Purpose beyond profession: The impact of a career in tech

My career in technology began more than thirty years ago, and in that time, I have witnessed the industry go from strength to strength. This International Women's Day, I thought it prudent to highlight why I think now truly is the best time for woman starting out in the technology industry and how it holds the possibilities of finding purpose beyond the profession. 

Women now make up 22% of the technology workforce, according to BCS, and the numbers of female senior leaders and female-founded businesses are slowly but surely increasing; it's vital the industry maintains this momentum and continues to present itself as an attractive and exciting sector in which women can pursue a career. 

Working in tech is so much more than just a job. It's meeting the needs of the people and the planet through technology and engineering advancements, and a career in tech allows us to sit at the forefront of this change and innovation.

My journey to date

Going against the grain and embarking on a career in engineering at the age of 16 was probably the single best decision I ever made. I was drawn to engineering because it could solve real-world problems and make a difference to people's everyday lives. 

This sentiment has carried through into my career in myriad ways, including co-founding Preoptima, an AI SaaS company enabling real-time carbon emissions management in construction. Helping to reduce the industry's environmental footprint and accelerate progress towards climate targets has a real, tangible impact on our society, while also lowering costs and regulatory risk for companies in the sector. 

In my role as President & CEO of the RAIN Alliance, I am also involved every single day in making decisions that improve how we can interact with everyday items. RAIN RFID technology enables organisations worldwide – across the retail, logistics and supply chain, healthcare and aviation  industries to name but a few – to achieve greater efficiency, sustainability, and circularity. The RAIN Alliance serves as a collective voice for this community, as we work to realise a world where every item connects to the Internet of Things using RAIN. There is tangible purpose here to enhance lives, empower industries, and build a more sustainable, intelligent future. 

These technologies very much operate 'behind-the-scenes' but deeply impact how our economies operate and how entire industries interact with their environmental, regulatory and operational obligations. This is what brings purpose beyond the profession, and beyond the 'hard' technical skills that often spring to mind first when considering a career in tech.

Beyond the technical

As important as technical skill and knowledge are to a career in the industry, there are so many other skills and experience to be gained from working in technology. 

For instance, a career in this field equips people with a variety of soft skills – analytical thinking, resilience, confidence, and problem-solving, to name but a few. These soft skills complement technical abilities, enabling people to approach a problem pragmatically and critically evaluate multiple solutions. They are also highly transferable skills, setting people up for career development and offering a strong foundation no matter the role. 

It's inspiring to see a new generation of women realise that there is a place for them within the technology industry and opportunities for career fulfilment, be that as a highly skilled engineer or within other areas of the business. Ultimately, if we want technology that serves and works for everyone, and solves a vast range of problems, we need diversity at every step of the way. It is therefore imperative that we keep up this momentum.

Finding fulfilment 

If I could leave anyone with one piece of advice, it's this: seek out what is going to leave you feeling fulfilled, and don't be afraid to ask for help or look for purpose in new places. In today's technology industry, we are very lucky to have a plethora of communities focused on breaking down gender barriers, as well as mentors and allies to provide guidance, and more scope than ever for networking and relationship building. These opportunities exist to be seized.

Whilst there is still progress to be made in closing the diversity gap, the tech industry is evolving rapidly. For those who truly want their work to make a difference, tech is bursting at the seams with projects that make real, tangible change. This International Women's Day, it is more important than ever that women know the difference they can make to tech, the purpose that they can find beyond their profession, and that they feel empowered to take the steps towards achieving that.