My manager was the biggest opportunity for me.
He has been my biggest cheerleader since day one and has played a huge role in helping me grow into the person I am professionally today.
At times when I’ve struggled with self-doubt or imposter syndrome, he’s always been able to coach me through it in the right way and help me see my strengths more clearly.
Having that kind of support gave me the confidence to step into an industry I’d never previously considered.
That guidance made a huge difference in those early days and helped me realise that I could carve out a place for myself here.
For me, the biggest challenge hasn’t necessarily been the industry itself, but more my own confidence.
I’m by no means an expert in every technical topic, and especially in the beginning that could feel quite intimidating. I often found myself second-guessing whether I knew enough or worrying about getting things wrong.
I’m also diagnosed with ADHD, and for me that can come with a lot of anxiety. I’m someone who will often replay conversations in my head in the evening, worrying about whether I said the right thing or whether I could have handled something better.
I wouldn’t say it’s something I’ve fully “overcome”, it’s very much an ongoing journey. But what has made the biggest difference is the support system around me.
I’m lucky to have colleagues, mentors and friends who understand those moments of self-doubt and help me keep things in perspective.
Over time I’ve learned to be kinder to myself and focus on continuous learning rather than expecting perfection.
Your unique perspective is your superpower, do not let anyone convince you to dilute it to fit a traditional mold.
Tech is ultimately about building tools for humanity, and humanity is diverse. If the people building the tools all think the same, look the same, and have the same backgrounds, the products will inherently be flawed.
My advice is to fall in love with the problem, not the technology. If you don’t know how to do something, ask. Build your network ruthlessly, find mentors who will speak your name in rooms you aren’t in yet, and remember that empathy is just as critical to innovation as any line of code.
Secondly, don’t wait until you feel fully ready before stepping forward. Growth rarely happens in comfort zones.
Technology is not just about coding; it’s about solving problems. That means there is space for many kinds of skills like creativity, empathy, strategy, storytelling, leadership. Stay curious, keep learning, and build things whenever you can. Even small projects can open doors because they demonstrate initiative and vision.
And perhaps most importantly, build community. The tech ecosystem becomes far more powerful and far more welcoming when women support, collaborate with, and amplify each other.
And I learnt this from a Women in Data (WiD) Lunch and Learn session tagged “Overcome the Constrictive Data and AI Talent Market”, stop saying you’re not technical or your skills are not technical. As long as you are able to sit in front of a computer and use that for your work and the processes involved, that’s a technical skill.