
I see my role as thinking about the obstacles I’ve faced during my own career and doing everything I can to remove them for those who work with me, for me or those who I can positively influence.
People who know me can attest to my passion for women’s development and advancement. I believe in diverse teams, and in the potential of both men and women to succeed in the workplace if they can access the right tools and be able to develop both hard and soft skills.
But not every resource is as evident in our careers. And this means that mentoring is a practice that often is mis understated or forgotten. So, today I want to share with you my thoughts around the power of mentoring, and what that can mean for young women in STEM.
Over the years I’ve been fortunate to work for a number of companies that support women executives and inclusion and I’ve met some really exceptional women. I joined Boldyn Networks just last year as Group CIO and found that this is not an exception. We want to be the telco company where women want to work, where bold women feel nurtured and able to grow. And that’s why, last year, we set up Bold Women and Allies, a network to bring people together and to create allyship across the whole business.
As well as being involved in leading our Bold Women and Allies network, since joining Boldyn I’ve also been able to help us establish a relationship with Cajigo, an amazing organisation focused on empowering a new generation of girls and women to see their endless possibilities from a career in technology. Boldyn sponsor Cajigo’s 100 Women in Tech accelerator programme and I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at some of their events, sharing how I have navigated challenges I’ve had in my career. I’ve had two of my team mentor women on the programme. I see my role as thinking about the obstacles I’ve faced during my own career and doing everything I can to remove them for those who work with me, for me or those who I can positively influence. That’s why I like to sponsor women inside and outside of Boldyn; to have their backs and to create psychological safety for everyone.
Wearing my ‘mentor’ hat, I’ll start by saying that it is a great time to be in tech!
The good news is I see more and more young women interested in technology and engineering careers, and later on joining the workforce. The only problem is that companies are having a hard time to retain them. Statistics don’t lie:
- more than 50% of women in the technology industry are likely to quit before the age of 35
- 56% are likely to quit by mid-career
- only 18% of CIO/CTOs are women
We can look at this in two ways – woe is us, or actually let’s work to activate change! And that’s what I mean when I say it’s a great time to be in tech. I think all of us want to make sure the opportunities our kids have are equal. And I have found that there are numerous benefits to having a balance of genders in tech. Women in particular bring different perspectives to problem solving, we can improve revenue and innovation, and we can provide meaningful mentors and talent to others.
At Boldyn we’re working hard to reduce inequality within our own company and promote inclusion in the markets we serve. We have set targets for the next three years around our vision to increase inclusion, diversity, and equality across Boldyn and within our communities. I’m excited to be part of it.
Here’s what I would recommend to all Bold Women, both inside and outside of Boldyn:
- Identify your goals
- Pinpoint transferable skills
- Develop your tech skills
- Network, network, network
- Stay up to date on industry news
- Build a portfolio
- Volunteer
- Join a mentorship programme
- Consider internships or apprenticeships
- Develop soft skills
And I’d like to add a few tips learned from a wonderful colleague, Claire Venners, who recently shared her story with us at a Cajigo panel:
- Build your own support system inside and outside your job
- Be comfortable being uncomfortable
- Be you, you are the only you
- And…become a role model
In other words, don’t be afraid to be bold and innovative. And if there’s a specific skill you want to develop, find a mentor that you admire who has these skills. From business acumen to negotiation skills, to public speaking, to tech acumen, there will be a mentor out there to help guide your career.
I’m looking forward to continuing supporting women’s journeys, no matter what stage they are at their careers. To mentor women through different venues like Boldyn and Cajigo. And to growing, helping and supporting a new generation of Bold Women and Allies.
Leave a Reply