For decades, women have confronted similar obstacles in the workplace. Join us as we speak with the women at Restive to hear their stories of success.
Gender prejudice, pay disparities, and a scarcity of adaptable working alternatives for mothers are just a few examples of the numerous accounts of missed opportunities.
Nonetheless, accounts of why women select a tech career and the rewarding experiences and people who influence their professional path are not frequently discussed.
Although statistics reveal a clear gender imbalance in the tech industry, there are numerous narratives of women who have been uplifted by supportive colleagues, discovered the courage to overcome obstacles, and persevered by believing in their own abilities.
Restive’s remarkable women are the protagonists of these stories. We had the privilege of learning about what inspired them to pursue a tech career, how they surmounted various challenges, and the advice they would offer to other young women contemplating a STEM profession.
Passion for pursuing a career in tech
While listening to the women discussing their reasons for pursuing a career in tech, it became evident that despite the difficulties that may arise due to their gender, their ardour for engineering, technology, and science surpassed any challenges.
Amanda explains, "In the past, men had an advantage in most engineering fields, and it was tougher for women to enter the industry. However, I have always enjoyed solving problems, so I decided to pursue an Engineering degree. I quickly discovered a passion for computers and realised that as long as I was competent, my skills were appreciated and respected."
For Swetha, the start of her career was motivated by a fast-growing industry and an abundance of opportunities.“The tech industry allowed me to land a job with hands-on experience. That meant whatever opportunities came; I took them. Fresh out of college, I got a position as a Java Engineer, and since then, it’s become my area of expertise.” She says, “I realised when starting my career that the right mindset is important to make the most out of whatever life throws at you.”
Navigating challenges with the right mindset
The women at Restive have surpassed various obstacles by discovering their passion and purpose early on, selecting companies that share their values, and surrounding themselves with supportive individuals who uplift them.
Naga Charukumalli, a Delivery Lead at Restive Tech, encountered a situation that could have steered her career in a different direction. However, instead of letting it impede her progress, she altered her perspective.
"When I started working on one of my initial projects, there were 19 team members, and I was the only female. Initially, I found it intimidating to mingle and network. However, as time went on, I learned to be more open-minded, confident, and proactive. I stopped allowing my gender to limit me and began approaching individuals because I genuinely desired to connect and create a community around me. Once I changed my outlook, I found it easier to form relationships with my colleagues, regardless of gender"
However, some individuals, like Amanda Jayanetti, did not encounter any obstacles due to their gender. Instead, she faced the same challenges as her peers, including a lack of familiarity with industry rates and a lack of experience. Fortunately, she was surrounded by supportive individuals who helped steer her in the correct direction.
Advice for future generations
When asked for advice to their younger selves or women considering a career in tech, the women at Restive Tech all agreed on the same theme. While challenges are inevitable in any industry, they stressed the importance of not letting fear of discrimination or other obstacles hold you back.
Naga encouraged women to embrace their individuality and passion, saying, “Give yourself permission to experience as much as possible, because there are lots of opportunities.” Believing in oneself and having the confidence to ask for what one deserves were also key factors in the women’s success, according to Shruthi, who emphasized the importance of not waiting for employers to recognize one’s achievements. “Sometimes you need to ask for what you deserve,” she said.
The future for women in tech
Kirsty Effiong, Head of Talent at Restive Tech, emphasizes that closing the gender gap and hiring talented women must start from the top. She believes that talent acquisition should never be transactional but rather focused on making women feel valued and comfortable.
Kirsty understands the importance of knowing the audience during the acquisition process. Being a mother herself, she works hard to reach out to women during evenings and late afternoons, when they are most responsive, rather than during the standard 9-5.
Swetha, who started her career in India, faced issues with maternity leave being seen as a problem. However, she has noticed that increased awareness and dialogue around the issue have led to improved gender equality and better opportunities for women.
Advocating gender equality and providing fair opportunities regardless of gender is not just Restive Tech’s responsibility, but their clients’ as well. According to Kirsty, they ensure that their clients’ values align with theirs and refuse to work with any clients who practice discrimination.
Fortunately, both the Australian government and the tech industry are actively engaged in promoting gender diversity and narrowing the gender gap in the workplace. The government is investing $6.7 million towards supporting women and girls in STEM fields, a move that has been lauded by Melissa Price, the Minister for Science and Technology. She believes that this funding will help address the biases that lead to the under-representation of women and girls in STEM.
Rather than dwelling on the past, the women at Restive Tech see a more balanced representation of women in the tech industry today. They believe that the industry is heading in the right direction and are encouraged by the increased commitment to gender equality.