Women in Tech??Interview with Silka Patel from Leidos and Scotland Women in Technology

Striving for equality in the tech sector is central to #techUK’s mission. Throughout March, coinciding with International Women’s Day (#IWD2023 ) on 8 March, we are exploring how we embrace equitable workplaces that support #WomenInTech .??Although our campaign spotlights women in tech, we want to ensure that we are supporting allies in all shapes and forms, wherever they come from.

This article is part of a series of interviews where we give voice to these gender diversity allies to call out the bias, expose the barriers for women in tech and spotlight the importance of a diverse tech future through their own experience.

Meet our 7th interviewee of the month: Silka Patel , Social Value Manager at Leidos & Founder of Scotland Women in Technology .

??How did you get into tech? ?

The crash of the travel industry after 9/11 meant that my hopes to go into a marketing role in that sector after graduating university also came crashing down. After placing my CV online with Monster Jobs, I was surprisingly contacted by 思科 - much to my brothers amusement, was going to ‘wing-it’ in the interview. It became clear during the several interview stages with Cisco that they were looking for transferable skills and I fitted the bill. Since then, I have not looked back over the 23+ years as I continue to enjoy a career in the tech sector.?

???What opportunities did this industry open for you? And what challenges did you face? ?

As a marketing professional the tech industry really allows me to be creative. I’ve had the opportunity to bring some of my most innovative ideas to life in campaigns. For example building an entire smart city from Lego in order to showcase advancements in smart city technology. I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to learn new skills, advancing my personal and professional development for example being coached on how to present and how to keep innovating ideas flowing.?

But there has always been a challenge that’s stood out for me….often being the only women of colour in the room, be it at an event, in a meeting, in the boardroom or virtually. I often asked myself in my early career, where are all the people who are like me??

??How do you currently see equality in the tech industry? What needs to improve? And how do you think we can achieve a more diverse future in tech? ?

My drive for gender equality in the tech sector led me to be the founder and chair of Scotland Women in Technology (#SWiT ) since 2008. A not-for-profit organisation with a drive to put gender equality at the forefront of the technology ecosystem. The board of passionate volunteers do this by championing, celebrating and investing in women in tech in Scotland.?

I believe the quest for equality has been progressing over the years, however the needle is slow to move. So much more needs to be done to positively role model women in tech, showcasing the diversity of talent and the vast scope of career paths available in this industry. There are too many siloed initiatives and programmes that all have the desired impact, but would have a greater effect should better partnerships and collaborative efforts take place between academic, public, private and third sectors.?

??Why do you think it's important for more women to join the tech industry??

The business case for diversity in tech has never been greater. Innovation will only continue to grow if the diversity of thought is baked into the very beginning. Women need to be included at every level throughout the industry. It’s only when we feel a sense of belonging in an environment that is fully inclusive will you see the ripple efforts of just how impactful women can be – not only in technology but impact the entire digital economy.??

??How much do you think the industry has changed since you joined? ?

It frustrates me when I see the same statistics being called up on slides time and time again on the number of women in tech, or women in technical roles – this really hasn’t changed much over the last two decades. Instead, I much prefer being at events and workshops that are addressing the ‘how to fix’ challenge, where industries are coming together to share best practises and lessons learnt so that we can all move the gender needle together. I am starting to see more of this take place, but not enough to make the kind of improvements we need to see in tech just now.?

???Do you think enough is done to help women get into the tech industry? How are you and your team being an ally? ?

As the chair of the Leidos UK Women’s Network, the team pull together an annual programme of activities aimed at not only supporting the women in our business but also partnering with our clients women’s networks in order to share industry best practises and leverage shared resources. These sessions are well attended and over the years I’m seeing more and more male allies joining the conversation, really supporting the advancements of women in technology. We need more of these male allies, as they are often our leaders, managers, mentors, coaches and sponsors…without their allyship we are preaching to the converted.?

With my Scotland Women in Technology hat on, the board last year launched a specific programme in partnership between Cisco and Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), ‘Women Do Cyber’ - an industry-led programme to upskill and reskill women to progress into entry level cyber security positions, including accessing pathway to Graduate Apprenticeships in Cyber. The Cisco networking academy course was delivered by GCU with an all-female academic staff team. With SWiT supporting participants through mentoring, employability and networking opportunities. Following the success of cohort 1, the second cohort will be launching in May this year.?

It’s programmes like this that are designed by women for women that will support the retention and upskilling of women in technology.?

??What’s your no 1 piece of advice for the future generations entering tech? ?

Please do not rule yourself out of any tech career path. There is so much variety in this sector and so many organisations willing to support your career development. Surround yourself with good mentors and allies, and continue to develop your knowledge in areas of interest – you have what it takes to be successful.?

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