We interviewed Katie Nykanen, CTO at Adstream on her experience and thoughts on women in tech.
- What does your job role involve?
I manage a large Tech team of developers building applications to help clients in the media industry. We work with big movie studios managing trailers for their movie launches, global brands across all industries and the majority of the worlds advertising agencies and media owners
- What made you choose a career in technology?
I did a work placement as an administrator in an IT department and just got caught up in understanding how the technology worked so from there I moved into business analysis and then project leading and management and worked my way up from there.
- Did you study an IT or technology related subject at A-Level or University?
No, I did general business studies and focused on foreign languages!
- Did you get any work experience in IT or technology before this role?
Not until my work placement, no.
- Do you think there is a lack of females in the IT and tech sector?
Its definitely not equal between men and women but I do see quite a few women in certain roles but there is a huge shortage in more technical roles like developers, architects, developers and devops.
- Do you find there is a stereotype that a career in IT or technology is just for men?
Yes especially in deeply technical roles but there is no reason why women cant or shouldn’t do those roles. Look at the recent films about how much women did back in the early days of technology like Hidden Figures, women have been doing these perceived ‘male techy roles’ for years!
- What would entice women to study technology related courses?
More promotion about the types of roles available, its not all sitting quietly writing code and a boys club and its not boring! There are great careers available and tech companies are a lot of fun to work for!
- Are there barriers when it comes to women getting into tech?
Not as far as I am concerned and I don’t think people would actively not hire women, there are just far few around applying for the roles we advertise.
- How could we encourage more women to start a career in tech?
I am going to be spending time at an event with some school girls in a few weeks talking about careers in Tech and I think we have to do more of this sort of thing, give girls the opportunity to understand what its about.
- What advice would you give young women today at the start of their career?
Technology is the future….. why would you want to be anywhere else….???
