We interviewed Kate Cornish, Backend Engineer at Engine by Starling on her experience and thoughts as a woman in tech.
1. What does your job role involve?
I’m currently a backend engineer at Engine by Starling, working on some brand new card related features. Not long ago I worked for Starling Bank itself, as a backend engineer and lead of the Onboarding and Subscriptions engineering team.
2. What made you choose a career in technology?
I always knew I’d end up in a STEM based career, having grown up in a very scientific household and enjoying science and maths more than anything else at school. Having realised that a career in scientific research was going to be a lot more dull than I imagined, I started teaching myself to code towards the end of my degree. I was honestly obsessed from the offset – I was spending so much of my free time working on little personal projects, I could barely believe people got paid to do it!
3. Did you study an IT or technology related subject at GCSE, A-Level or University?
No – I didn’t even consider it as an option to be honest. I studied all sciences and maths at A-Level and then went on to study Chemistry at University.
4. Did you get any work experience in IT or technology before this role?
Prior to this role I worked at a tech consultancy, and prior to that I did a Software Engineering bootcamp with Makers Academy.
5. Do you think there is a lack of females in the IT and tech sector?
Definitely. There won’t be enough females in the tech sector until the number is representative of the broader population. Women use the products that are being developed as much as men do, so we should be having an equal influence in how these products are designed and developed. A more diverse workforce leads to more innovation and thus better outcomes in the long run – it’s win-win!
6. Do you find there is a stereotype that a career in IT or technology is just for men?
Sadly I think there is – people are often rather surprised when I tell them what I do. I’m hopeful that this stereotype will change as time goes on.
7. What would entice women to study technology related courses?
I really think giving young girls more exposure to technology and how fulfilling and fun it can be is the key thing here. I have no doubt that if my IT lessons actually included a bit of coding then I would have considered pursuing computer science at university – creating power points and spreadsheets just wasn’t that interesting!
8. Are there barriers when it comes to women getting into tech?
I think there are a number of barriers that exist. I believe that navigating an environment where the majority of your peers are different to you can make you more susceptible to imposter syndrome and thinking that you don’t belong as much as your male counterparts do. This can stop women from even applying for roles in the first place – I’ve read previously that in general women won’t apply for a role unless they feel they meet 100% of the requirements, men are happy to apply if they feel they meet 60% of them!
9. How could we encourage more women to start a career in tech?
As well as introducing young girls to the fun bits of tech at a younger age, I think having more visible female role models and mentors in tech careers would go a long way.
10. What advice would you give to young women at the start of their career?
Don’t downplay your achievements – be proud of them and don’t be afraid to talk about your successes. Also, don’t be afraid to fail! Failure is essential to learning, it means you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and doing things. The more willing you are to fail the faster you’ll grow.
