So this happened on Wednesday… Delivered a solo keynote talk on Transforming Tech Careers at J.P. Morgan in Blackfriars for the Black Tech Achievement Awards Finalists networking event they were headline sponsoring. The room was packed with key leaders and employees from J.P. Morgan and other organisations so as a women in tech keynote speaker it was the ideal opportunity to highlight this problem…

that there is a serious problem in tech…

That out of 3 million tech professionals in the UK, only 26% are women, and to my shock and disbelief the lowest representation of underrepresented groups are black women at 0.7%…

0.7% ya know. The stats are ridiculous.

Seems crazy when women are heavy consumers of digital products and 79% of in-app purchasing decisions are made by women… you’d think they’d want to have more of us involved in the design, development and delivery of digital products to make sure needs of diverse customer user base are met.

After debating with many people over the years about why women in general, and especially black women, are so underrepresented in tech, during the talk I highlighted a number of viewpoints from these debates (the attitudes on women in tech from individuals and senior leaders at organisations), and highlighted what I’ve uncovered and experienced during my own tech career journey, and how I’ve helped women build inner confidence to make a career change into tech or progress their existing career in tech through my tech career coaching company Techfidence.

It was important to highlight my own struggles with getting people at organisations to take me seriously as a software developer since it was a regularly held shock view that a black woman could possibly be interested in tech and actually made a success of achieving her goal. Also highlighted my first key project at the start of my career and the most recent project when I decided to pivot my career into the Mobile space as a senior Android Developer then transitioning into leadership of the same development team. A rollercoaster of a journey.

Great to share a real example of one of my coaching clients who transition from Teacher to Associate Solutions Architect within 5 months of completing my coaching programme, achieving her dream job and role that matches her personality, values and desired lifestyle.

Shared some strategies for those transitioning into tech or wanting to progress their career, and ended with a bit of advice.

The talk was well received and resonated with a lot of people and inspired a lot of further deeper conversation about the issues of lack of women in tech and what can be done about it.

Really enjoyed the event and enjoyed delivering the talk as a women in tech keynote speaker. It was great to chat to many key leaders at J.P. Morgan after the talk, and meet some of the other BTA Awards finalists.

If your organisation needs a women in tech keynote speaker to inspire your employees or audience direct message me about public speaking services.

#keynotespeaker

#womenintech

#diversityintech

#careercoachingforwoman

#speaker

#techcareercoaching

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Inspired by a recent post by Yemurai R on Career Disappointment due to following the career path of someone else and quitting when it doesn’t go to plan in the shortest timescale possible, I felt strongly to put my two cents in. Yem told no lies in her post and she was right to address the issue. So many people have unrealistic expectations of a career change into tech based on the recent ‘social media hype’ of the ‘break into tech within X months’ movement, and then feel like a failure when it doesn’t happen as they thought it would and give up quick.

However, I don’t think its the ‘hype’ alone that has led people to set these unrealistic expectations of being able to announce they broke into tech in X short months. I think a lot of it is also to do with people not willing to do the other important work that’s needed to lay strong foundations before you commit to this roller coaster of a journey to transition into tech…

The inner work

Whose goal is it anyway?

Is it YOUR tech career goal to be in X role in Y area in tech, or someone close to you said it was a cool role, or an influencer on said platform hyped up the role so it must fit you too? Taking the time to get clarity on your goals will set you up for a smoother journey from the outset and ensure you will be investing all this time into pursuing a role that actually matched your values and personality, etc, for the RIGHT reasons.

What’s holding you back?

Why haven’t you achieved goal this before? This requires a lot of self reflection and digging into the past, present and the future, that a lot of people are just not willing to go there because it’s uncomfortable. I remember getting cussed once by a client who came to me for coaching help, but initially refused to look into the past, and sure as hell didn’t want to face what was really holding them back. My response was how do you expect to move forward and create a career and life of your dreams, if you’re not willing to explore and identify what causing your limiting beliefs and sabotaging up your progress. The answer is already inside you, you just need to be willing to invest the time to uncover it to move forward with your goals with full intention and freedom from the mental hold.

Have you set a realistic deadline for success?

The keyword here is ‘realistic’. When I ask some people what they tried and how long for before they concluded it hasn’t worked out, i’m sometimes sat scratching my head like who in the world told you that was a realistic target. Don’t get me wrong some people have been successful in a quick period, but not everyone’s journey is the same and not everyone has the same time and resources to throw at this journey so everyone’s results will be different and its not realistic to set your career goal and timeline based on someone else’s journey.

When I reel off a list of things to find out:

– what they’ve actually tried to achieve the goal

– have they asked anyone in that area of tech they want to get into for feedback

– have they networked with people in the area they wanted

– have they used the ‘gold mind’ that is LinkedIn effectively to help them make meaningful connections,

– have they posted about what they want and declared in public what they are looking

– have they regularly been a bit vulnerable and showcased stuff

the answer is usually ‘no’ to some or most of those points… and I’m sat there sometimes scratching my head about how they expected to achieve their goals in the timeframe they put pressure on themselves to because they’ve not achieved it.

I also have to say switching on the ‘open for work’ logo or adding ‘aspiring XXXXX’ to your title alone ain’t going to get you very far very quickly in most cases.

