Critical Careers - Women Building Careers in Digital Infrastructure - Book - Page 89
What have you learned
about recognising your
own value as your
career has progressed?
That has de昀椀nitely evolved over time.
Early in my career, I did not approach things with a strong sense of my
own value. I left school at 16, so I felt quite young in those environments,
and if I am honest, I was more focused on being given an opportunity
than on what I brought to it. I knew I had a strong work ethic, and I took
pride in that, but I did not necessarily know how to translate that into
something tangible, particularly when it came to things like salaries or
negotiation.
Over time, that has shifted. Part of that has come from experience, but
part of it has also come from being clearer on what I value more broadly.
At what point did you realise you could help
shape what the industry looks like for younger
women coming through behind you?
There hasn’t been a single moment, but more of a gradual shift. As you
progress, you become more aware that people are paying attention to your
journey. That brings a certain level of responsibility.
For me, it comes back to being open and honest. My path has not been
particularly traditional, and I think there is value in sharing that, because it
helps people see that there is not one 昀椀xed route into this industry.
I also think it is important not to project your own path onto someone else.
Everyone will value different things at different stages in their career. Some
people might be driven by progression, others by 昀氀exibility, others by the
environment they are in. It comes down to helping them think through what
matters to them, and giving them the con昀椀dence to make decisions that
align with that.
Sometimes that is through more visible platforms, but quite often it is just
through conversations, being accessible, and creating space for people to
ask questions.
For me now, recognising value is not just about salary. It is about
understanding the full picture. It is the environment you are working in,
the people around you, the opportunity to grow, and whether it aligns
with what matters to you.
That does not mean salary is not important. It absolutely is, and you
should be con昀椀dent in what you bring and what that is worth. But it is
important not to look at it in isolation.
The more clarity you have on your own values, the easier it becomes to
assess where you are being valued properly, and whether something is
the right 昀椀t for you.
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