still have a long way to go in terms of equal representation and treatment in this male-dominated industry. devmio seeks to empower women in tech by offering a space for them to share their stories, experiences, and insights, inspiring others to join the field and further their careers.

Every Wednesday, we uplift the voices of women in tech. This week, we would like to introduce you to Danielle Crane, CPO at OneStream Software.

When did you become interested in technology and finance? What first got you interested in the field?

My first head of people role was for a financial services organization that evolved into a fintech company, with the launch of a mobile payment application business. I loved that the talent was always focused on how to simplify complex situations for others.

I continue to be fascinated by the way people approach different scenarios and use their experiences to identify solutions.

Let’s talk about your background. How did you end up in your career path? What obstacles did you have to overcome?

My passion has always been in human resource management and working closely with people from a talent acquisition standpoint. I did not necessarily know where that interest would take me, but I’m doing the work I was meant to do as Chief People Officer of OneStream Software.

I earned my undergraduate degree in Human Resource Management and English at Albion College before entering the workforce as a program coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. From there, I knew I wanted to concentrate on recruitment and fostering relationships, so I became a recruiter on the business development side for a national recruitment firm. I developed those foundational HR skills and business development competencies in my first two roles, helping propel my career into fintech.

You can probably imagine the fast-paced nature of fintech, but it was rewarding to see ideas become real solutions businesses were able to leverage. I enjoy working alongside entrepreneurial minded people and helping to translate their ideas into execution. My role as vice president of HR gave me the opportunity to meet people at all stages of their career and help those individuals reach their professional goals – whether through compensation, training and development, or leadership.

After seven years, I joined GreenPath as Chief Talent (People) Officer and continued working in the finance industry. My role there set me up for a natural transition to Chief People Officer (CPO) of OneStream where I continue to help our company and people from a human-centered design approach.

Did you receive support from your family and friends? Do you have a role model?

I’m lucky to have an incredibly supportive network. When I was finishing my undergraduate degree, my grandfather told me “Don’t ever take a job for the title or the number of 0’s on the paycheck. Just find work that you love, and the rest will fall into place.” That advice has proven to be invaluable throughout my career.

Because of my grandfather’s words, I have turned down jobs that paid more and said “no” to career paths that would have potentially led to a more prestigious title. I have also had to reframe my priorities, stepping away from my resume at times to pursue learning over climbing the career ladder. And I’m so glad I did – I wouldn’t change a thing.

On the professional side, many of my mentors have come from a Finance background and some are still operating today in a Finance capacity. I’ve always found such strong thought partnership in those relationships. We’re often trying to solve the same puzzle but from adjacent angles. Connecting with people from different professional backgrounds has helped me round out the way I approach problem solving and communicate within the business.

When I was finishing my undergraduate degree, my grandfather told me “Don’t ever take a job for the title or the number of 0’s on the paycheck. Just find work that you love, and the rest will fall into place.”

Did anyone ever try to stop you from learning and advancing in your professional life?

Earlier in my career, I had experiences where my peers or superiors demonstrated a strong sense of control, which led to a potential missed opportunity for me to learn something new or gain exposure.

I’ve approached these moments from a place of transparency and curiosity, while also assuming there was no mal intent. If I can understand why someone is positioned a certain way or holding onto control, I can potentially suggest a new way of working that meets both our needs. Learning to navigate these situations diplomatically and in collaboration will benefit your career in the long run.

Could you tell us more about your present job? (Company, position, etc.) What does your typical workday look like?

OneStream Software provides a market-leading intelligent finance platform to reduce the complexity of financial operations. We help businesses around the world to better leverage their financial data by equipping them with the tools and insights to make fast, informed decisions.

As CPO, my role has evolved in the last few years to help people find stability amid these uncertain times. I have worked closely with other leaders within the OneStream organization to ensure we’re showing up on a regular basis, whether that’s through company-wide town halls or frequent email communications. I also keep a pulse on topics that matter to our employees, things they’re seeing in the news that we cannot ignore in the workplace. It’s important that we create an environment where people can bring their full selves to the office. Part of my role at OneStream is to help our leadership team and employees navigate these new territories and feel supported.

