From Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to Elizabeth Holmes and your favourite tech vlogger, the industry has some iconic founders, frauds, and influencers. But is the free food in the office and the six-figure salaries that we often associate with tech a true reflection of what it's like to work in this field, especially for women?

As a fintech sales professional, I spend a lot of time speaking to founders and tech professionals as well as mentoring those keen to get into the industry. I have found myself thinking, is it time for a reality check? My love for working in tech has always been about working at the frontier of change and disruption. It has never really been about tech itself but about a love for solving difficult problems and using technology as the tool of choice.

To explore this question, I sat down to chat with remarkable women with diverse experiences in the UK tech scene. They shed light on the challenges and opportunities faced by women in tech and offer a glimpse into the future of the industry.

THE GLITZ VS GRIT

Building a sustainable career in tech is what we all aspire to achieve so I first spoke to Sharlene Chance, Co-Founder and Growth Marketing Lead at Pip, an AI-enabled platform for planning the perfect party. She shared wisdom about the realities of building a sustainable startup. She stressed that overnight success stories are exceptions, not the norm, and highlighted the importance of balance, networking based on genuine relationships, and aligning with a company's values. Chance believes ‘networking is king’ meaning your network will help you leapfrog in tech, because as you build authentic relationships, you will learn lots and those people will open doors for you.

Oyin Adebayo, Founder and CEO of Niyo Group, a brand that has upskilled 650 black women in tech and allowed 70% to get into tech or start their own business, also added to this by mentioning the significance of continuous learning, self-confidence, and effective self-promotion. She pointed out the lack of representation of women, especially black women, in tech. Adebayo echoes Sharlene's sentiment that women may have been misinformed about the reality of working in tech, with social media often portraying an idealised view that doesn't align with the hard work and perseverance required. Adebayo explained how great it would be to see more content that inspires women into tech but also shows the process, the how and not just the outcomes.

EMBRACING CHANGE

The pace of change, as driven by your company’s fundraising success or wider macroeconomic factors or competitors in tech, is astounding. 

Bel Merid is a Strategic Partner Manager in Lifestyle and Wellness at Meta and she advocated for aspiring tech professionals to be bold and approach their work with an eagerness to test and learn continually. As women, she encouraged us to not underestimate ourselves or our skills as ‘there’s normally always bigger salaries, stakes and impact on the table!’

Similarly, Folayemi Ojo, an IT Project Manager at Action Against Hunger UK, highlighted the personal growth and resilience she gained while transitioning into the tech space. She encouraged women not to let fear or imposter syndrome hold them back. Ojo emphasises the importance of research, learning, and practice in preparing for tech roles, especially when dealing with technical jargon. As an IT project manager managing multiple software projects, she is often working with developers and technical experts and has learnt to always ask clarifying questions and read up on issues to gain a better understanding.

Both Merid and Ojo agree that women have been told a single story about tech, often portraying it as intimidating, difficult and purely about coding and/or robots. They believe some of these myths are harmful and that working in tech can be an enriching and empowering experience.

THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP AND NETWORKING

When was the last time you dedicated time to networking? Mena Janere and Mikayla Henry underscored the importance of mentorship and networking in the tech industry. Janere, a Data and Privacy Consultant at KPMG, values the flexibility her role offers and believes that mentorship programs can help address the gender gap in tech. She also emphasised the need for perseverance, self-confidence, and learning from others.

Mikayla Henry, an Interim CEO at Hier Foods, an end-to-end procurement tool for regional food, highlights the collaborative and entrepreneurial nature of tech communities, driven by the need to solve problems. She points out the challenge of job insecurity in the tech startup space due to recent layoffs and downturns. Henry also highlighted the need for us to have even more visibility of women in tech and how you can benefit from this exposure by tapping into supportive communities.

THE DIVERSITY REALITY

Today women make up around 50% of the UK workforce. However, in tech, this percentage is halved with only 24% of roles filled by women. Janette Isiguzo, who works at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and has over 13 years of experience in tech, has found her highlight in witnessing the power of diversity and innovation in the industry. She believes ‘tech needs your brilliance’ and recognises that her unique perspective has contributed to groundbreaking solutions, emphasising the importance of diverse voices in shaping the future of tech.

Katherine Mora, Founder and Director at Amanzi.io Ltd, with over 17 years of experience, finds the variety of work in tech to be a highlight, after all, what’s better than never getting bored? She advises women to explore different roles and emphasises the importance of the team for personal growth. Mora disagrees that women have been misinformed about tech and encourages individuals to leave workplaces that limit their growth.

CREATE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES

Tech is not immune to the common workplace conundrum, that to get a job you need experience, and to get experience you need a job. However, many of the ladies I spoke to, spoke to the power of creating opportunities out of nothing, whether through volunteering their time with charity or working with a startup to build their portfolio.

Maya Caddle, who was recently Chief of Staff at an African crypto startup, emphasised the importance of proactively creating opportunities rather than waiting for them to surface. Most roles and opportunities in tech are not advertised conventionally. In fact, she pitched the idea of being Chief of Staff to her CEO who was initially hesitant and started her current side gigs in venture capital by reaching out to venture capital firms and sharing a pitch deck about what unique insights and benefits she could bring. Showcase passion, determination, and initiative and you will be surprised what doors will open for you!

Additionally, creating opportunities and impact can also be done whilst in a role. Ophélie Déjours, a Senior Specialist in Consulting & Innovation at Mastercard Data & Services, shared how the impact on our daily lives of the technologies she works on, is what drives her. However, being a woman, specifically a young woman, instils a bias in some people which has previously led to her experiencing undermining behaviour. With time and perseverance, she has been able to position herself as a voice to listen to.

THE FUTURE

In conclusion, I hope this article has given you a multifaceted view of tech beyond the surface-level glamour. While challenges persist, opportunities abound. Each of the women I spoke to were bold, audacious, and confident, attributing their time in the industry with helping develop this confidence. However, it goes without saying that we each have a crucial role in authentic portrayals of careers in tech.

The future of women in tech will surely be promising as long as we continue to break stereotypes and support each other in this exciting field.

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