Every business is a tech business now, so the wisdom goes. Tech affects every layer of our daily lives – and the perception of ‘tech people’ only being those with STEM subject degrees or who can code is long out of step with a digital world that demands a broader view of how and why tech is developed and delivered.
However, many women in tech still report having ‘imposter syndrome’, a feeling that they somehow aren’t ‘tech’ enough if they are not in an engineering role or have come to tech through more unusual channels — often driving their careers with the handbrake on as a result. For many young women thinking of the tech industry as a career path, the feeling that they lack ‘authentic tech skills’ can impede both their progress and that of the tech industry itself. In the UK alone, 66% of digital leaders cite a tech skills shortage as responsible for slower digital transformation in their organisations according to the Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report 2021,1 particularly in cybersecurity, big data analytics and technical architecture. In addition, a lack of talent through the pipeline holds back progress toward achieving greater diversity and representation in the industry.
Ultimately, tech’s myriad opportunities require myriad skills to be expressed, and many of the most important of these are transferrable. Those without a tech background bring valuable perspectives that the tech industry needs to be fit for purpose and to drive innovation. As a result, most tech start-ups will actually have more non-technical employees than developers, as it is often these skills that make or break the development and roll out of projects. Roles from e-commerce, sales and business analysis to UX design, digital marketing and new media are all essential to a tech ecosystem — and none of them require a degree in computing to succeed. So, challenge any lingering misperceptions of what a person in tech should actually look like this year — and step confidently forward with our tips on how to thrive beyond the code…
Remember what you bring to the table
You were hired because you have something valuable to offer your company so be clear with yourself about what you bring to the table, from skills to outlook, and work to acknowledge and leverage that every day. You aren’t in tech because you’re being tolerated — you’re here because you belong in in an industry which needs all talented hands on deck to keep up with the demands of a fast-evolving digital age. Of course, technical skills are an important part of the tech ecosystem, but it is the variety of experiences and perspectives across teams within a tech company that translates to greater innovation, better problem solving and ultimately better products — as well as having a massive impact on wider aspects such as ethics, sustainability and governance. It’s a crucial balance, constantly evolving in what is still, effectively, a nascent industry – and as such, it’s important to remember that you are part of the solution not the problem.
Be authentic
Knowing that it is okay to bring your ‘whole self’ to work is a key psychological shift to make if you’re feeling a bit of a ‘tech imposter’ — and that includes the bit of you that doesn’t know everything yet and wants to learn and grow. Authenticity also extends to being honest with yourself about what drives you in your work and where your passion is; whether that’s creating relationships, decoding data or product management. Research suggests when we experience authenticity we feel greater well-being; being true to ourselves ignites human connection and it’s also the only way to create a career in tech that aligns with your values rather than doing things you ‘think’ you should be doing. In recognising that diversity is power in today’s business environment, you can own your place in it. So if you’re the only woman or non-engineer on your team, then think of it as a strength and an opportunity to make a unique contribution, rather than taking difference as a sign that you do not belong.
Value your soft skills
The need for greater soft skills in business is well-documented and research shows that interpersonal abilities are as important to strong performance as hard skills — one study found that up to 75% of long-term job success can depend on people skills, while only 25% is dependent on technical knowledge.2 These connecting and communicative abilities are especially important in a tech environment, where the ability to translate the potential of impersonal ‘lines of code’ to a company mission, business culture and ultimately to the end user is crucial. All businesses need people who can think critically, be resourceful and make good decisions. And as such, leadership, emotional intelligence, active listening and collaboration are now seen as fundamental requirements in employees by many companies now — with everything else deemed ‘teachable’.
Leverage your resources
You may not have a technical background or know the finer points of Java, but that doesn’t mean you can’t augment your knowledge and skills with some technical understanding. Learning more about the technical side of your business can help you expand your perspective on your own role and feel more connected to the product — and most people are happy to share their knowledge, in formal and informal ways. Seek out a technical colleague who has a real understanding of the product and ask them to go for a coffee and help you take a deeper dive into their work with them. In return, you can share information and outlooks from your own functionality, helping both of you, ultimately, to have a more rounded picture of the business and insight into how areas can work together for greater efficiency, innovation and better user-experience.
Think big picture
Billionaire tech entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently predicted that technical skills may ultimately be less valuable than other skills as we move into the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He suggested that in ten years, ‘a degree in philosophy will be worth more than a traditional programming degree’. And for him, as for many others, the growth of automation and AI will likely transform the job market beyond recognition — so that teaching people how to have vision and collaborate effectively will become more worthwhile than education solely based on hard technical skills. Knowing how to critically assess information, put it into context and communicate that into the business to add value are more skills that will only become more important too as AI automates many of the processes currently done by humans. Understanding this advantage and honing your skills is a powerful way to futureproof your tech career – as well as displaying the kind of big picture thinking that all future tech leaders will need.
Be a mentor
There is a wealth of research that shows how valuable and impactful being mentored can be to a career journey. But actually being a mentor to women coming up behind you can also be a great way of gaining clarity on what you have achieved and what your value is — boosting both your confidence and theirs in the process. Being a mentor puts you in a positive position and mindset from the outset, acknowledging that you have something valuable to share — and there’s no quicker way to chase off the shadows of imposter syndrome than imparting hard-earned knowledge to someone else. In this way, too you can also get perspective on how your particular skillset contributes to the greater business goal, particularly if you’ve slightly lost sight of it, and how it aligns with other skillsets in the company — as well as the chance to reflect on your present role and check in with yourself to see what your own — ambitious — next step might be.