As you might be able to imagine, like any executive, my workday can shift based on current events – which seems to happen frequently these days. However, my overarching focus at OneStream means I’m usually designing and practicing our overarching people strategy. There are days that I work with our executive leadership team to provide direction and clarity to our broader organization regarding the highest impact work. I also meet with our People Business Partner leaders to understand what barriers might exist within the business that are standing in the way of our people from achieving the highest impact work. Other days I might be deep in our people data, looking to understand how we are trending internally and externally among our peers.

Basically, no two days are the same, especially after the last few years.

I pride myself on being straightforward and empathetic but without judgement.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I have two guiding moments of clarity so far. The first is that I’ve been able to introduce systems and change throughout my career. I’ve been able to progress and scale businesses without being rejected by my peers and leaders, which is something I’m very proud of.

If you know me, you’ll often hear me reference the “From-To.” In other words, the “from” is where we are today – it is what it is and there are a million reasons why we are where we are. The “to” is where we need to go. It’s imperative that we make sure we understand where we’re coming from so that we can focus our energy on where we’re heading. I’m proud of bringing this perspective to my teams throughout the years and helping to play a role in advancing business.

The second lesson that I’m proud of was harder to experience. When I first started leading people, I made a lot of missteps, as first-time leaders do. I didn’t reveal my vulnerabilities or show my failures, and as a result, it was hard for my team to trust that they could take risks or voice their concerns. Thanks to some (tough!) feedback and intentional development on my end, I've evolved into a much better leader. Most of my team members and peers across the business would tell you that I’m a safe but realistic place to land. I pride myself on being straightforward and empathetic but without judgement.

Why aren't there more women in tech and finance? What's your take on that?

Historically, finance and tech were rigid industries that expected everyone to dress a certain way and engage in a physical office throughout a defined schedule, and women suffered. The traditional expectations of balancing the household and 50+ hour workweeks did not make these two industries welcoming for women, especially women of color. However, the pandemic catalyzed remote work and showed that people are still motivated to excel even if their work is happening online. In fact, most employees benefit from having less rigidity between their personal and professional lives.

The industry as a whole has accepted less traditional ways of working, which in turn benefits women and anyone else that wants to have more work/life balance. I definitely think the remote and hybrid work models have made finance and tech more accessible and ushered in a new era of flexibility for women and other minority groups.

Recruitment strategies have also changed throughout the years, moving away from a very narrow demographic of people who went to school together (and typically had similar backgrounds) to now having more diverse referral programs. The remote and hybrid models also make it possible to hire beyond geographic locations, which can benefit more diverse talent. I believe the industry will continue to welcome more women and people of color as our talent acquisition strategy evolves.

I definitely think the remote and hybrid work models have made finance and tech more accessible and ushered in a new era of flexibility for women and other minority groups.

How would our world be different if more women worked in STEM and finance? What would be the (social, economic, and cultural) impact?

For starters, women are often the decision makers in their household, which has transferrable skills and strengths to many STEM and finance roles. Productivity and efficiency are current workplace buzzwords as many companies look to navigate the contracting market, and many women who run their household have a lot to teach about balancing multiple priorities within a small margin for error.

Another consideration is that most technology to date has been built from the male point of view. Women can offer a different way of thinking that can result in design changes or opportunities for new applications based on their different experiences. The possibilities are endless when you grant more people access to decision-making. Lastly, Finance and financial leaders drive business and our overall economy. They are some of the most influential people on this planet and can change society based on investing in new industries, technologies or emerging ideas. Women need to be a part of those conversations and have a hand in shaping our world. Female representation in the tech and finance industries really is that important.

What advice (and tips) would you give to women who want a tech or finance career? What should they know about this industry?

Start by becoming a student of the industry and know how to drive progress within existing structures while simultaneously identifying new avenues for opportunity. While there may be similarities from industry to industry, learn what moves the needle in your specific space.

It’s also important for people to know that there are many roles available within the finance and tech industries, in addition to being a programmer or accountant. Turn to your network, LinkedIn and the internet to learn about various career paths. That being said, it’s never too early to start networking and building your industry connections. Your career and leadership abilities will be better for it.

Lastly, explore your passions and forge ahead. Your journey will not look like everyone else's, and it shouldn’t. Stay true to your interests and foundational reasoning for working in tech and finance – the obstacles will be less burdensome if you can remain clear on your guiding principles.