Empowering women should never be about filling quotas—it's about fostering an environment where diverse talents can thrive and innovate among equals. This was the overarching theme at our recent ‘Empowering Women in Tech’ event, held at CreateFuture's Edinburgh HQ on 10 October. A panel of female industry veterans shared their experiences and practical insights on the challenges they’ve faced,  the triumphs they’ve achieved, and their thoughts on how women can positively shape their career and the wider tech industry.

We’ve provided some key takeaways from the discussion below.

1. Navigating Career Paths and Overcoming Challenges

Our panellists opened up about their diverse career journeys, revealing a common thread: the importance of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning. Their stories underscore that there's no one-size-fits-all path to success in tech.

Emma Chee, a Principal Software Engineer at CreateFuture, shared her winding career path: "I've been in tech for around 12 plus years. I started as a UI UX designer initially, went into big product projects, and then came back into front-end development." Her journey highlights the value of diverse experiences in tech: "My track has been kind of all over the place, but I'm very much more front-end focused now. I just like user interfaces and how people actually interact with them, thinking about the user experience at all times."

Natasha Stokes, a Senior Software Engineer at Deliveroo, echoed this sentiment of non-linear progression: "I've been in the industry about eight years now, but I feel like I’ve just graduated." She explained her unexpected entry into tech: "My background was maths, and then I fell into software building, purely by chance, and found that I actually loved it."

Marina Kim, a Technical Lead at Vidatec, shared her unconventional path into the sector, highlighting that it's never too late to pivot: "I started to think about changing career having been an internal auditor for most of my career up to that point. I was already in my 30s and had no programming experience whatsoever. It just goes to show that it’s never too late to change career.” Her story underscores that career changes can lead to unexpected success in tech too.

These varied experiences highlight a crucial point: there's no 'right' way to enter or progress in tech. Whether starting in design like Emma, transitioning from mathematics like Natasha, or making a complete career change like Marina, each path brings unique perspectives and strengths to our industry.

2. Building and Leveraging Communities 

A recurring theme throughout the evening was the importance of community in supporting women in tech. Marina emphasised how joining and building communities played a crucial role in her career development.

"The impact of community involvement on my career has been enormous," she explained. "It's not just about registering on a website. It's about actively participating in events and seeking opportunities. This engagement really elevates your profile in the tech space."

Marina also highlighted the importance of creating safe spaces for women in tech: "Many women come to our community because they feel uncomfortable asking certain questions in other spaces. The events I’m involved with provide a platform where they can freely express themselves and learn."

Natasha echoed this sentiment, discussing her role in leading the Women in Tech Employee Resource Group at Deliveroo: "We're focused on building a strong community and fostering direct communication. Some of our most impactful sessions are unrecorded, creating a safe space where people feel comfortable sharing openly."

Both panellists underscored how these communities not only provide support and networking opportunities but also serve as platforms for knowledge sharing and professional growth. They stressed that active participation in these communities also significantly boosts one's career trajectory in the industry.

However, as Natasha explained: "Being part of a community isn't just about what you can gain. It's also about what you can also contribute. As you grow in your career, you have the opportunity to become a mentor and role model for others, creating a positive cycle of support and empowerment."

3. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Building Confidence

The panellists unanimously agreed that building confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome are crucial for success in tech. Natasha shared her own experience of tackling these challenges head-on.

"I had this deep worry that I wasn't technical enough," she admitted. "I think it's something that a lot of people feel, especially when aiming for senior roles."

She went on to describe how she overcame this by volunteering for a challenging workshop opportunity: "I volunteered to support a workshop on a topic I knew nothing about - I saw this as a learning opportunity for myself and as a support to my peers. Turns out the lead of the workshop had to drop out, and so I ended up picking up where they left off.  It was terrifying at first, but I decided to seize the opportunity and it massively paid off."

The experience proved transformative. "It gave me this massive confidence boost," she explained. "I realised that there's often going to be stuff you don't know technically, but if I put my mind to it, I can learn about these things and even present them to an audience."

This approach opened up new opportunities for Natasha, with higher-up stakeholders now requesting her to lead important initiatives. Her advice to others? "Say ‘yes’ to these opportunities, even if you're a little bit scared. Once you've done it, your confidence goes through the roof. It's about pushing yourself out of that comfort zone and proving to yourself that you can do it."

4. Balancing Wellbeing and Career Demands

Lillian Ho, a BIM / Digital Lead at AECOM Engineering, offered valuable insights on maintaining emotional and physical balance when facing challenges in the sector: "Exercise, honestly does me the world of good. Whatever your life is, just take your mind out of that. Whatever solution or issue I cannot solve, I go running. It's not just about it helping you to relax physically, it's also about fueling a positive mindset - making you stronger."

She also emphasised the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement: "You need to challenge yourself to be constantly learning. Having the self-discipline to do it continuously means you can build your confidence and ability in an ever-evolving sector. Aim to learn something 80 minutes per day, and then in one year, you will have 100 hours of learning and experience behind you."

The Road Ahead

As we navigate the complexities of the tech industry, the insights shared at our ‘Empowering Women in Tech’ event serve as a valuable roadmap for current and aspiring women in tech. Our panellists' experiences highlight several key takeaways:

1. There's no single path to success in tech – diverse backgrounds and experiences can be valuable assets.
2. Building and actively participating in communities is crucial for support and career growth.
3. Overcoming imposter syndrome often involves pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
4. Balancing career demands with personal well-being is essential for long-term success.

Remember, thriving in tech isn't about having all the answers—it's about asking the right questions, fostering innovation, and prioritising personal growth and wellbeing.

As we face new challenges and opportunities, let's focus on building strong, supportive communities and nurturing individual development. By doing so, we can ensure that women are well-equipped to shape the future of tech.