- What does your job role involve?
I’m part of the Customer Success Team at Form3, which is a mixture of Sales, Relationship Management and Marketing. I’m responsible for the customer’s entire journey and relationship – from identifying them as a prospect right through to them becoming a live customer.
- What made you choose a career in technology?
As a consultant in the banking sector I got to experience first hand the pains and issues caused by financial institutions running on legacy systems (old technology). It made me want to be part of the change and the solution to an issue that in one way or another impacts every single person in the UK – Payments 😉
- Did you study an IT or technology related subject at A-Level or University?
No, my background is quite varied. I did Business Economics for my Undergraduate Degree and then a masters in Oil and Gas Trade Management.
- Did you get any work experience in IT or technology before this role?
Yes, for my first job I was part of the fintech branch of a consultancy business. This meant that all my projects in one way or the other, had some level of exposure to technology or to relevant business segments i.e implementing a fintech tool within a bank or developing the model for remediation of client data with legacy systems.
- Do you think there is a lack of females in the IT and tech sector?
Yes, I’m currently the only female out of a team of 14 – despite working closely with recruitment and HR to try and tackle this industry wide issue.
- Do you find there is a stereotype that a career in IT or technology is just for men?
Yes, but I think the issue goes beyond that. This stereotype arises from the fact that these industries have always been male dominated. Hopefully this will become less prevalent in the coming years as initiatives (such as this one) help shape and change the way these industries work.
- What would entice women to study technology related courses?
Exposure to the industry at an earlier age. More information on what kind of jobs there are within tech – before joining a tech company I had no idea of how varied it is.
- Are there barriers when it comes to women getting into tech?
Yes, like banking, it is a very male dominated and orientated industry. This impacts every part of the cycle, from it being harder for women to raise funding to start a tech company, to the process of women being hired for roles and progressing their careers in an environment where drivers and motivations differ significantly.
- How could we encourage more women to start a career in tech?
Women want to work for great women. We need to see more women in senior positions – running the business as part of the management team and board of directors. More importantly, leading in roles and sectors that aren’t already very female “orientated” i.e Operations and Marketing.
- What advice would you give young women today at the start of their career?
Take advantage of the intial years of your career to be bold and try things out – those are the years where we can and should be making mistakes that will contribute a lot to our learning and development. Find a good mentor and/or manager who will be your champion and help you sail through these obstacles.
