Previously the Commercial Director of Lynda.com and LinkedIn, Brailsford was part of the fourth-largest acquisition in social media history when Microsoft acquired the platform in 2016 – which subsequently contributed to the creation of LinkedIn learning. 

Now, at Code First Girls, she leads a team that has taught over 150,000 women to code, partnered with over 100 universities across the UK, and worked with over 130 companies across the public sector, retail, energy, defence, and financial services – and this is just the beginning! 

Brailsford started her journey in a family-run businesses and then switched careers from law to EdTech, gravitating towards entrepreneurial roles. While at LinkedIn, she noticed (during hiring) that all tech candidates were the same (white and male), which inspired her to join Code First Girls. 

“It was important to help those who wanted to switch careers and re-skill, just as I did, and focus on building a community of women in tech and assisting their educational journey to increase the number of women in STEM careers,” notes Brailsford.

Code First Girls focuses on emerging talent or those in the middle of their careers, rather than a total focus on those at the very start of their education.

“From an organisational perspective it's hard to ignore the glass ceiling in action. It's the most difficult thing for ambitious and intelligent women that want to succeed. The quicker you identify the glass ceiling, the quicker you can move on to things that are bigger and better,” said Brailsford.

Overcoming obstacles

From an entrepreneur’s perspective, one of the biggest obstacles has been around fundraising. 

“There have been many times where I have had to accept that other people just don’t think like me – let alone look or sound like me. 

“Therefore, I’ve had to learn to acknowledge that the odds are stacked against me when raising as a woman – but I’ve never accepted the status quo. I’ve just learned to take every measured and well-timed opportunity,” she states.

If she could go back in time, one piece of advice that Brailsford would give her younger self would be to take the ‘nos’ in her stride. 

“You have to learn to embrace the ‘no’, learn to love it, and learn from it. Without failure, how can you expect to grow, to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and take risks you might not have taken before?”

Being uncomfortable is not always a bad thing, Brailsford notes. In fact, it most likely means that you’re putting yourself in a situation that you wouldn’t usually and facing new challenges that you haven’t previously. Without the risk of setbacks, there’s no space to grow. 

There have, of course, been many moments in Code First Girls’ journey that Brailsford has enjoyed, especially as she’s been able to work with a close-knit team to make real, tangible, social change. 

She’s particularly proud of the company’s social and commercial impact, as well as the vote of confidence from major figures in the tech industry, who see Code First Girls’ model as a solution to the tech gender gap. 

“Having built a unique and buzzing community of women coders, we are fast becoming one of the world’s richest sources of data for women tech talent – and that is an incredible achievement,” said Brailsford.

Closing that gender gap

The role of mentorship for women in the tech industry cannot be underestimated. In an industry dominated by men – especially at the top – women need to see people like them succeeding in the sector, to encourage and inspire them to engage in those types of roles. In fact, a lack of role models only perpetuates the perception that the industry does not provide a career path for women – a perception which Brailsford is trying hard to break. 

“It’s an old cliche but seeing truly is believing. Seeing a successful woman in the tech industry will give women the encouragement and confidence they need to take the steps towards their dream career in tech. 

“At Code First Girls, we work very closely with our 130 industry partners to ensure that mentorship is prioritised and offered to their graduates when joining their business. It’s something that we’ve seen have a positive impact on women’s onboarding experience, confidence, and progression into more senior roles.” 

A lot of the issues surrounding diversity and inclusion come down to the existing model of coding education. When looking at the UK education system, financial barriers, and failure to provide flexibility and autonomy is a significant deterrent for women looking to pursue a career in tech. This is only amplified in marginalised communities.

Through partnerships, Code First Girls is helping women to break into the industry by linking them with businesses across the UK and globally. So far, it has taught over 150,000 women to code, with 57% of those learners coming from under-represented ethnicities.

It also recently launched a new report – ‘The Power of Difference’ – which includes practical steps and solutions for how tech companies can support neurodiverse employees. With over one in four members of its coding community identifying as neurodiverse, it is supporting women with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) into the tech industry.

Brailsford’s key advice for young women and girls looking to enter the tech industry is: “Be committed to learning and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The tech industry is constantly evolving so it’s important you have a hunger to learn and an understanding that you will make mistakes along the way. It’s normal not to know everything when starting something new, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice.  

“Stay curious, have the self-confidence that your voice matters, and raise other women up. Your experience is valuable, and your opinions are appreciated. Give your achievements the visibility they deserve!”

What success looks like

Both personally and for Code First Girls, the greatest success for Brailsford would be achieving a 50/50 gender parity in the tech sector. However, this is a longer-term mission that is not going to be achieved in the next decade.

“Success for us now is as simple as helping one woman kickstart their career in an industry that was previously unattainable for them,” states Brailsford.

Getting 26,000 women into tech jobs would be a huge feat for Brailsford and her team and it’s one that they’re currently working towards – but one company cannot do this alone. Industry change and government support is needed.

“In the next five years, we’re aiming to provide one million opportunities for women to learn how to code and participate in the sector, delivering £1 billion in economic opportunities.  

“We also hope to expand our impact, as we are already doing so, to other key tech hubs across Europe and the US – taking our influence global,” concludes Brailsford.

This article originally appeared in the May/June issue of Startups Magazine. Click here to subscribe

For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.