International Day of Women and Girls in Science

On February 11, the day of women and girls in science is celebrated in recognition of the key role women play in the scientific and technological community. It’s also a day to remember that it is important to support women scientists and promote women's and girls' access to education, training and research in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

We are proud to be the space where professional women are developing their careers. One of them is Melanie Lam who leads the Innovation team in Greenlight Consulting , one of our tenants. These are her advices for young woman that wants to start her career in IT:

Find mentors who you admire.

Beginning your career and then navigating as you grow older can be daunting, especially if you’re a woman in IT. Mentors can help guide and support you in achieving your aspirations. Most likely you’ll want more than one person on your team, who will provide honest feedback, root for you, and give you a broader perspective.

If you are still in school, ask your administration whether they have an alumni program and can provide help in connecting students with professionals. If you’re already working at an organization, spend some time observing leaders or more senior peers.

Is there something about them or their position or accomplishments that you admire? Were their struggles similar to yours? Do they show positivity and a growth mindset? Keep in mind that mentors don’t necessarily have to be in the same area of expertise you’re in or role you’d like to grow into. Consider soft skills you admire such as their leadership style, negotiation savviness, or the way they bring creativity and energy into the workplace.

?Whatever it is, be clear to yourself why you are seeking mentorship from this person, be clear with them about what your aspirations are and what you’d like mentorship with, and as time progresses, be mindful to show progression and appreciation. And return the favor when someone asks you for mentorship!

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Expand your network

Your professional network is a source of insights, support, and impactful connection. In the same vein as having mentors, a professional network will provide you with a support structure, however, one that is broader and requires less effort to keep relationships healthy. They can be peers, former managers, people in completely different careers. Over time this network can be key to you finding your next position.?

You can build your network by attending conferences, meetups, and professional associations in your area of interest that are available near you for in-person attendance, or virtual for a farther reach. Be curious and find out about the people you meet. What’s top of mind, what their goals are, their interests and aspirations, their dream job. Ask if they’d be open to connecting on LinkedIn.

Carve out a bit of time on a regular basis to check in with your network to see what’s top of mind for them. Exchange ideas, share articles you think they may be interested in, offer help, and consider volunteering if the right opportunity arises. You’ll get what you put in.

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Know yourself, be true to yourself and believe in yourself..

Always strive to be in a career and job that you look forward to (almost!) every day!

Some of us are lucky to know exactly who we are, what we want, and magically get it. Many of us are not. Make the effort to continuously become more aware of your own behaviours, style, strengths, motivators and values that are important to you. Be mindful of specific activities or situations that energize you, and also be mindful of what depletes you. Use a growth mindset and continuously seek feedback from people whose opinions you value in the area you are asking for feedback on. There is also a myriad of tests available online, from which you can glean patterns about yourself, if it feels right to you. My personal favourite is the CliftonStrengths assessment.

As you progress in your career, these insights will help you to make career decisions and choose a job better suited for you. Knowing your strengths and what energizes you will help you to weave into your day-to-day what will help you thrive. Knowing and staying true to your core values will allow you to recognize when they are being violated and maneuver accordingly to what “feels right”. It also becomes easier to overcome challenges as they arise, and seek out new opportunities, take risks, and believe that you will succeed using your individual style and set of strengths.

As a woman in IT, you’ll want to make sure that the organization and team have equitable practices, and speak to people who work there to hear what it’s really like. That’s table stakes. Then, it’s all up to you. The world is your oyster!