Why Rochelle Sonnenberg Built a Space Where Women in Tech Can Finally Exhale

When Rochelle Sonnenberg founded Her Tech, she wasn’t interested in building just another networking community for women in tech. After years of navigating male-dominated rooms, Rochelle saw firsthand how many women in the tech industry carried emotional armor just to get through the workday—constantly performing confidence, suppressing vulnerability, and trying to prove they belonged. She dreamed of building a space where women could finally set some of that weight down.

That vision became Her Tech: a woman-centered community rooted in honest connection, confidence, and belonging. At its core, Her Tech is designed to help women feel seen, heard, understood, and genuinely supported—not just professionally, but personally, too.

But Rochelle didn’t want the community to stop at inspiration or surface-level networking. Through workshop-style experiences focused on emotional regulation, communication, leadership, and navigating difficult conversations, Her Tech creates opportunities for women to practice these skills in real time alongside one another. The goal is simple but powerful: to help women return to their workplaces feeling more grounded, connected, and equipped to thrive in the tech industry on their own terms.

Read on to learn more about Rochelle’s vision for Her Tech and the importance of creating spaces where women can show up fully as themselves.

In what ways have your upbringing or past experiences contributed to how you operate as a leader?

I’ve always been a natural community builder. Even early in my career in financial services, I found myself bringing clients together so they could build relationships with each other, not just with the company. Connecting people comes naturally to me because I love introducing folks who can benefit from each other’s experience or expertise. As a leader, I pay attention to people, I look for what they need, and I create spaces where they can grow together.

What were the most difficult and most impactful lessons you’ve learned since starting and running a company?

I’ve had to learn to trust myself. Everyone has an opinion, and when you’re building something, the noise gets loud. Early on, I took every piece of feedback to heart, even when it didn’t align with my vision. I remember getting conflicting advice about how “professional” Her Tech should look, and for a moment I almost reshaped it into something that didn’t feel like me. That experience taught me to pause, check in with my gut, and choose what actually serves the work.

Now I take feedback the way the book Thank You for Your Feedback suggests: keep what’s useful and leave the rest. That shift has made me a more grounded, confident leader—one who listens but doesn’t lose herself in the process.

How do you celebrate successes along the way?

Most of life is the process and the result is only a moment, so celebrating is important! I celebrate by slowing down long enough to actually acknowledge what I’ve accomplished. I look at the facts, the feedback, and the impact, because it’s easy for me to slip into self‑critique. Seeing the reality in front of me—the messages, the outcomes, the way people respond—helps me recognize that the success is real and worth honoring.

Has your definition of success evolved throughout your journey as a founder?

In the beginning, I was focused on the vanity metrics, wanting Her Tech to become the biggest, most impressive women‑in‑tech community. But over time, I realized that size isn’t what makes a community meaningful. What matters most to me now is the impact: seeing members shift their self‑talk, open up, feel supported, and leave an event more confident than when they walked in. Success, for me, is creating experiences that genuinely change people, even in small ways. Watching that transformation happen in real time feels far more rewarding than any number ever could.

How would you describe the journey you’ve had in a few sentences. And would you do it all over again?

My journey has had its ups and downs, but the biggest lesson has been learning to be kind to myself along the way. I’ve had to accept that I won’t always have the answers right away and that it’s okay to figure things out as I go. Even with the challenges, I would absolutely do it all over again. Every step has taught me something about who I am, how I lead, and what really matters to me.

What’s next for you and your career?

Her Tech Community is growing into a full membership experience. The workshops have shown me how much women in tech crave real connection, professional leadership skills, and a space that feels genuinely supportive. The membership will deepen that with more consistent touchpoints, more growth opportunities, and a community that supports women not just at events, but throughout their careers.