3 Pieces of Career Advice for Women in Tech
When I first started my career in tech, there were only two other women I knew of who also worked in the field. For as long as I can remember, being a woman in tech has meant being underrepresented, having to prove your technical chops, and dealing with implicit bias on top of self-doubt.
While I’ve had my fair share of challenges, I’ve also learned some invaluable lessons along the way that can help women navigate their own careers with grace, influence, and success. In this article, I’ll share three pieces of career advice that I wish I knew sooner as a woman working in tech. Each one of these served me as I grew from an entry-level marketer trying to claw my way toward earning recognition to serving as CEO of a rapidly-scaling, award-winning fintech company.
- Be Your Own Champion
In the mid-90s, when the Silicon Valley race to the moon began, there were even fewer women in tech than there are today. You’d be hard-pressed to name a famous female tech icon from that era. Of the few women who participated in the digital revolution, many lacked representation that could serve as inspiration. Most lacked a strong support system or cheerleaders to help propel them along their journey.
Things have certainly improved since then, with more and more women blazing trails in tech. But while there has been progress, we still lack parity in the industry. Recent reports by PwC confirm that 78% of students in STEM cannot actually name a famous woman in tech. It isn’t entirely surprising considering less than 5% of leadership positions in tech are held by women. Representation, visibility, and the opportunity to mirror or feel inspired by a remarkable woman in tech is so rare it is nearly non-existent.
The solution? Be your own champion.
As an ambitious woman looking to build a successful tech career, self-advocacy is key! There’s a lot of noise out there about how following this thing or doing that thing will make you successful, but the truth is nobody can champion your cause quite like you can.
When made part of your routine, the following tips on how to be your own champion can make a major difference in your career:
Celebrate your successes — The rush and thrill of success is often short-lived. Make a point to pause and appreciate your accomplishments — big or small — as they occur. The boost of confidence and motivation that follows will help propel you to the next level in your career!
Keep a record of your accomplishments — Document your successes and keep evidence of your work’s impact on others. This simple step is equivalent to having built-in “social proof” of your capabilities. Plus, it will help you recognize your own value and worth — and when it comes time to make the “moves” up the corporate ladder, you will have a clear list of achievements proving your worth ready to deploy when you need it most.
Network strategically — As the saying goes: “Your network determines your net worth.” The importance of networking cannot be underestimated. A strong network can open so many doors, from learning to career growth opportunities. Whether it’s through social media, industry events, or other networking opportunities, make it a priority to connect with the right people and let them know about your successes and goals. You may be the only or one of few women in a proverbial networking room — but never let that stop you.
Speak up for yourself — Women are 22% more likely to experience “imposter syndrome” in their tech/STEM careers compared to men. Resist the urge to shy away from the limelight — it can lead to missed opportunities, and that’s the last thing we need! Don’t pass up on any chance to promote yourself and be recognized for your accomplishments. If you do, you’ll risk someone else taking credit for your hard work. Today, I spend a large amount of time building up my visibility (through social media, podcast guest appearances, talks/keynotes, award ceremonies). I don’t do it to solely promote the wonderful company I serve; I do so to take up the space I wish I had done earlier in my life long before I had reached the C-suite.
Take risks — Learn how to be comfortable stepping outside your comfort zone. Take risks, be bold when you need to, and don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t always go as planned. As the saying goes: “We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails.” In a few years, the risk taken today might be the very thing that moves you from good to great.
Stay positive — A little positivity can go a long way in helping you become your own champion! When faced with adversity, use it as a lesson instead of letting it get you down. This learning mentality will help you rise above the inevitable bumps in the road that many tech careers come with.
2. Don’t Let Imposter Syndrome Hold You Back
All of us have had to deal with impostor syndrome at one time or another, and as women in tech we’re even more prone to experiencing it. Tackling impostor syndrome might seem daunting, but with a few simple self-promotion and risk-taking strategies, you’ll be well on your way to achieving success in the tech industry.
Here are five steps you can take to combat impostor syndrome and ensure you stay on track:
Acknowledge the feeling — It’s important to recognize when impostor syndrome is creeping in so that you can take action to move past it.
Challenge your thoughts — Weigh the evidence for and against the negative feelings you have about yourself. Ensure your perspective is well-balanced and consider what evidence supports a more positive view.
Talk to others — Find a mentor or someone you trust and tell them how you feel. Talking through your thoughts can help put things into perspective and remind you of your successes.
Embrace learning and growth — Don’t let your overarching perfectionism get in the way of progress! As Albert Einstein said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
Be kind to yourself — Don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t always go as planned. Instead, take a step back and remember how far you’ve come.
3. Balance Kindness with Decisiveness and the Ability to Challenge
I’ve found that one of the biggest challenges for women in tech is not a technical challenge or a self-belief challenge; it’s the ability to strike the right balance between being decisive and commanding while exuding kindness. Being seen as more of one than the other is incredibly common — and often leads to misconceptions, judgmentalism, and unconscious (or conscious) bias about how a woman leads.
Striking the balance is hard — but it can be done. It builds trust, fosters positive relationships, and creates a supportive work environment. It also demonstrates strong leadership qualities. I know this because I’ve spent years being intentional with finding this careful balance (and I still do today as CEO).
“But how do we bring that balance?” you might ask. The following five practices can help you hone your ability to be kind while also and staying strong in your convictions:
Understand the context — There’s a big difference between someone asking for help and someone demanding it! When interacting with others, it’s important to understand the context of a situation so that you can respond more effectively. For example, a kind offer of support could be more effective for someone struggling than an authoritative response. On the other hand, if someone is trying to take advantage of you, being firm and direct can set boundaries.
Practice active listening — Listening actively — with an open attitude and without judgement — can make a world of difference when we interact with others. From paying attention to asking the right follow-up questions to responding with empathy, these small steps can help strengthen relationships and workplace productivity.
Communicate clearly — When communicating with others, it’s important to be clear and direct. This will help you convey your message in a way that is both kind and decisive. Avoid using vague or ambiguous language, and use “I” statements instead of “you” statements. For example, instead of saying, “You need to do this,” say, “I think it would be helpful if we could work together to accomplish this task.” Just a slight change in words can completely change the meaning of what you’re saying.
Practice empathy — The shoes of those around us might fit differently, and it’s important to have empathy for the perspectives that others bring to the table. If you understand why someone is making a certain request or acting a certain way, you can better respond to them. However, practising empathy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t challenge people when necessary — in a kind way of course!
Set boundaries — Boundaries are key to maintaining balance and having successful relationships. Ensure your boundaries are clear and communicate them to avoid misunderstandings. Firm yet kind communication can help you get your point across without hurting the feelings of those around you.
Half of women working in tech jobs quit by the time they’ve turned 35.
There are many systemic, larger reasons why this phenomenon continues to occur — many of which won’t be resolved overnight. In the meantime, I know one thing for sure: the more we’re able to be our own champion, overcome impostor syndrome and find the right balance between decisiveness and kindness, the more we can bring our unique skill sets to impact the world around us.
In the process, you will build a successful career in tech, but you will also inspire a remarkable amount of women to follow in your path.
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Sonia Dorais is the award-winning CEO of Chaser, one of the UK’s fastest-growing FinTech companies.
