Whether it’s starting her own tech company or taking on her first tech role as a professional, a woman entering the tech industry can face unique challenges in this traditionally male-dominated field. Not being heard or taken seriously paired with a lack of other women to connect with or look up to can feed into feelings of self-doubt or encourage imposter syndrome—which can ultimately lead women to leaving tech altogether.
In order to succeed, it’s important to stay confident in yourself and your abilities. Below, several women business leaders from Young Entrepreneur Council draw on their own experiences facing adversity to share the advice they’d give to any young woman beginning her career in tech and why.
1. Know Your Value
Knowing your strengths and articulating them clearly will help you stand out and reinforce your place within the tech industry. Whether you’re a strategic thinker, a technical expert or responsible for marketing or customer experience, your role holds significance and should be valued. Don’t let self-doubt hold you back. Embrace your value and let it shine. – Amber Anderson, Tote and Pears
2. Stay Curious And Hungry
Embrace curiosity and continuous learning, as staying ahead of your competition is the key to success in tech. It’s not just about keeping up; it’s about shaping the future. Your journey is a thrilling adventure, and with each step you’re empowering yourself to make a meaningful impact. Stay curious, stay hungry and let your brilliance shine in the tech world! – Michelle Aran, Velvet Caviar
3. Remember That You Belong
My best advice as a female tech company founder and former tech employee is to remember that you belong. Whether you seek out mentors who can show you the ropes or you give yourself a regular pep talk, remember that the thing that takes women out of the tech field tends to be ourselves. If you can remember that you bring unique perspectives and skills to the table, you’ll go the distance. – Nathalie Lussier, AccessAlly
4. Find Your Community
Build a strong group of friends who are also women in tech. When I started my tech company right out of college, I sought out other female tech founders and organized casual lunches to get us together to share stories and be a support group for one another. I think having a group of peers going through similar experiences helped me tremendously in my professional journey. – Nanxi Liu, Blaze.tech
5. Turn Your ‘Weaknesses’ Into Strengths
At the beginning of my career in tech, it was mostly a male-dominated industry, and I was soft-spoken and quiet. I viewed these traits as weaknesses. However, I soon realized that my quiet nature encouraged people to open up and seek my help. Being a woman also piqued curiosity and drew more collaborators to me. With the right skill set, you can transform your “weaknesses” into strengths. – Meeky Hwang, Ndevr, Inc.
6. Put Yourself Out There
Have the courage and confidence to put yourself out there. This means applying for roles, networking and taking on challenges that may terrify you initially. Don’t be afraid of failure—instead, ask yourself: What can I learn from this experience? As a female business owner in a male-dominated industry, I can attest that having an open mind has opened many doors for me and taught me valuable lessons. – Jennifer A Barnes, Optima Office, Inc.
7. Be Open To Learning New Things
Whether you’re starting your own tech company or entering the industry as a professional, always be open to learning new things. The industry is in a constant state of flux. So, in order to keep up, you have to pick up the pace and constantly improve your skill set. That’s what I did when I joined the industry and have never stopped since. I suggest you do the same. – Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
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