We recently connected with Carol Shih and have shared our conversation below.

Carol, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Qode Space stands out as a web development agency led by women and minorities, focusing on e-commerce expertise while nurturing emerging talent. Our vision is to serve as an incubator for minority and female developers, ultimately uplifting eCom businesses. We include junior developers and junior project managers in all projects, so they gain valuable experiences, which they then contribute to community initiatives, all at affordable rates. This approach not only propels e-commerce growth but also equips our team members with versatile expertise.

Qode Space is a company that’s committed to balancing the tech field with more women in leadership roles and elevating minorities who have been underestimated and overlooked due to systematic injustice in education and the workplace. We’re also committed to supporting other minority and female-owned businesses. We believe that by working together we can create a more inclusive and equitable tech industry.

In addition to “Being Purposeful” in who we work with and what we do, I built Qode Space with “Quality” and “Community” as our core values. I want to use my voice, my network, and my experiences to empower other women and minority leaders to achieve their dreams.

Carol, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Carol, a Taiwanese-Australian professional who relocated to Los Angeles at the age of 19 in pursuit of enhanced career prospects. My journey in the tech industry started as a customer service representative at a digital fashion eCommerce agency, where I steadily progressed to the role of an Account Director. During my tenure, I gained comprehensive insights into the entire eCommerce workflow for renowned fashion brands – from overseeing photo studio shoots and post-production to warehouse fulfillment and marketing channel management. My responsibilities extended to serving as a business analyst for each brand, affording me a holistic understanding of how front-end and back-end development intricately connect.

After dedicating over 6 years to this role, I became acutely aware of the challenges faced by minority women in the tech sector, including discrimination and harassment. I quickly recognized the disparities in both recognition and rewards for minorities and females, which fueled my determination to initiate change. In 2018, I co-founded Qode Space with the vision of being a catalyst for positive transformation.

The eCom and tech industry is a highly male-dominated industry and catered to larger companies and budgets. It can be difficult for small businesses, particularly those minority and female led, to find an agency that understands their needs, operates transparently and can deliver high-quality work. Many freelancers charge extremely low rates in order to land as many projects as possible. However, this often means that they cut corners on quality, which can lead to problems for clients down the road.

At Qode Space, we believe that quality is always the best way to go (hence the Q in Qode). We use a collaborative approach to development, and we work closely with our clients to ensure that their needs are met. We also use the latest coding best practices to ensure that our websites are secure, reliable, and easy to maintain.

In addition to development, we also offer a variety of other services to help our clients succeed online. We provide website audits, analytics, A/B testing, and more. We also offer 1-on-1 support with our project managers, so that our clients can always get the help they need.

We understand that running a small business is a lot of work. That’s why we want to make it as easy as possible for our clients to succeed online. We offer affordable rates and we are always willing to work with our clients to find a solution that fits their budget.

We are a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality services. We are also committed to diversity and inclusion, and we believe that our agency can make a real difference in the lives of small business owners.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

For all founders & C-suite leaders:

1. I believe that effective leadership stems from self-awareness. Understanding one’s own strengths and weaknesses allows for a more informed approach to building a team tailored to the specific needs of the business. This involves strategically hiring individuals with seniority based on the operational requirements of the company. Put simply, if financial management isn’t your forte, invest in hiring a seasoned CFO who can adeptly handle those responsibilities. Avoid attempting to acquire this expertise yourself in an effort to save costs, as it may result in a significant loss of time and the forfeiture of valuable talent.

2. In addition to assembling the right team, it is crucial to reinforce the company’s mission and establish overarching goals for each department head. Ensuring clear communication and cascading directives down to lower management prevent conflicts, clearly outlines responsibilities and promotes independent decision-making, as everyone comprehends the objectives. A well-defined mission and clearly stated goals contribute to heightened morale and increased efficiency throughout the organization.

3. Once company and departmental goals are effectively communicated, the focus shifts to individual goals and growth plans. Cultivating a culture that embraces mistakes is a cornerstone of shaping the company’s character. Rather than solely relying on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), success is measured by how individuals navigate and learn from their mistakes, as well as how they handle their peers’ errors. Incorporating growth plans fosters self-awareness among team members, aiding management in evaluating their suitability for respective positions.

4. The cultivation of organizational culture, morale, and employee retention falls under the ongoing responsibility of Founders & Owners, requiring continuous maintenance and evaluation. Given the dynamic nature of people, technology, and our evolving world, it is imperative to establish a routine of regular check-ins with the entire team. Presence, authenticity, and genuine engagement are key – actively participating in conversations, posing insightful questions, and fostering an environment that encourages organizational improvement. Allow space for personal growth, reflection, and attentive listening, steering away from reactive responses and hasty conclusions.

Last but not least, 5. Show them the money! Don’t be the legendary Scrooge of pay raises. Your team is putting in the effort, so let’s not turn this into a sequel of “Unsolved Mysteries: The Missing Paycheck Edition.” They work hard. Make sure they get the cha-ching they deserve!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Growing up in Taiwan with a conservative upbringing, I absorbed the traditional Asian-Women values of obedience, silence, and blending into the background. Speaking up, standing out, and asserting opinions were discouraged, with the belief that hard work and resilience alone would bring recognition.

Upon graduating from college and navigating the challenges of securing work visa sponsorship in the United States, I found myself in a digital agency. Starting as a customer service representative, I adhered to the ingrained work ethic, rarely taking time off and always prioritizing work over personal life. This routine persisted for four years until I realized my life was consumed by work, leading to unhealthy habits and discovering I was the lowest-paid despite significant contributions.

The tipping point came when I found myself unconscious due to exhaustion, prompting a reassessment of my priorities. The journey toward unlearning involved standing up for myself, negotiating, understanding my true worth, and separating my values from my work. I embraced a newfound assertiveness, rejecting the role of the typical Asian girl accepting undervalued work. I demanded equal treatment, recognition, and acknowledgment of my skills, regardless of English not being my first language. The lesson learned was to prioritize self-worth over societal expectations and to redefine success on my terms.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://qodespace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karolz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shihcarol/
• Twitter: https://www.threads.net/@karolz
• Other: Asian Boss Testing Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ClickvoyantMia https://www.accessibilitychecker.org/role-model/qode-space-tech-solution-seekers-with-a-purpose/ https://gosolo.subkit.com/qode-space/ https://www.theshemark.com/post/get-to-know-qode-space

Image Credits
1. Moderating a panel at a Women-Founders event. Linkedin post here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7107809334088126464/

2. Minority Women Founders of Qode Space: Carol & Tasha (at a coffee shop in Mar Vista, Los Angeles. Discussing how to take over the world)

3. Momtrepreneur life, Tasha with two children, and Carol with one. We’re all smiling, but crying on the inside.