5 Habits of Successful Women in Tech
Recently, the women of Robots & Pencils shared their advice for other women considering or working in the tech field. As we reviewed their thoughts and words of wisdom, many of the tips they offered aligned into five key themes or habits that have supported their career success.
1. Push past your nerves and doubts.
Don’t be intimidated. As long as you have the tenacity to learn, network, and advocate for yourself, you’ll thrive.
Elora Manzo, Creative Designer
Take a deep breath. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming and you will have lots of people telling you what you can and can’t do. But remember you worked to get to where you are and no one has the right to minimize that. Be proud of your accomplishments — big and small.
Lara Arandor, Director of Talent Experience
Say yes to the challenging projects. Say yes before you think you’re ready. Just dive in, go for it, and be passionate about what you do every day. Don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by others that seem more knowledgeable. Take a seat at the table and speak up.
Danica Ríos, Client Strategy Analyst
Everyone at some point in their career may experience imposter syndrome, but I promise you, you deserve a seat at the table too, so go for it!!
Brittany Peterson, Senior Product Owner
2. Find a niche that excites you.
Before you do anything, you have to understand what drives you, what you care about. The cool thing about tech is that every industry needs it in some form or other, whether it’s Education, Financial Services, Consumer Goods, you name it. Having a passion for a specific problem is the perfect entry point to a career in tech. I’m a big believer in pursuing what you love.
Jen Suehr, Senior Product Owner
If you’d like to enter into technology, there are a lot of options. There’s not one path or one degree or one bootcamp. I recommend talking to multiple people in tech from different backgrounds to see what pathway seems most accessible and exciting to you. If you’re already here, congratulations, keep going! It’s got endless potential. There are so few career paths that can wind every which way but technology is one of them; take advantage of that.
Lisa Battle, Product Owner
3. Learn to advocate for yourself.
Gender differences in communication, negotiation, and leadership are real, and as a woman in a male-dominated field, it’ll fall to you to educate your team members on what you need. Many of these differences are implicit and subconscious. That doesn’t mean they’re not real. Give yourself the space to process them, and believe in your perception. Being on the frontier is hard, so don’t make it harder by second-guessing yourself. Ask for what you need and don’t let up.
Melissa McKrell, Senior Product Owner
If you are uncomfortable advocating for yourself, find the style and thoughts that resonate with you. Find a mentor or coach to discuss the topics you want to advocate for. Don’t give up because it’s uncomfortable or hard. You don’t have to advocate for yourself in a way that goes against your grain, just find your style. Advocating isn’t confrontational, but it is about sharing your perception, your reality, and helping others to understand and learn in order to make a difference.
Ruby Ervin, Client Partner, EdTech
4. Seek or create a system of support.
Connect with other groups of other women both within and outside your company to increase your success and progress your career. Building relationships with other women and having a community to turn to for career advice and technical support will help ensure your success.
Jennifer Krout, Talent Attraction Consultant
There are so many organizations helping women and minorities get into tech. @womenintech and @latinas_tech are great resources for women and Latina women getting into the industry.
Nina-Marie Rivera, Senior Account Manager
Rather than being competitive, try to build a team. Everyone has a lot to offer and a lot to learn.
Sana Malik, iOS Developer
Place yourself in an organization that values investing in you and where you can invest in others.
JoAnn Buckman, UX Designer
5. Commit to continual learning and growth.
Building software requires a wide range of talents! Be an expert in your role — product manager, software developer, designer, etc — but also maintain curiosity about the other jobs on the team. Tech never stops changing, so you can’t stop learning. And don’t underestimate the soft skills. It sounds cliche but it is so true! Even when you are building a technical product, it’s humans doing the work.
Karin Gregory, Account Director
There will be many challenges and failures along the way. You will succeed only if you’re open to fail, willing to learn from the failures, and try again. Learn continuously, keep updated, seek help, share knowledge, support, respect, and encourage other women and other genders out there, and celebrate both successes and failures equally. Lastly, remember, people will believe in you only if you believe in yourself.
Sri Divya Kondeti, Senior Product Owner
Never stop learning. Never. You can do more than you think you can. I subscribe to the theory of knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are. Find ways to manage your weaknesses and pour all of your energy into developing your strengths. You have astronomical potential in your strengths. Your weaknesses will most likely not become a strength. Find people with strengths that are complementary to you. If your strengths are their weaknesses and vice versa, you have a working relationship made in heaven. This frees you up to learn and grow and develop your strengths to your maximum potential!
Ruby Ervin, Client Partner, EdTech
Robots & Pencils is a digital innovation firm that helps companies achieve and maintain a competitive advantage by developing new digital strategies and products for education, financial services, and retail & consumer goods. To learn more about the work we do and our expertise in strategy, design, and development, visit robotsandpencils.com.
