Introduction
In the latest episode of “From a Woman to a Leader,” I had the pleasure of speaking with Denzil Eden, a remarkable woman who has made significant strides in the tech industry. From starting coding at the age of eight to founding Smarty.ai, an AI-powered executive assistant, Denzil’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this blog post, I will share some of the key takeaways from our conversation that can motivate and guide aspiring women in tech.
Early Beginnings: Coding at 8
Denzil’s passion for technology began early. At the age of eight, she was introduced to coding through a unique program at her school in the Bay Area. Learning the Logo programming language, which involved controlling a turtle to create shapes and designs, sparked her interest and set the foundation for her future career. Denzil’s story is a testament to the importance of early exposure to STEM education for young girls.
Pivotal Moments at Microsoft
After completing her education, Denzil joined Microsoft, where she worked as a Product Manager for PowerPoint and later transitioned to a Software Engineer at Yammer. These roles provided her with a diverse skill set and deepened her technical expertise. Her experiences at Microsoft were crucial in shaping her professional path and giving her the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship.
Transition to Entrepreneurship
Despite her success at Microsoft, Denzil felt a strong pull towards entrepreneurship. She initially doubted her ability to be a founder, a common sentiment among many women in tech. However, her time at business school helped her realize her potential. Armed with the right skills and a newfound belief in herself, Denzil founded Smarty to address a personal pain point and has since been on a mission to optimize human productivity through AI.
Raising Capital: Challenges and Successes
One of the significant hurdles Denzil faced was raising venture capital. She shared that less than 3% of global venture capital goes to women, highlighting the gender disparity in the tech industry. Despite this, Denzil successfully raised $2.5 million by demonstrating resilience, maintaining relationships with potential investors, and continuously showing progress. Her advice to aspiring female founders is to build a tough skin, remain persistent, and focus on creating value and revenue before seeking investment.
The Future of AI
Denzil believes that AI is the future and emphasizes the importance of AI literacy for all ages. She likens the AI revolution to the industrial revolution, predicting that while there may be short-term disruptions, AI will ultimately create more opportunities and improve the quality of life globally. She advocates for early interaction with AI tools to demystify the technology and prepare future generations for the evolving job market.
Practical Tips for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs
Throughout our conversation, Denzil offered several practical tips for women looking to transition into tech roles or start their own ventures:
1. Validate Your Idea: Before quitting your job, validate your startup idea by creating a landing page, building a waitlist, and interviewing potential customers.
2. Learn Continuously: Keep your skills sharp by working on hobby projects, contributing to open-source projects, or building something for fun.
3. Stay Resilient: Entrepreneurship involves facing numerous rejections and failures. Develop a strong sense of resilience and keep pushing forward.
4. Leverage AI Tools: Utilize AI tools to enhance your productivity and creativity in both personal and professional endeavors.
Conclusion
Denzil Eden’s journey from a young coder to a tech entrepreneur is a powerful reminder of the impact of early STEM education, the importance of resilience, and the potential of AI. Her story serves as an inspiration to all women in tech, encouraging them to pursue their passions, believe in themselves, and break down barriers.
To listen to the full episode and gain more insights from Denzil, check out our latest podcast episode here. Let’s continue to support and uplift women in tech, creating a more inclusive and innovative industry.
What are your thoughts on Denzil’s journey? Do you have similar experiences or tips to share? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more inspiring stories and practical advice.
About Denzil:
Denzil Eden built Smarty, an all-in-one AI productivity assistant that plans your best day, every day. A trailblazer as a solo female technical founder, Denzil carved her niche with an AI-focused degree from MIT, an MBA from Harvard, and a distinguished career at Microsoft. Denzil is devoted to making your life smarter with AI — enhancing routines, automating mundane tasks, and maximizing every minute. When she unplugs, Denzil plays the piano, authors fiction and op-eds, and sips teas.
Follow Denzil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denzils/
Level up your productivity with smarty.ai: https://www.smarty.ai/
MIT Scratch program for kids Denzil mentioned on our episode: https://scratch.mit.edu/parents
