Navigating Career Progression As A Woman In Tech

Even in 2023, the debate about technology workforce diversity is rather interesting. The percentage of women joining the field has definitely increased. Earlier, only a handful of women opted for jobs in the sector. Now, there is a positive change in terms of number of women entering the tech workforce. However, this scenario needs to evolve further to include more women in senior leadership roles. The good news is that we can bring this change.

Here are some tips for women to become future leaders:

Build a strong network – It is no secret that networking can open many doors for professionals in terms of building relationships to secure a dream job. Expanding your network can pave the way for new prospects, job advancement, personal development and even fresh knowledge. Networking keeps you on the radar when opportunities arise, such as job openings and increases your chances of being introduced to relevant people or receiving a referral.

Develop new skills – Digital transformation is on the rise and transforming every industry imaginable. It is enabling enterprises to cut costs while enhancing efficiency. This has made acquiring digital skills not only beneficial but also mandatory. Hence, as women in tech, we must keep ourselves updated with the latest industry skillsets to stay ahead of the curve. 

Build your personal brand – In the digital age, people’s attention spans are getting shorter. The need to make a good impression is more important than ever before. And the best way to do this is by creating a solid and memorable personal brand. By developing a personal brand, you're giving yourself a competitive advantage. In addition, a strong personal brand will enable you to demonstrate your knowledge, skillsets, and accomplishments, thereby attracting new opportunities. 

Improve your management skills – These skillsets help professionals to succeed in their professional life. These may include team management, leadership and communication. They are important for women looking to enhance their careers and a mandate for advancing into leadership roles. 

Seek mentorship – Women in leadership positions can have a positive impact on the number of young girls joining the technology industry. It is inspiring to see people you can relate with achieving their dreams and becoming successful. This motivates the young workforce to follow their passion and create a career progression roadmap for themselves. 

Being an innovative and dynamic sector, it’s important for the IT industry to create more opportunities for women to not only enter the workforce but also lead it. Further, at school and college levels, more women must be encouraged to take up STEM careers. Enterprises can look at introducing more forward-thinking policies for the upskilling and leadership training of women employees.  

Lakshmi Mittra

Guest Author The author is SVP and Head, Clover Academy