Katie, Principal Business Analyst and women in STEM advocate, is next up in our Women in Tech Q&A Series…
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in technology, and how has your journey led you to your current role?
Constantly seeking out the thing that I enjoy, I was incredibly motivated to get a place at university after being told it was an unlikely option for me, and was guided towards Information Systems courses by an inspirational teacher. Cardiff University enabled me to try, pick, and choose elements of a tech career that I enjoyed. My first role at a small company gave me the intense, practical experience across every aspect of the product lifecycle. Reflecting on what elements of that experience I really enjoyed, led me to Business Analysis. I adore the role as I can take my forever growing toolkit of skills and experiences into any context.
Q. Are there barriers when it comes to women getting into tech?
I believe it’s the common barrier of ‘you can’t be, what you can’t see’ which is not exclusive to women in tech. Gender stereotypes are defined between the ages of 5 and 7 years old, therefore when young women are making those first steps into the working world many have already dismissed technology as an option.
Therefore for those of us who do work in this sector we have a responsibility to educate, influence, and inspire not only the younger generation, but also those around us who can make the change at any time.
Q. How do you balance the technical aspects of your role with the need for strong communication and leadership skills in project management?
As a Business Analyst, effective and appropriate communication is the back bone of what we do. We actively listen and continually engage with a whole spectrum of stakeholders. Adjusting the language, the approach, and the presentation mechanism to ensure whoever the recipient is, they are able and empowered to challenge, contribute, and make evidence based decisions to progress the project to achieve its goals.
Q. What advice would you give to women looking to start a career in tech?
I am passionate about educating the younger generations that tech is not just for men – and encouraging women to transfer their skillsets into tech. If I could give one piece of advice to young women looking to start a career in tech, it would be, “don’t be intimidated, know your own value, and have confidence in your knowledge. Recognise the responsibility of bringing a new perspective to the table and acknowledge you will always come across challenges, but with every challenge comes an opportunity”.
You can meet Katie alongside many more of our wonderful people at the Women of Silicon Roundabout held at the ExCeL London on the 27th and 28th November. Find out more.
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