Interview with Sarah Glova, Tech Reporter & CEO, Reify Media
In honor of Women’s History Month, we had the pleasure of speaking with Sarah Glova, a woman who is making a significant impact in the tech industry. As the CEO of Reify Media, a keynote speaker, and a writer for WRAL TechWire, Sarah has established herself as a respected voice in the tech space. During our interview, we discussed her career path, challenges she has faced as a woman founder in tech, and ways to encourage more women to pursue careers in the industry.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in the tech industry, and how did you get your start in the field?
Sarah: The pace of change! Every day, there’s something new to learn or a technology trend to follow, and as someone who loves to learn, I found that the tech industry offered endless opportunities for professional development and innovation. Getting my start in the field was a bit of a winding path. As a self-taught coder, I started by building websites for family and friends, and eventually, that led to taking on freelance projects and building up a portfolio of work. From there, I launched my own company, Reify Media, which focuses on instructional design and digital media.
Q: As a woman founder in tech, what challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
Sarah: One of the biggest challenges for me has been dealing with the constant pressure to prove myself—to prove that I’m knowledgeable enough, experienced enough, and capable enough to succeed in this field. Unfortunately, I think that’s a common experience for many women in tech. We’re often met with skepticism and doubt—Does she really know what she’s talking about? There’s a constant feeling that we have to work twice as hard or be twice as good as our male counterparts just to earn the same level of respect and recognition. For me, this constant pressure to prove myself manifested as a fear of failure. I was always worried that I would be challenged or called out for not knowing something. But eventually, I realized that this fear was unrealistic. No one knows everything! Plus, it was draining my energy, making me second-guess myself. So I make a conscious effort to question that fear whenever it pops up. I know what I know, and if I don’t have an answer to something, that’s okay. I’m confident in my abilities and always open to learning something new.
Q: How do you think we can encourage more women to pursue careers in tech, and what can companies do to create a more inclusive and diverse culture in the industry?
Sarah: There are the obvious answers—we need to work to create more visible role models, to provide mentorship and support, and to highlight the diverse range of skills and disciplines that are essential to success in tech—not just coding and programming. But I think the most important thing is to foster a culture of inclusivity and support that enables women to feel welcome and valued in the field. Companies have a responsibility to not only hire more women and people of color but also to create a culture where everyone can thrive. This means fostering an environment that values and prioritizes inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging at all levels.
Q: What woman inspires you and why? (past or present)
Sarah: Look, I may get some eye rolls for this… but I’m so inspired by Taylor Swift. She’s a total boss in my book. I admire her for many reasons – not just for her artistry and talent, but for the way she’s taken on stereotypes and judgments throughout her career. I’m inspired by how she’s used her platform to speak out about political issues and social justice causes and how she’s stood up for herself and other artists against industry power