Here at GBG, we are lucky to have a wealth of smart, talented professional women in a wide range of positions, from design, marketing and sales to scrum master and technical operations. So, what’s it like to be a woman working in tech? Here’s what some of our female colleagues think, as well as their advice to any women thinking about a career in tech.
Mary Hughes, Customer service Team Leader
I have been working at GBG for seven years. It’s a great place to work and I have been fortunate to have worked in several departments over the years, which has given me a good knowledge of our business, industry and customers. I have been lucky enough to meet wonderful people along the way.
My advice to any women starting out in tech would be not to overthink it, and learn as much as you can. Don’t dilute your personality because you think you might not fit the tech industry. Remain true to yourself. It feels great to be a woman working in the tech industry. Of course, it has its challenges, but I remind myself that my views, opinions and input are equally as valid as anyone’s.
Mireille Wathes, Growth Marketing Manager
Each day in my role is very versatile, from researching new payment methods, ensuring our customers get the best possible experience in our online journeys to creating marketing campaigns, it’s always eventful.
The tech industry is an exciting environment to be part of because it evolves so rapidly, which challenges you to stay on top of things and keep pushing, growing and learning.
Belinda Frost, Product Delivery Manager
One of the things I enjoy most about my job is that I am always learning something new. In my role, I get to work with our development teams, who are working to create solutions to improve our product offerings for customers around the world – using the latest technology and approaches. This allows me to ask a million questions about what problems this solves for our customers and how it makes us unique.
GBG is a great place to work for anyone with a passion for technology, as a woman or not. Often, I’m the only woman in a meeting or on a call, which at first, was incredibly intimidating and a bit overwhelming. Over time, I have come to see this as a wider responsibility to represent myself as a strong and thoughtful woman – for those who came before me and those looking to enter the tech industry.
There are days when it can be incredibly challenging, but at the same time, there is an intense sense of pride for being able to contribute to our team and product by asking countless questions, working incredibly hard and sticking with it.
Aysenur Cokgunlu, Scrum Master
I think women should stand up and avoid being simply followers. Women are capable of influencing people around them and I believe women should collaborate with each other to help inspire and contribute to a diverse working environment.
Being a woman in tech is a real honour and tech is no longer a male-dominated industry, but there’s still a way to go before we can say we are equal. We have a responsibility to facilitate diversity in the workplace and it’s important to believe in ourselves.
Elke Bretz, UX Designer
In my role, which I’ve been in for the last four years, each day is quite varied. I typically work with cross-functional teams such as marketing, product, development, design and sales. I have worked in a variety of tech-based companies which tend to be male-dominated. GBG's culture encourages everyone to have a say - male or female.
Being a woman working in the tech industry is kind of liberating. Women still appear to be underrepresented in the tech space although I believe that this is slowly balancing out over time - I really do feel (as a woman) that it is important to find your voice and don’t be afraid to speak up.
Karishma Sharma, Channel Marketing Coordinator
For any women just getting started in marketing or tech, I would say for them to be confident in their abilities. If you want something you should not be afraid to go for it. Even if it doesn’t work out the way you want, at least you tried! This puts you one step further in the right direction.
It feels empowering to be a woman in tech. I have been with GBG now for a couple of years now, and this was my first job out of college and I am learning so much about the industry. Every day I learn something new and I love the constant challenge.
Anna McAdam, Head of Direct Sales – Key Accounts
I have been at GBG for four years, and my days are always so different, which is the best thing about my job. I manage a large team responsible for Key accounts within Loqate, and my time is spent largely with my team and our clients, whether remotely or face to face.
I never thought I’d be where I am today. I didn’t move to the tech industry until I was 30, after 12 years in banking and finance. It was daunting; it is for anyone, but I felt it more so being a woman in a male-dominated team but also because I was older.
