Women in Technology

Did you always know that working in technology was what you wanted to do? How did you decide to get into the technology sector?

Throughout my growing years, my father was predisposed towards me pursuing medicine for higher studies. But as destiny would have it; things didn’t work in our favour, leading me to study computer science and enter the technology industry.

My career progression kaleidoscope spanning across 3 decades ranged from custom solution development,building applications for financial accounting,inventory, etc. initially for multifarious industries to transitioning to process management, improvement, and innovation via digital transformation. What propelled me to continue in technology was the business impact and innovation quotient that it fostered, with customer centricity at its core.

Do you notice a lack of women in technology? If so, why do you think that’s the case?

The technology industry, apropos to its name has undergone multiple innovation and transitions. Having seen the same for more than 3 decades, it can safely be said that cultures and times have changed. However, an undercurrent of apprehension in pursuing a tech career is a challenge yet to be fully won. Technology needs continuous, sustained learning and keeping pace with it is nothing short of a roller coaster ride. There may not be a drastically visible lack but yes, the steady increase in women professionals over the years is not as it should be.

What are the biggest challenges that you face as a woman in tech?

The challenges that women face are industry-agnostic. Elevation of career trajectory into mid-management and senior leadership roles demands more contribution, involvement, and focus. Even in the best of work-life harmony scenarios that an organisation offers, it indirectly leads to longer working hours and requires effective juggling between personal and professional commitments. The luxury of family time in addition to work roles is something very few women can afford.

What do you think is the best part about being a woman working in this dynamic industry?

The genetic and naturally borne instincts of organisational management, people-management, complex problem solving, and critical resolution renders women a leverage to perform well. My experience being no exception, as the same has supplemented my custom solution development experience for a flourishing sustenance in this dynamic industry.

How can we inspire women to embrace the tech industry? What can be done to get more women inclined towards the technology sector?

It’s the innate nature of human beings to demand growth through evolution. However, the process itself is challenging and demands stepping out of comfort zones, and landing into uncomfortable waters. Hence, stipulated measures such as encouragement in pursuing technology studies and certifications may help but won’t radicalise this revolution. This initiative needs to be amalgamated with the creation of platforms for collaborative and collective learning/mentoring via experience sharing by successful tech women leaders.

What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in the tech industry? What do you wish you had known while you set a foot on this journey?

For me, the constant guidance by industry mentors combined with my thought-process clarity and the right strategy definitely helped sort my priorities across my career span. The beauty of priority is that its definition invariably evolves with time. And as a woman organically becomes wiser over time, embracing this priority shift in life is a pre-requisite to keep the existential-life crisis at bay. Your career marathon is a race, in which you run as the only contestant. Relative comparison with other participants running their marathons, only creates a space for unnecessary disappointment and dissatisfaction. In the longer scheme of things, everything balances out for everyone eventually. What’s most important is self-love and unwavering conviction in your capabilities as a woman, despite testing times.

What message would you like to give to your female counterparts working in the tech industry?

I firmly believe that unwavering self-belief, eagle-eye focus, crisp strategy, unrelenting perseverance, and unilateral attention on your individualistic journey is the only secret sauce to a happy, satisfactory, and fulfilling career. Having mentors along the way acts as an effective booster in catalysing this process.