Tech industry careers are getting gender neutral. So, it’s time for women to cease those self-doubting thoughts hovering around “Can I take up this assignment?” or “Am I qualified for this role or capable of moving to the next level?”
As we all know, very rarely will we just be handed with what we want. So it’s time to rethink our career goals. First of all, women should stop thinking that they are different from men at workplaces. Instead, they should start investing in their careers like men do and of course, expect the same level of success!
Only when women themselves take a gender-agnostic approach towards their careers, will the world change and make equity the norm. So go ahead and soar high. Here are a few tips on how you can empower yourself:
Invest in continued self-development. Stay updated. Expand your skill sets.
Extremely critical because technologies, markets and industries are evolving faster than light and anyone who does not act fast loses the momentum. It is always important to constantly lean out and learn more. Make time for learning and opportunities will follow.
Stay agile. Ready yourself for tomorrow. Be a door opener.
Things are rapidly changing in all fast-growing companies and so should you. It is important to be able to sense the changing business needs and adapt yourself and support your team to be in line with the change. Be a door opener and take advantage of professional workshops, conferences and networking forums. It is important to view failures and feedback as a learning experience. Women should not take it as a criticism of their gender and instead learn to build on it and focus on facing the next challenge.
Follow your passion. Enjoy your work. Be fearless.
Strolling, jogging, running and walking are different phases of a career growth. Enjoy each phase and if you have found the ‘thing’ that keeps you motivated, hang on to it. Find a personal connect with the role, product or company that you are working for. The magic happens when you have found something that you enjoy doing and success will automatically follow. Also be fearless because this industry is welcoming change and you are pivoting that change.
Give back to the community. Support. Help build a safety net for newcomers.
The joy of learning is in sharing. Share your learnings and encourage the new entrants to the industry. You have woven a fabulous safety net for yourself. Why not lend it to those who need it now? This helps build a community of confident women who will in turn support others and the cluster will just expand. Instead of ‘let them learn the hard way,’ take the approach of ‘happy to help.’
This culture of encouragement and support will cascade down the company hierarchy and benefit not just women, but the entire industry and business.
Get a mentor. Follow the leader who’s driving success for women.
Asking for help is not wrong. You will definitely need it while pursuing a career in technology. It is critical to seek out mentors who have ‘been there, done that.’ If you get a competent female mentor, it’s great, but do not overlook male professionals who will empathise with you and your career goals and help you reach where you want to be.
Stop looking at leaders as male and female. Be gender agnostic.
Looking at leaders as male or female is outdated. Leaders lead the way. They are champions and will create champions. The entire MEA region is showing the way. The UAE has consistently been promoting their women over the last five years. Statistics show more and more women are in the STEM graduate group. A recent study by UNESCO says that 57 % of STEM graduates in Arab countries are women, while in the UAE 61 % of university STEM students are female. Another study indicated that founders of 34 % of the region’s tech start-ups were women. So there’s no stopping the women in technology in the MEA region.
The lesson for 2023 is to never stop learning, be open to feedback, get dug in with something that you enjoy, champion other women as others have done for you and be fearless about learning and unlearning for career progress. In other words, push the limits and be ready for change. And, of course, enjoy your success!
Veena Satish is Vice President, People & Culture, at MoEngage.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and may not reflect the editorial policy or an official position held by TRENDS.