This is a marathon not a short distance sprint, and you got to believe in yourself yes, but also do the work to learn the stuff relevant to the role, but also just as important to do the work to bet on yourself and use that vulnerable uncomfortableness you may feel to put yourself in a position to attract the right opportunities to you.

A lot of people are just not willing to come outside of their comfort zone to achieve that, and hence blocking and sabotaging your own blessings.

Anyway I said what I said, let me rest my head.

More power to you x

P.S. If you need help to do the ‘inner work’ and help putting together a realistic action plan for getting into tech, check out my career coaching programme for women who want to build inner confidence to make a career change into tech

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Another discovery call out of the way earlier this week.

With a potential coaching client who needed to work where they are at now, what skills they already have that are value in the tech space and how they can fit into the tech space,

Why they are holding themselves back from getting a job in the tech space they really desire, instead of excepting more of the same.

As well as exploring how my coaching services can help them achieve their career goals within a realistic timeframe.

One bit of advice I gave was around the willingness to put themselves out there. Sometimes I wonder why we like to make things we really want harder for ourselves when we have everything we need within us to make the change we desire to see. If only you’re willing to be a bit vulnerable.

Tech Career Change Success

Are you putting yourself out there?

Have you actually told anyone that you are interested in changing to a career in tech?

How many of you are procrastinating on being more visible and sabotaging your chances of attracting the tech related job you really desire?

How many of you would be willing to highlight your successes and some of your failures, while learning something new, if the odds were slightly more your favour of attracting the opportunities you want?

In the dynamic landscape of the tech industry, where opportunities abound and innovation thrives, many women find themselves drawn to the possibility of making a career change. Whether you’re coming from a different industry or seeking to transition within tech, the power of putting yourself out there cannot be overstated.

One transformative way to do this is by consciously building a personal brand to raise your profile, documenting your journey along the way.

Here are 6 reasons why you should consider building your personal brand and why putting yourself out there is a worthwhile investment of your time and energy for tech career change success

Embracing the Visibility Challenge

The tech sector, like any other field, often poses unique challenges for women looking to carve out their niche. However, by proactively creating and curating your personal brand, you can stand out amidst the noise. This is not about conforming but about showcasing your authentic self and unique value proposition.

Breaking Through Stereotypes

In a male-dominated industry, it’s essential to break through stereotypes and let your skills and personality shine. A well-crafted personal brand can challenge preconceived notions and emphasise your capabilities, experiences, and vision for the future. Don’t be afraid to showcase your journey, highlighting the diverse skills and perspectives you bring to the tech table.  If you are willing to document your success and some of your failure, miraculously you start attracting more positive opportunities your way.

Attracting Opportunities, Not Just Chasing Them

Building a personal brand is not just about showcasing your skills; it’s about attracting opportunities to you. By establishing yourself as an authority in your chosen niche or showcasing your journey into tech, you become a magnet for the right connections, collaborations, and job opportunities. It’s about becoming a sought-after professional rather than just another candidate.

The Authenticity Advantage

Authenticity is the secret sauce in personal branding. It’s about being genuine and transparent about your journey, including the challenges and triumphs. Women making a career change into tech should embrace their unique narrative, turning their experiences into powerful stories that resonate with others. Authenticity builds trust, and in the tech world, trust can open doors.

Crafting a Digital Presence

In the digital age, your online presence is your virtual handshake. Leverage platforms like LinkedIn to share insights, comment on industry trends, and engage with the tech community. A consistent and thoughtful online presence not only amplifies your personal brand but also positions you as a thought leader in your domain.

Building a Supportive Network

Your personal brand extends beyond what you say about yourself; it’s also influenced by what others say about you. Cultivate a supportive network within the tech community. Actively seek out mentors, allies, and collaborators who can amplify your message and provide guidance as you navigate your career change.

At the end of the day, in the journey of making a career change into tech, building a personal brand is not just a recommendation; it’s a strategic move to empower your transition. It’s about embracing visibility, breaking stereotypes, and attracting opportunities that align with your goals. Remember, your unique journey is an asset, and by putting yourself out there, you’re not just navigating change—you’re driving it.  Plus you’ll inspire a few others along the way who may have been sitting in fear to take the first step in making a well needed change to their career.

Are you ready to unleash the power of your personal brand and embark on a transformative journey in tech? If you have a Linkedin profile (similar) that has been gathering dust and looks like it’s been neglected for year, the time is now to show it some love.  Linkedin is a gold mind for opportunities, but people love to be hiding.

If you’ve been lurking in the background year after year and not even introduced yourself and what you do, I challenge you to create a post introducing yourself to the world, what you do now, what you desire to do in the tech world (you don’t even need to know how you will achieve that at this stage), and why it means so much to you to make that dream a reality.

Embrace the challenge, showcase your authenticity, put in the work, and watch as opportunities in the tech world start to come knocking on your digital door.

Hope this encourages even at least one person out there to take action before another year passes by with you telling the same old story about how you hate your job and wanting a change. You don’t have control over a lot of things, but you do have control over how you present yourself to the world. Why not let it be on your terms and let it go some way towards attracting the opportunities you deserve.

More power to you x

You can find out more about The Confidence Coaching Programme here https://dionnecondor-farrell.com/career-coaching-programme-for-women-into-tech/

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