Five9 Women In Tech: Valerie Barlow

Last month, I had the pleasure of introducing you to our Five9 Women in Technology President, Ariana Karzai. Next stop on our Five9 WiT spotlight tour, you will be meeting Valerie Barlow – Five9 Corporate Events Manager and active member of our Five9 WiT group.



Tell us about your background: What are you doing now and where did you get your start?

I am the Corporate Event Manager for Five9. I got my start as an Executive Assistant and then went into working as the Event Coordinator for a non-profit hospital located in Hayward, St. Rose. I then moved into the tech realm with Five9.

One word to describe yourself: Driven 

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? 

You will have to advocate for yourself every step of the way.

Who or what motivates you? 

Other women who have succeeded into making a name for themselves or reached their individual accomplishments, whatever they may be, despite the obstacles that have stood in their way.

What are your tips for young women who are considering a career in technology?

Do it. There are so many opportunities, the benefits are great, and there is so much room for growth as well as many mentors to guide you. You will learn so much if you choose to.

What is your favorite part about working at Five9 or being a part of the Five9 WiT community? 

The opportunity to pursue my passion, and the support to do so.

What is an obstacle you faced being a woman in tech and how did you overcome it? 

Salary negotiation is always tricky, particularly as a female despite what industry you work in. For some reason we seem to have a harder time vocalizing our value and asking to be compensated for it. However, if you are passionate about what you do and you have proven your ability to do so, I believe that challenging what you are offered, within reason, is something that women should feel comfortable doing.


Stay tuned to meet more of our Five9 WiT members and to learn about Five9 career opportunities, click here.