Empowering women in tech: Tips for building a successful career

The tech industry has a long-standing gender imbalance, with women significantly underrepresented. However, women can make meaningful contributions to the tech industry with their unique perspectives, ideas, and skills. Supporting and encouraging women in tech is critical for creating a more diverse and innovative workforce.

It is also essential for women to advocate for themselves and feel confident that they belong in the industry. There are several ways this can be done.

Find a mentor

Mentorship can be a valuable tool for women in tech. Finding a mentor can provide guidance, support, and encouragement, as well as an opportunity to learn from someone with experience in the field. Before seeking a mentor, define your career goals and interests within the tech industry. Consider the specific areas where you want to grow, such as programming languages, project management, or UX design. Understanding your goals will help you find a mentor who aligns with your aspirations.

Start by exploring your existing network for potential mentors. This can include colleagues, professors, industry professionals you've met at events or conferences, or alumni from your educational institution. Reach out to individuals with the experience and expertise in the areas you want and express your interest in learning from them. You’ll be surprised how willing people are to help you if you’re passionate and proactive, and have clear career goals.

Build a solid personal brand

Building a solid personal brand can help women in tech establish their credibility and increase their visibility and influence. A solid online presence, including a professional website, social media profiles, and a portfolio of work, can help showcase skills and achievements.

Begin by defining your professional identity and what sets you apart in the tech industry. Identify your unique skills, expertise, and passions. Consider your values and the impact you want to make. This self-reflection will help you shape your personal brand and determine the message you want to convey.

Seek to attend industry events, conferences, or webinars, as these make you visible among your peers and potential employers. If you feel confident enough to share experiences or knowledge after a number of years in your industry, look at opportunities that allow you to do so, through public speaking or contributing to your company newsletter or blog. Both enhance visibility and allow you to share your knowledge and perspectives with a broader audience. By actively engaging in thought leadership activities, you position yourself as an authority in your field.

Invest in continuous learning

The tech constantly evolves, so staying up-to-date with new technologies, trends, and best practices is essential. Women in tech can invest in continuous learning by attending courses, workshops, or conferences, pursuing certifications, or reading industry blogs and publications. This helps improve technical skills and demonstrates a commitment to professional development and a willingness to adapt and learn.

Various resources like Codecademy, Udacity, and Coursera offer free or low-cost courses in programming languages, web development, and other technical areas, offered by the best universities and schools in the world.

Gain practical experience

Theory is important, but practical experience is equally valuable. If you’re just starting out or looking to enter a new field, seek internships, co-op programmes, or entry-level positions that allow you to apply your skills in real-world scenarios. This hands-on experience will strengthen your technical abilities and expose you to different aspects of the tech industry.

Participating in hackathons and coding competitions can be a fun and challenging way to gain practical experience. These events typically involve working in teams to develop innovative solutions within a limited timeframe. Hackathons allow you to collaborate, think on your feet, and apply your technical skills to solve real problems. Additionally, they allow you to network with industry professionals and showcase your abilities. Also—and this is a point that so many people you don’t have to be a coding wizz to take part in a hackathon. Relevant experience, ideation and vision are among the most important skills when it comes to hackathons. Compelling solutions that exist only as concepts often win hackathons.

Showcase your work

Create a portfolio of your projects and showcase your work. A tangible representation of your skills and accomplishments can impress potential employers and demonstrate your capabilities.

Record your contributions to projects that give you visibility and credibility. If you’re a developer, for example, find open-source projects that align with your interests or expertise and actively contribute code, bug fixes, documentation, or other improvements. By showcasing your contributions to well-known projects, you demonstrate your ability to collaborate with a larger community and your commitment to advancing the field.

Leverage online coding platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket to share your code repositories and collaborate with others. These platforms provide a way to demonstrate your proficiency in version control, collaboration, and code documentation. For less directly technical roles, find online communities where you can share your work, learn from feedback and be a positive presence among your industry peers.

Take calculated risks

Taking calculated risks can help you gain new experiences and achieve your goals. This can include taking on challenging projects, pursuing new job opportunities, or advocating for yourself. It's crucial to weigh the potential risks and benefits and make informed decisions based on goals and values.

Before taking a risk, carefully evaluate the potential benefits it can bring to your career. Consider how the risk aligns with your long-term goals and aspirations. Will it provide new learning opportunities, enhance your skill set, or open doors to exciting projects or promotions? Understanding the potential benefits helps you make a more informed decision.

Believe in yourself and your capacity to handle challenges and navigate uncertain situations. Taking risks requires stepping outside your comfort zone, and having self-belief can propel you forward and increase your chances of success.

Build a robust support system

Building a solid support system can help navigate challenges and setbacks. This can include supportive colleagues, peers, friends, or family members who provide encouragement, advice, and a listening ear.

Engage with tech communities, both online and offline, that are focused on supporting and empowering women in the industry. Join forums, social media groups, or professional associations to connect with like-minded individuals. These communities offer opportunities to share experiences, exchange knowledge, and seek advice from peers who understand the challenges and triumphs of a tech career. This can build a sense of belonging and support.

However, building a support system is a two-way street. Be proactive in reaching out to others, offering your help, and providing support when needed. Actively listen to the challenges and triumphs of your colleagues, mentors, or peers, and offer encouragement and assistance whenever possible. By being an active participant in supporting others, you strengthen the bonds within your support system.

Stay adaptable and embrace change

The tech industry is known for its rapid pace of change. Stay informed about emerging technologies, programming languages, frameworks, or development and management methodologies relevant to your field.

Embracing change also means being open to new ideas and perspectives. Recognise that there are multiple ways to approach a problem or tackle a project. Actively seek out diverse viewpoints and engage in discussions with colleagues or industry professionals. By embracing different perspectives, you can gain valuable insights, challenge your own assumptions, and adapt your approach accordingly.

Embracing change is not only an individual endeavor but also a cultural one. Encourage and foster a culture of innovation within your team or organisation. Create an environment where experimentation, collaboration, and learning from failures are encouraged. This mindset promotes adaptability and allows for the exploration of new ideas and approaches. Adaptability and embracing change will ensure you remain relevant and competitive in the industry.

With more women able to advocate for themselves and feel confident in their abilities, we can all then provide more opportunities for other women entering the industry who may not feel as confident. Those already climbing the ladder can offer a helping hand down to lift other women and could even become mentors themselves. By doing this, more women will be able to feel welcome in the tech industry and, eventually, smash the glass ceiling.