There’s space for all: advice for women entering the tech field

On International Women’s Day, six women working in technology share their advice about getting started in this highly rewarding field

In recent years, the technology industry has made an unified and concerted effort to highlight the importance of closing its gender gap and showing that there is space for women to enter the sector and have a rewarding and successful career.

What is often undermined are the ample opportunities available within the tech space. Due to the fact the industry is predominantly male, it does not mean that women are not welcome, or that an effort shouldn’t be made to enter the field - even if it doesn’t feel like you fit the stereotypical mould.

This is true of Christine Bejerasco, CTO at F-Secure who points out how her sheer determination and confidence led her to the position and role she is in today - a C-level executive at a company on the bleeding edge of cyber-security. “I knew I didn’t exactly fit the ‘typical’ CTO profile of an established 30-year-old cyber-security company, being a young, Filipina woman, but I had nothing to lose by applying for the role.

“My journey to where I am now didn’t come without its challenges and I was faced with some adversity along the way. I tackled biased salaries with male counterparts earning more despite coming from equivalent backgrounds. The perception that men are better than women in the industry was clear, but I never let this deter me - I only ever let it encourage me to demonstrate my capabilities, knowledge and experience in the industry which later saw my salary adjusted accordingly.”

Bejerasco offers a positive view of the hard work it takes to become a female tech leader, and she isn’t alone. Joani Green, Global Head of Incident Response, F-Secure says that she was accepted for a position working as an operations administrator at MWR InfoSecurity (now F-Secure Consulting), which made her work hard and progress to the position she is at now. “I got the job and worked hard at it. I signed up for a part time Bachelor of Science degree in Informatics while grinding full-time in the office. Two years down the line, I applied for the Security Consultant internship while working in my current role. That changed everything. 

“I pushed myself even harder, spending every possible moment trying to figure things out, suffering from insane imposter syndrome and dizzying anxiety, but it paid off. After the internship, I was offered a role as an associate consultant in the security consultancy at F-Secure. Today, I’m Global Head of Incident Response, leading Incident Response for the company around the globe. My confidence has grown with each new success, as has my desire to create more opportunities for members of groups that are sorely underrepresented in this industry I’ve grown to love.”

Bejerasco and Green are just a couple of inspirational female tech leaders who have paved the way for other women. However, there is a common theme among the women within the industry that we may see more female tech leaders if education about the industry started at a younger age.

Racha Abdallah, Customer Solutions Architect at EfficientIP highlights this importance: “for any girls who want to step into the security field, I always advise her to start with the foundations, from learning the language to basic networking. A fantastic foundation that promotes women in cyber-security is the Women in Cybersecurity Foundation; I always attend and join any events hosted by them as they actively encourage the participation of women in the cyber-security field.” 

This is echoed by Bar Block, Threat Intelligence Researcher at Deep Instinct  who says that “the industry can help its next generation to become more diverse by helping young girls who are interested in tech related fields to fulfil their potential. This can be done by creating tech related afternoon programs for girls, encouraging them to take part in existing programs, or even just sending women who work in the industry to lecture in schools and show them that they also have a place in this industry. 

“Those who are looking to enter the field need to know that there is a space for them - if it is something that you want to do, then do it. It may be difficult at first, but if you work hard, you will find your way in this industry and may even help in making it more accessible to other women.”

What is evident is the eagerness of those who have entered the field to have more women join, showcasing that there is in fact space for all within the industry.

Tina Gravel, SVP Channel and Alliances at Appgate says that although “the technology industry has improved in its openness to welcome women into job roles, we still have a long way to go. Instead of looking at the industry as the culprit, we must look at all institutions; schools, governments, to make sure that fairness prevails and is architected into systems and processes at all levels to really affect change […] for those women looking to enter the tech industry, please do not hesitate and come and join us! It is a wonderful time to be part of this business and we need you. I can promise that you will never be bored.” 

Similarly, for Maria Thompson Saeb, Senior Program Manager Governance, Risk, and Compliance at Illumio, the industry has endless opportunities that can offer a truly rewarding  career and provide a space that can harness the skills needed to progress to the top.

“For women who are looking to start a career in tech, my biggest piece of advice is to figure out what you enjoy the most. In technology there are so many opportunities and roles to choose from – focus on satisfying your curiosity and do what makes you happy. Once you figure out what’s most interesting and fun for you, you can start looking at the qualifications required for that role and develop the skills you need. You can also start networking and get involved with groups like Shecurity or ISACA’s women in tech network. Never underestimate the power of a strong, supportive network.”

Saeb ends on a positive note and one that all women looking to enter the technology sector should take away, “overall, technology is an exciting and rewarding space to be in. If you’re looking to start your career in tech, remember that you deserve a place in this industry as much as anyone.” 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com