The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
Q: Given these favourable factors, why is women participation still low in the tech industry? RS: Well, tech is largely perceived as a man’s space. There’s also few success stories of women having made it in tech. And even if there were, we hear stories of having to overcome odds, and ongoing struggles. So is it any wonder why we have few women in tech? The day when we can say it’s a level playing field, there will probably be more interest among young women to join the tech industry. But until then, corporations should support and provide equal career development opportunities for women. And men who make up the majority of the workforce should also stop stereotyping women and discredit their confidence. For example, it is not unusual to hear men identifying certain women as being too ambitious. We need to
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ask ourselves: Why is being ambitious considered a positive trait in men, but an undesirable one in women? Of course, women have a role to play too. Apart from learning to be more confident and courageous, we have to proactively match or better men’s depth of knowledge and skills. After all, we want to be recognised for being great – and not for being women. Q: What other tips do you have for women looking to join the tech industry? RS: Working in an industry with women as the minority, I’ll have to admit that I constantly feel that I have more to prove compared to my male colleagues. That’s why I have always pushed myself to take the harder jobs – the undefined and unstructured ones. What I’ve come to realise through this process is that not only do I win respect amongst both men and women when I pull
them off, but they also set me up for bigger opportunities. So my advice is to not shy away from hard work. Instead, embrace challenges as they can potentially give you leverage for personal and career development. Learning to stand your ground and make that first move is equally important. Simply by being more informed and stating your point clearly without backing off from difficult conversations is a good start. Meanwhile, being involved in networking luncheons or communities of practice is sometimes essential for career advancements and helping you to get ahead. But rather than waiting to be included, why not take that first step to reach out?
“It is my hope that disruptive forces like the COVID-19 pandemic can catalyse change and bring about a whole democratisation of opportunities for women so that we don’t have to wait 50 or 85 years – as per Accenture’s findings – for countries to become truly gender diverse.”
What are some qualities a woman tech professional needs to thrive in today’s environment?
What is an advice you have for women who are nontech native and thinking of joining the tech industry?
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What is a quote you live by?
Who inspires you professionally?
