A. I started as a Network Engineer where women are the least represented amongst the other Computer Engineering fields: 90,6% of network engineers are male. This was not a typical office job; it required working in the field, in the system rooms and typically working in shifts. An incident response could be required at any hour, and it was a lot of accountability as I was working for a bank where we had zero tolerance for downtime. On the other hand, it was rewarding both professionally and personally. It was a fast-paced and ever-changing field, which could make it exciting and challenging at the same time.
Statistics say that 41% of women working in tech eventually end up leaving the field. I didn’t! I accepted all the challenges, and embarked on 25 years so far!
Q. Looking back on your career, what one thing would you have changed in your working environment to break the bias?
A. Looking back on my career, I have no regret about my choices by upfronting any kind of challenges which are so-called not suitable for women! It started with a job in a male-dominated field as a Network Engineer, having two kids but still working, asking for promotions when I felt the glass ceiling, enriching my career and learning with some external roles like being an angel investor.
Q. How much do you think the industry has changed since you joined?
A. For 25 years, I was one of the relentless ambassadors of diversity and inclusion for more women in tech. Things changed and we took deliberate, necessary action to create more inclusive working practices like employment, payment, and leadership gaps. The gap is not down to zero, yet; but I fought with all the hard truths of an uphill battle so far.
