Pax8 Leader Encourages Women In Tech To Silence Self-Doubt, Use Their Influence

‘I want women to maximize their experiences at events. Introduce them to others, help build their confidence. Fearlessness comes from energy, your energy and the energy you give someone else. So give people the space, and the courage will follow,’ says Ola Witukiewicz, director of community engagement at Denver-based cloud marketplace Pax8.

Imposter syndrome may be loud, but Ola Witukiewicz knows women in tech can be louder if they learn to silence the noise and step boldly into their influence.

“Everyone suffers from imposter syndrome,” Witukiewicz, director of community engagement at Denver-based cloud marketplace Pax8, told CRN. “I think it’s inevitable.”

For her, the key is learning to treat self-doubt.

“It’s like background noise, you just don’t want to hear it,” she said during an interview at CRN parent The Channel Company’s Women of the Channel East conference in New York City this week. “The voice may always exist but if you silence it, it stops shaping your character.”

She also said it’s good to embrace the weight of new opportunities.

“Pressure is a privilege,” she said. “You’re in this room for a reason. Don’t let negative self-talk make decisions for you.”

And leaders in non-executive roles can influence change. She credited the leaders who elevated her voice and said she now strives to pay that forward.

“I’m surrounded by people like Eric Torres [vice president, channel and community engagement, Pax8] and Rob Rae [corporate vice president of community and partner experience, Pax8] who elevate my voice,” she said. “So I try to do the same for others. If I see someone thinking deeply in a meeting, I make space for them to speak. Helping people feel heard empowers them to step in.”

Looking ahead, she hopes her fearlessness, authenticity and purpose-driven approach will inspire the next generation of women in tech. For her, it starts with connection. Networking, she said, builds confidence, and events like Women of the Channel make that possible.

“I want women to maximize their experiences at events,” she said. “Introduce them to others, help build their confidence. Fearlessness comes from energy, your energy and the energy you give someone else. So give people the space, and the courage will follow.”