We are thrilled to bring our readers an interview with Amanda Catarzi of Inkery Co. Amanda’s story is incredibly powerful and her experiences have been and still are a driving force for her work. Inkery Co. creates copy and provides social media training for small businesses. But it’s not just a job, it’s a passion. Amanda doesn’t just want to help her clients sell products. She is dedicated to helping her clients to find their own voice in their business, and their life too.

We found Amanda to be absolutely amazing – and we think you will too!

Tell Us a Little About You

Amanda Catarzi, Inkery Co.

I was raised in a cult and I am a survivor of sex trafficking, too. I am grateful that I was able to escape that situation and because of that, I dedicated 10+ years of my life to fighting sex trafficking. My work has led me to counseling the New Zealand Government, writing federal legislation, and even as far as going undercover to bust and break up trafficking rings.

Writing has always been an outlet for me – especially when I had no voice and no say in my daily life. I am grateful to have been able to take that love for writing and turn it into a successful business. I am a seasoned copywriter and I am passionate about giving others a resonating, impactful voice.

Talk to Us About Your “Why.” What Motivated You to Start Your Business?

I was burned out from social work but really enjoyed the writing I had done for the non-profits I worked for – I loved giving others a voice. It was a natural transition for me to continue writing and helping others with their messaging.

What Is Unique About Your Style and Product Offering?

My social work background gives me the ability to get to the root of who you are, what your brand is about, and find your authentic voice. I can peel back the layers of life and clean up your message, reviving it, allowing you to connect with your audience.

What Advice Do You Have for Other Entrepreneurs?

Know your worth and stick to your guns – limit who can speak into your life. Not all coaches and influencers are interested in your personal success.

Get In Touch

Visit Amanda’s site, Inkery Co at https://www.inkeryco.com/.

IG: @amandacat

Twitter: AmandaC.

LinkedIn: Inkery Co.

Hungry for More Inspiring Stories?

Head over to our blog page and read all about the amazing businesses we have been lucky enough to highlight.

Last week, we touched on why gaining certification as a Woman-Owned Business matters. This week, we’ll add some context by looking at this in a bit more depth. How much do you know about the history of women in tech? Would it surprise you to know that the earliest coder was a mathematician named Ada Lovelace, who executed the first computer program in 1833? Or that women were responsible for programming as far back as World War II? Read on to find out more about women’s roots in the industry, where we are today, and what the future holds for women in tech.

Past

As far back as World War II, programming and coding were used to support the allied war effort – and the work was done predominantly by women. In fact, in the early 1940s, actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr created “frequency hopping,” using radio frequencies as a way of avoiding third-party jamming signals. Her invention is considered to be the precursor to Wi-Fi. Throughout the 1940s and ’50s, programming-related jobs, including punch-card operators and technicians who wrote instructions for room-sized computers, were considered secretarial. In general, men focused their efforts on hardware and women on software.

This trajectory continued through the mid-1980s until the advent of personal computers. At home, boys were more generally encouraged to foster computer skills, so that by the time they hit college, they had more confidence and experience with computers than did most girls. This early exposure, along with gender-biased treatment and promotions in larger companies, led to a steady decline of women in technology that has continued.

Present

Surprisingly, according to the New York Times, by 2010 the number of US women in technology-related fields had dropped to 17%. By contrast, in India, a country where women are faced with many additional barriers to education, including 8 p.m. curfews even in college, approximately 40% of students studying computer science are women. When interviewed, women in the US who had left the technology field cited issues such as lower pay for the same work and being left behind when promotions were available, despite being just as qualified if not more for positions. The excitement and love they had for their jobs had been squelched over the years in larger corporate environments.

Where Are We Now?

The good news? The future looks bright for women in tech. In early education, there is a greater emphasis on providing STEM-based learning to boys AND girls. Girls and boys alike are gaining early exposure to and experience with programming by playing code-based games like Osmo and Roblox. Many more student and young entrepreneur organizations are focusing on mentoring girls and young women, which can make a tremendous impact on their success in the field. Organizations such as Girls Who Code and Built by Girls offer opportunities for young women to learn the basics and beyond of programming, build confidence, and provide support for exploring technology-related questions. They focus on mentoring and empowering, helping to develop a network for girls and young women interested in entering technology-related fields.

Let Hammersmith Support Help Empower You and Your Business

At Hammersmith Support, we want to help ensure the future of technology is bright not just for women and girls, but for everyone. We believe in providing our customers with the very best service, empowering them to understand technology and supporting our community by modeling what it looks like to run a successful Woman-Owned Business.

Our core values are transparency, giving back and customer service. We want you to understand the technology you use so that you can be confident that you know how your website works and have a hand in keeping it working. To further our focus on our core values, we are offering free training sessions that include tips on how to maintain and understand your WordPress website.

Visit our Calendly link to book your free WordPress training session today!