Rising to the Top As a Woman in Tech

Continuing my theme of giving back to the world, today, I want to focus on lessons I have learnt from growing in the tech industry as a woman. Today, I will touch on a few things I have learnt. I hope my fellow women tech blazers will find these valuable.?

I started my journey right at the base of a career trajectory. I, like many of you, faced numerous gender biases, barriers to growth, lack of new opportunities and sexism. The only thing I did was not take these personally and kept pushing on. I also had outstanding mentorship and coaching, which helped me cope and make the right decisions.?

I realized that this was not all about my success; it was about me leaving lessons that other women can consider, one that inspires you also to keep moving.

Every aspiring person should know that the tech industry is not limited by gender but rather fuelled by your passion to grow and the skills you bring. My growth began when I decided that giving up or accepting the status quo was not an option. I invested in myself instead and focussed on developing my skills and attitude to handle these situations. Did I have doubts? Yes, I did. But then, my apprehensions of not being cut out for leadership were quelled by the realization that my journey was distinct, and I alone was responsible for my success or failure.

Here are a few things I learned and stand by today,

Embrace your individuality!

You are you; you have something that makes you unique and special. Find it, embrace it, believe in it, and stand by it 100%. You may have a unique way in which you handle situations and challenges. When you find what makes you unique and put your energies into making these shine, the world sees it. They recognize you for what you bring uniquely to a company or team. This becomes your signature to growth. Never compromise in trying to be something or do something that does not have your signature individuality.?

Learn, unlearn, and relearn.

I cannot emphasize this enough. To grow from an entry-level role to becoming a leader requires perpetual learning, unlearning and adaptation.?

While embarking on my tech journey, I realized that learning never ends, as I was in an ever-evolving landscape. There were always new ways of doing things, new technologies to learn, new strategies to adopt to solve complex problems. The learning helped me broaden my experience and skills.

Also, could you quickly look over things you also need to unlearn, which varies from organization to organization, from industries and sectors? The faster you realize what you should unlearn, the more you learn new things. Take leadership courses, gain financial and business knowledge, manage budgets and people, and always keep learning to negotiate.

Be empathetic and collaborative.?

Put yourself in the shoes of your customers and colleagues. Only then would you know what they need and how to engage and develop a great product.

A collaborative approach fosters a diverse, inclusive work environment, sparking creativity and innovation. Tech industries know that women help enhance the quality of tech solutions by building supportive, solid teams and the attention they pay to every detail.

Look at your current style of working and ask the question, "Do I listen enough and humbly to my customers and my colleagues?" "Am I hence creating a collaborative structure around me?"

Don't accept mediocrity; dream big. Aim high, not just high, but exceedingly high while at it. Focus on areas you are passionate and proficient in so you won't need to search for reasons to love what you do. Remember your unique skill.?

I want you to be an effective communicator.

Strive to be authentic in your relationships with your clients and colleagues. Only budge at everyone's request if you see a good reason. Be clear in your affirmations; let 'no' mean 'no' and 'yes' means 'yes'. Don't worry about being called bossy; remember, your goal is to keep moving forward by being empathetic and collaborative while being confident. Also, be your marketer and advocate for yourself.

Also, like many other industries, tech is not without its biases and stereotypes. In fact, as per a report from TrustRadius, 39% of women in the tech industry mentioned gender bias as a hindrance to growth. And this has not changed yet; I still hear male leaders calling firm women employees entitled. But my learning is, don't take it personally; they are showing their insecurities. You have just one job; keep going.?

I have encountered my fair share of gender biases, too. But I was not deterred by it. I persevered and soared.?

Advocate for other women in tech?

There's nothing more encouraging than having someone who's got your back. If you see another aspirant struggling, raise your hand and pull them up. While moving higher up in your career, your focus and determination also require supporting your fellow women. If we can pass on our learnings and help another, then as a community, we are rising higher.?

You can just strike a balance between your professional and personal life.

There is nothing more important than your health and personal well-being. While navigating your path to leadership, please do well to take care of your well-being, as you must stay mentally and physically fit to rise.?

Burnouts are a wake-up call that you have pushed too hard. Include your hobbies and self-care in your routine and calendar it. Do things you like, and spend quality time with your family. Your professional growth should not compromise your personal life.

?Summing up

1. Be unique! Be true to yourself; be authentic!
2. Be empathetic and collaborative in your approach.?
3. Be clear in your communication, own it and be confident!
4. Don't climb up alone; support others in your journey up. You can take people with you.
5. Prioritize yourself; you give your best when you are nourished and rested physically and mentally.

?I hope today's article helped some of you, and I would love to hear about the lessons you want to give to young women(and men) as they climb up the career ladder.

I am eagerly looking forward to hearing your story!

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