Critical Careers - Women Building Careers in Digital Infrastructure - Book - Page 91
What shifts still need to happen at an
industry level to ensure long-term progress
for women in this sector?
How did that impact your desire to make a
difference for the younger women coming
into the industry after you?
I realised quite early on that I didn’t always feel comfortable walking into
rooms full of people I didn’t know. From the outside, you might think I’m very
extroverted, but I had to work on that. I read a lot, tried different techniques,
and found ways to navigate those environments. The I realised, instead of
trying to adapt to the room, what if I changed my position in it?
That’s what pushed me to get more involved. I joined initiatives like the
Women’s Tech Forum, and over time I moved into a position where I could help
shape things and create something for others.
That’s where it became really meaningful. It became about building platforms
where women could connect, ask questions, and see what’s possible. We’ve
had women come to events from outside the industry asking how they can
transition in. That’s when you realise how important visibility and access are.
On a day-to-day level, it’s often much smaller than that. It’s about noticing
potential in someone, sometimes before they see it in themselves. It might
just be a conversation, a bit of encouragement, or suggesting they step into
something they don’t yet feel ready for. I’ve seen how powerful that can be.
Sometimes all it takes is one person believing in you for you to start believing
it yourself.
For me, making a difference isn’t just about in昀氀uencing the industry at a high
level. It’s about those tangible moments where you can see the impact of what
you’ve done, whether that’s helping someone build con昀椀dence, 昀椀nd their voice,
or take a step they wouldn’t have taken otherwise.
And honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about this industry now.
There’s still work to do, but the level of support, especially among women, is
incredibly strong. It’s something I didn’t have at the beginning, and it’s exactly
what I want the next generation to experience.
One of the biggest shifts still needed is around allyship and being much
more intentional about it. This isn’t something women can solve on their
own. Men and women work in the same teams, the same companies, the
same environments, so progress has to be shared.
Sometimes that means men need to actively step in. That can look like
challenging behaviours, calling something out, or simply backing and
supporting women in the room.
What’s interesting is that many men say they care about this because
they have daughters. That’s great, but the reality is, they already had
women in their lives before that. A mother, a partner, colleagues. So the
shift now is moving from awareness to action.
For a lot of people, it’s still not obvious that these challenges exist. I’ve
had conversations with men in the industry who are genuinely surprised
that women are still having these experiences. That tells you there’s still a
gap in understanding.
So part of the shift is continuing to say it clearly and consistently. We
need allies to be active participants in change, not just supporters in
principle.
“I joined initiatives like the
Women’s Tech Forum, and over
time I moved into a position
where I could help shape things
and create something for others.”
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