Critical Careers - Women Building Careers in Digital Infrastructure - Book - Page 63
“You do not need to have all the answers from the start.
If you are willing to learn and put yourself in those
situations, your con昀椀dence will grow over time.”
Do you feel a sense of responsibility to help
create opportunities or visibility for other
women coming into the industry?
Yes, and for me that has mainly come through volunteering, as well as
being more open about my own journey.
I am involved with Inspiring the Future, which connects professionals with
schools to provide careers advice. I have taken part in sessions where
you speak to students and try to explain what the industry is and what
opportunities exist. One of the biggest challenges is that most of them
have never heard of data centres, so you have to make it relatable. I usually
explain it in terms of things they already understand, like social media or
photos, and how that data has to be stored somewhere. That tends to
make it click.
If you could give advice to
someone who is 昀椀ve or ten
years behind you in their
career, what would you tell
them to focus on now?
Experiences like that really highlight how much more awareness is needed.
There are so many opportunities in this industry, but people are not being
exposed to them early enough.
Be con昀椀dent and ask questions. Earlier in
my career, I would often sit in meetings
and pretend I understood what was being
discussed, then try to work it out afterwards.
It is not the most effective way to learn.
Alongside that, I think there is an important role in simply being visible
and sharing how non-linear a career path into this industry can be. My own
route was not traditional, and I think that helps people see that there is not
just one way in.
Now, I am much more comfortable saying when
I do not understand something. In most cases,
other people in the room are thinking the
same thing.
As I progress, I would like to build on that in a more structured way,
particularly through mentoring and supporting early career professionals.
Even small things, like explaining how roles 昀椀t together or how different
teams operate, can make a real difference in helping someone 昀椀nd their
place in the industry.
I would also say it is important to understand
why you are being asked to do something, not
just complete the task. When you understand
the purpose, you can often 昀椀nd a better or more
ef昀椀cient way to approach it.
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