Navigating the Gender Gap: A Woman’s Journey into the Tech industry.
Why is there a gender gap?
In conversations with women I’ve encountered in the tech industry, a recurring theme is that the roots of the gender gap can be traced back to the educational system.
During my school years, coding was not part of the curriculum, and there was a lack of encouragement to explore it. Outside of school, boys tended to have more exposure and engagement with technology, particularly in the context of gaming. Historically, video games and computer-related activities have been marketed and perceived as more appealing to boys than girls. This early exposure can create a familiarity and comfort with technology, influencing boys to develop an interest in related fields as they grow older.
In addition to this, computer science has historically been associated with male-dominated stereotypes, with few female role models.
Consequently, most young women tend to overlook computer science as a viable career choice. This is supported by the fact many women who I have come across in the industry joined it later in their careers, as a result of exposure to technology within their roles.
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My journey into tech.
The gender imbalance in tech became evident during my university years, where only a handful of women were enrolled in my Computer Science course.
Had it not been for the guidance of my parents, I might never have considered pursuing a degree in computer science. My parents were both in tech and my mum has a degree in Computer Science. When struggling to pick a University course, they guided me towards the field, emphasising its opportunities and that it aligned with my strengths.
On reflection, my initial hesitation most definitely stemmed from a lack of exposure during my youth and the influence of inaccurate stereotypes.
I had never coded before and did not fit the tech ‘stereotype’, therefore was hesitant when looking into the course.
Despite my initial doubts, I ended up ranking among the top 10 students in my first year, showing that you do not need prior experience in order to pursue it as a degree.
Throughout my course there was a lot of support for women in tech.
- There were a number of scholarships for women I was lucky enough to benefit from.
- We had a dedicated society (Women in Tech Society), in which I later served as the Social Secretary. As part of this we actively participated in the annual ‘Lovelace Colloquium’— an all women tech event that proved both inspiring and empowering.
- We organised various events, including an ‘All Women Hackathon,’ where I witnessed women embracing coding for the first time.
I was happy to see that the tech industry was actively seeking and encouraging more women to join.
My final year project involved creating a VR tool for research into whether Virtual Reality could be used to help combat street harassment – an issue that affects mainly women, impacting their day to day life.
I was delighted to learn that the University continued the research even after my graduation. This highlighted to me early on why it is important to have women in the industry, as our unique perspectives contribute valuable insights into the diverse applications of technology.
It got me excited to see what I could bring to the industry…
My experience of the tech industry with Rob Pay.
I started working at Rob Pay during my placement year at University. Since graduating I have been back for 2 and a half years. I am currently a Software Engineer in the Front End Team.
Rob Pay was extremely supportive during my placement year, so I knew it would be a great place to kickstart my career. I get a lot of experience doing a variety of things and have more responsibility which I like. I am able to work on areas of technology I enjoy, which was why I was placed in the front-end team.
My main focus is on maintaining and improving our web products, which allow merchants to accept payments on the web. This consists of our Web SDK (Software Development Kit) and Web Payments solutions.
Working at Rob Pay has been an incredibly positive experience for me. I have received an incredible amount of support from my fellow colleagues, which has given me a lot of confidence in my capabilities and future career. Our tech team is lean but mighty, and is made up of a group of exceptionally talented professionals.
I have learnt so much from working alongside everyone within the team and continue to do so every day.
Despite being the only woman developer, Rob Pay’s commitment to diversity is evident in the workforce as a whole. On a daily basis, I collaborate with talented women from the tech team and the wider company. The company’s great culture has meant these relationships have also strengthened through work socials. These have also allowed me to get to know colleagues that I would not necessarily work with day to day, and as a result, have allowed me to understand the business from different perspectives.
Recently, Rob Pay was acquired by Fabrick, a European leader in ‘Open Finance’ and I am excited to see what new opportunities this will bring.
Outside of Rob Pay I have loved participating in Women in Tech networking events in London.
These create a space where women can:
- Connect.
- Share experiences.
- Build professional relationships.
- Highlight achievements of women in technology through guest speakers and panels.
As well as networking events, there are several non-profit organisations dedicated to closing the gender gap in the tech industry.
These include:
They work on various fronts, including education, which involves holding coding lessons to women of all ages, mentorship, networking and community building. I hope to contribute to these organisations in my career.
To summarise…
In summary, my journey into the tech industry has highlighted the gender gap’s existence but also the positive changes underway.
My experience at Rob Pay has also shown it is a space where women are welcomed and supported. Initiatives like university scholarships, networking events and Women in Tech charities prove that there is a drive to make the industry more inclusive.
It seems coding is now part of the curriculum for schools in the UK, which I hope will increase the amount of exposure girls have at an early age. This should boost the number of girls who choose this as their future career path, hopefully resulting in more female role models for future generations.
Advocating inclusivity in the tech industry is not just a matter of equality, but an essential catalyst for innovation and progress. By challenging stereotypes, embracing diverse perspectives, and fostering a supportive environment, we pave the way for ground-breaking ideas, unique solutions, and a brighter, more inclusive technological future for us all.