Tell us about your journey in tech. How did you get started, and what motivated you to pursue a career in tech?
Like so many women I didn’t intentionally set out to pursue a career in technology. At school I studied A Level computing but like everyone in my year group I failed, as we had a Maths teacher trying to teach computing for the first time. After which I didn’t give it a second thought. I had an opportunity to go to University, which I jumped at because I was the first girl in the family with this chance and all other options didn’t seem appealing at the time.
My approach to Uni was to do a generic Business degree and then focus in on what I was good at, which happened to be numbers and problem-solving. Once I’d finished Uni, with the advice of a lecture, I pursued a career as an Accountant, which has been my profession for so many years.
If I now fast forward over a decade after leaving university I got my first real taste of change and transformation projects. I thrived on the knowledge of making suggestions to improve the existing process and tools, to improve efficiency and accuracy of reporting.
Over the years I’ve done everything from Business Analysis, to Test Management, Project Management to Program Governance. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to grow my skillset and learn.
Now that I am in these surroundings where technology is everywhere I turn, I’m excited. As I was when I first moved from Construction to Financial Services. I have always loved how Financial Services as a sector is unpredictable, there are so many external factors effecting the business which always translated to different reporting variances and stories to explain. In the technology sector I find this parallel of constant evolution; be it cloud, cyber or AI all very topical currently. I love the pace and I get great pleasure from problem solving and providing end users solutions.
Share a pivotal moment or project that contributed to your success in the tech industry?
I recall being promoted to VP, some 7/8 years ago and one of the Programme Directors at the time, had been trying to get me to move across into technology change. It was someone who I’d worked with for years on various Programmes but had always been in different functional teams. I eventually moved as a Project Manager as he was leading the Structural Reform Programme for Group Finance. This was where the UK banks were instructed by the regulator to separate their UK business from their Investment Bank. It was the biggest Regulatory investment at the time.
Once I moved teams, the Programme Director had a rethink about this team and said actually I want you to be the Programme Test Lead across Financial and Prudential Reporting, you’ll cover the end to end from SAP into Hyperion and Axiom onto the Regulators for the entire Balance Sheet and Income Statement prospective. I was completely taken aback. I’d never co-ordinated such a large scale delivery. He’d thrown me in at the deep end of the pool with arm bands. I learnt so much about the different types of testing, limitations, costs, resources, environments & data preparation. It truly was an experience and I was so proud of the outcome. I thank the amazing Programme Director at the time for his sponsorship, support and belief in me.
Have you had any mentors who significantly influenced your career? How did they support your growth?
I’ve had various mentors during the past 10 years, I found them a great source of information and support when navigating your next career move. My most influential mentor has to be previous line managers who I informally caught up with on a regular basis. He’d been my line manager 10 years ago and supported me through my AVP to VP promotion. And more recently sponsored my promotion for VP to Director.
I have always respected his honesty and leadership. I am very grateful for the doors he has opened and for his advocacy.
“Find your tribe – the women and male allies that support you, encourage you and pick up you when you need it.”
How do you actively network within the tech community? Any tips for others seeking to build meaningful professional relationships?
My current circumstances have meant I’ve needed to network more proactively than ever before. Although I would say I’m an extrovert Networking doesn’t seem to come easy. Plus when I’ve had career breaks to have children, going out and networking hasn’t been a priority or feasible.
There is also a distinction in the target audience for a networking event. There appears to a lot in the early careers or junior career stage events, however at the senior career stage there appears to be an element of being invited to events, and it’s very much feels like an inner circle. This is very true in the traditional corporate setting too.
If are going to networking events and you really feel uncomfortable, invite a friend along. Give yourself a challenge to speak to 3 / 5 / 7 new people and 3 /5 / 7 you’ve previously meet. Once you’ve attend a few of these events you will start seeing familiar faces.
Another good tips following a networking event is to reach out to someone, via LinkedIn that inspired you or you want to continue the conversation with. Always strike whilst the irons hot and don’t forget your QR code to make new connections via LinkedIn easier.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in tech, and how did you overcome them?
Self-doubt and imposter syndrome – as I didn’t follow what I would say is a traditional career in technology, either via a data science or coding route. I often doubt my own ability. I something have to remind myself what I can do and what I’m good at, along with how these skill are needed in the tech sector.
Don’t get me wrong there is still opportunity for growth and I want to continue this, but you have to be a strong believer in your own ability.
I have a six year old son, and his level of self believe is amazing, from cycling to swimming, there is nothing that boy can’t do. And as adult we need to have that same self-belief in ourselves. And where we don’t have all the skills, learn them! what’s stop us?
Who are some other women in tech that you admire or have inspired you, and why?
This is a really tough question for me and something I’ve thought very hard about for future generations too. If I look around in the technology sector, visibility of South Asian Women, seems to few and far, and even more so if you’re neurodiverse. I struggle to see women like me.
That said I have great admiration for Rav Bumbra, Suneeta Khutan, Vanessa Vallely, to name a few of my hero’s that have advocated and supported me over the past few years. They have been very influential in the opportunities that I’ve had and I was honoured to receive a Rising Star Award in 2023.
As a woman in tech, what changes or improvements would you like to see in the industry?
True representation and support for women who work in the technology sector and those entering. It’s not just about mentoring and training but true sponsorship and allyship. My career spans two decades and I’m fairly certain I have another two decades to go, but sponsorship of talent is hit and miss in many organisations. Sponsor has a profound impact on accelerating and elevating a women’s career and opportunities they are considered for.
How can companies and leaders foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in tech?
DE&I needs to be a part of everyone’s job, not have a separate team or person, we all need to think outside the box to build a work force for the future that is truly diverse and include a cross section of sociality and class. Without representation we will continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.
What are your top 3 pieces of advice for women striving to succeed in the tech industry?
