Women in Technology: Q&A with Schwab CTO Tim Heier

Schwab has many groups supporting women, including the Women’s Interactive Network (WINS) employee resource group, which is open to all employees. Last year a new Women in Technology group formed to help bring women who work in tech—or are interested in working in tech—together. 

Schwab’s Chief Technology Officer, Tim Heier, was one of the first people to join the group as its executive sponsor, and in this Q&A with Sarah Atencio-Trader, Women in Technology chairperson and founder, he explains why.

I’ve loved tech from an early age, especially the problem-solving aspect. I went to college and got computer science and math degrees, and I’ve been at Schwab for 25 years—always working in software and on the technology side of the business.  

I think that when you have more points of view represented you get better solutions, better software, and better products. That’s why I wanted to be part of this group. I try to do things at Schwab where I can make a difference, and I was hoping this was a place where I could make a difference.  

I love technology because it’s something that anyone can get into if they are interested. But there are ingredients you must have. Curiosity is an important one. If you are curious, love to learn, and you apply yourself, you’ll be successful—and that’s a life lesson that applies anywhere. There’s a lot you can do on your own. 

One of the great things about a large company like Schwab is you can reach out to someone in tech and have a conversation. Lots of people are willing to tell you what they do, and you’ll end up talking to somebody that does something that you’ll want to learn more about. It’s an easy and free way to learn about different roles before committing to any one path. 

Management and senior leaders, like me, have the opportunity to open doors for people and give them a chance. Someone kicked the door open for me, and we all need to do that more for everybody, including women. And when that happens, it’s important to be ready. It’s been studied that women may not always put themselves forward the same way men do, even though women may be just as—or even more—qualified, so it’s just about fighting that imposter syndrome. Sometimes I enter a room and I’m convinced everyone there is smarter than me—even though they’ve invited me to be the speaker. So know that it’s something everyone feels. Don’t let it hold you back when an opportunity arises.

I haven’t. I’m really excited about this group and am grateful to be a part of it. I’m looking forward to helping in any way that I can and bringing additional awareness to this important group.