When Trina Marlow entered the tech industry over 20 years ago, she was the only woman on her team—and one of the few project managers who didn’t come from a technical background. But she brought a different strength: leadership. “I didn’t need to be the engineer,” she says. “I just needed to know enough to lead them well.”
In this episode of Tech in Translation, Trina, now Chief Operating Officer at Iron Bow Technologies, reflects on two decades of leadership, growth, and learning how to lead authentically in a male-dominated space. Her journey offers lessons not just for women in tech, but for anyone looking to build a meaningful career that aligns with their values.
Trina’s biggest piece of advice? Align yourself with people who support your growth—and organizations that promote from within. “I’ve been here 20 years, but I haven’t just been doing one thing,” she explains. “There were things I had to fix, things I had to expand. If you’re someone who wants to grow, find a company and leaders who value that.”
She’s also quick to recognize that growth looks different for everyone. “Some folks I’ve worked with had no desire to climb the ladder—they just wanted to be really great at what they do. And that’s just as valuable.”
When Trina started, project managers were often former engineers—experts in routing, switching, circuits, or cabling. “They became good project managers because they were good at the technology,” she says. But she brought a fresh approach: “I focused on becoming a great leader who could manage technical resources without needing to do their job myself.”
That outside-in perspective, paired with genuine curiosity and empathy, became her leadership superpower.
Being the only woman on her team could have been isolating. Instead, it turned into a shared learning experience. “I think they expected me to become like them,” she reflects. “And in some ways, I did. But I also stayed myself—and that brought in a different perspective.”
Rather than focusing on who’s better or more “right,” Trina advocates for a complementary approach. “It’s not about who’s better or worse. It’s about how we learn from each other. The strength of a team comes from how different perspectives work together—not compete.”
For Trina, leadership has always been about real conversations, honest feedback, and clear alignment with values. That’s what creates trust, and that’s what keeps her inspired. “I wouldn’t be able to stay within an organization if I didn’t have challenges to solve and the support to grow.”
Her message to future women leaders in tech: “Bring your full self. Don’t try to become someone else just to fit in. The industry needs your perspective—not a version of you that’s been filtered to look like everyone else.”
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