I believe younger women will be more open to taking tech-based opportunities in the future. Graduates now and the millennial’s as a generation are better equipped than I was 9 years ago when I decided to make the change to tech. I hope it is so much easier and not such an unusual thing for a woman of any age to work in tech now and in the future. Although I started by my own admission ‘on the back foot’, I very quickly realised the scale and opportunity this industry represents and of course, the earning potential. The rest, as they say, is history. I have never looked back.
Sandra Markey, Development Manager
If you do the same thing, you will get the same results. Once you start to add a healthy dose of variety, things get fun and exciting and that pretty much describes my working day, fun, exciting and incredibly varied. The need for variety applies to both technology and people within it. That is why it is important to have a whole range of personalities and backgrounds in a team.
Whilst I am a Woman in Tech, I see myself as an individual bringing value in the Technology industry alongside every other person in my team. I am proud to be a woman, but what defines me is me. Here at GBG, I am able to be me, I am valued for being me and can make a difference because I am me! My advice to any woman looking for a career in Tech is to embrace yourself, be yourself and take that step, you will love it.
Emmy Turl, Graphic Designer
One thing I love about working for a technology company is that the tech is always evolving, so no two days are the same. I’m constantly given the opportunity to come up with innovative and exciting ways of presenting our products and brand as they develop.
I’m still quite new to the industry, but if I were to give any advice it would be to take every opportunity to learn as much as possible, and not be afraid to ask questions.
As a woman starting out in the tech industry, it’s encouraging to see women being hired more and more in senior management positions across the company. I think that the industry is slowly moving towards a more equal balance between men and women, which is really encouraging at this early stage in my career.
Penny Lim, Technical Operations Director
The thing I like most about my job is that one of my primary responsibilities involves interacting with employees on all different levels of the organisation, across all areas and different parts of the world. I get to learn new things about the company and market every day.
Worldwide, women are a minority in tech leadership. The gender split in the tech industry is disappointing but I think it’s getting better now as many companies are putting diversity as a priority, and GBG is one of these. I am glad to be part of GBG, which provides me the flexibility to be able to manage my own time in order to have a work-life balance. Without flexibility, it makes it extremely difficult to manage a successful career and family.
Being a woman in tech can be lonely sometimes, especially when you are the minority within the leadership team. To cope with this, I participate in a few women’s support groups through social media platforms. It is so incredibly helpful to have a group of females around the world sharing their experiences.
There are fantastic opportunities for women in tech and I’ve had an amazing career. I would like to urge all woman in tech or considering a career in this industry not to give up. Do it, and love it, if you are drawn to it.
Melanie Soyez, Senior Account Manager
Don’t worry if you are the only women in your team, this doesn’t matter – what matters is that you do your job well. To be honest, I don’t think about what it’s like to be a woman in the tech industry; I just love my job.
Alex Kelly, Client Success Manager
No two days are the same working in customer success. I really enjoy the autonomy of the role. Getting to build it out from scratch as opposed to being handed a manual on how to do the job.
GBG is a very welcoming environment. I think my office, in particular, recognised that they were lacking diversity and I appreciate that they are working to correct that. Three of our last four hires have been female.
Happy International Women’s Day to all the women in tech out there doing an amazing job, and all the women thinking about moving into the industry.
Cathie Hall, Customer Experience & Operations Director
On a day to day basis, I meet customers and hear about their experiences. Then, I have a follow-up meeting with, for example, a product, sales, support or technical team to make sure that the customer feedback was recorded and acted upon within our customer success programs. It is my job to ensure that we continue to improve everything we do for customers.
There are so many different career options in tech – from the really technical to the not very technical at all. It is such a broad sector, but one thing all tech companies have in common is how fast-paced we are. That makes for a really exciting dynamic.
Gus Tomlinson, Regulatory Commercial Manager
I have spent six years at GBG and have never been bored, and that’s because I’m constantly learning and getting to experience new things. The solutions we develop at GBG provide a purpose that makes it easier for people to transact and feel safe online – and no day is ever the same.
For any woman starting out in the tech industry I'd say, don’t worry if you spend a few months or years sitting in a room full of men. It isn’t about being male or female it’s about your love for technology and the impact you think you can make.
