Heya all,    Thanks for being here and welcome to Women Rock – a voice for diversity in tech!  I’m Alicia, founder of Women Rock, co-founder of SR2, founder of Technology Volunteers organiser of Codebar (phewwww) I’m a positive vibe advocate, lover of constant learning, mushrooms and anything pickled, dislikes pigeons, bad manners and baked beans! Outside of all of that, I’m probably best known for my handstand ability and my almost 10-year tenure as a Tech recruiter in the UK, born and bred in Bristol!    Over the last 10 years I have been a huge supporter of diversity in Tech but always felt I could do so much more, Women Rock is the start of my more. In the early part of my career, it was rare that I spoke or represented women in the industry. Technology wasn’t offered to me as a career when I was leaving school, and my family or friends weren’t interested in Tech so probably naively I didn’t know women were in tech and that makes me sad and we all know we still have so much more to do but not just for women, we’re talking about diversity as a whole.    I love to build relationships every day and in starting this blog, being supported by our awesome Women Rock ambassadors and some of the best companies who are committed to talking about and improving ED&I across our industry I really hope we can make the world a better place!  Women Rock isn’t just for women, we have, and will, continue to hear stories from folk from ethnic minorities, folk who have physical and hidden disabilities. We have incredible stories from trans and gender-diverse peeps and we have spoken to many allies who are committed to live, work and support diversity in their workplace, careers and lives.    Included are conversations about successes, people's struggles, frustrations and commitment from their perspective. We have seen so much improvement when it comes to ED&I but I just don’t think we are sharing and shouting about it enough so that others can follow suit.  I want to create an incredible community and Women Rock to be the place to go to that celebrates diversity.   I’ll leave you with my favourite quote ‘’No matter where you are in life, inspire and empower the women around you. Success is never reached alone. And wisdom and wealth are sweeter shared.’’  Be kind, get enough sleep and don’t change for anyone.  Smiles,  Alicia x 

“Never listen to someone who tells you that you’re too much.” If there’s one thing Chloe Coleman, CEO of Vouchsafe, has learned, it’s that being bold, curious, and unapologetically yourself is the secret to success. Starting her career in journalism before pivoting to tech, Chloe’s journey took her from building websites to landing a spot in the Civil Service Digital, Data & Tech Fast Stream. It was there—working on Universal Credit—that she saw a problem she couldn’t ignore. The hiring process needed a fix. So, she built Vouchsafe to ensure talent is judged on skills, not biases. With ADHD shaping both her strengths and challenges, Chloe is passionate about creating a workplace where neurodiverse thinkers thrive, where different backgrounds are celebrated, and where trying something out of the ordinary is the norm. Oh, and when she’s not leading a game-changing company? You might find her knitting. Because why not? Hey Chloe, thanks for sharing your experience with Women Rock! Can you tell us about your background and why you started Vouchsafe? It’s been a weird, wiggly line of a career, but absolutely. At first, I trained to be a journalist. I had grand notions of delivering something of importance and purpose to the public. To defend rights and expose evils. Turns out, working in the national press often…does not feel like that…at all. I thought I’d be wielding the most impactful of weapons; the written word. The day I interviewed Jilly Cooper, I had a realisation that would take longer than I thought. (No disrespect to JC tho, legend). So, after a year building and maintaining a website for an accountancy firm in Sheffield, I applied for the Civil Service Digital, Data & Tech Fast Stream, and surprised myself by getting a place. In those 3 years, I fell in love with user research and public service delivery. I then worked at DWP on Universal Credit for a few years, and every day was important. And, it’s where I first saw the problem that we built Vouchsafe to fix. People needed access to a service they deserved. That they needed. That they were entitled to. But they couldn’t prove who they were because passports and driving licences are hard to get and expensive. Work coaches working in Job Centres did everything they could, but sometimes, it wasn’t enough. After running a small consultancy for a while, my co-founder Jaye and I decided to rearrange our company around solving this problem. What observations on ED&I have you made throughout your career in the civil service, contracting, and starting Vouchsafe? I worked in the Civil Service through a really culturally interesting time. In one of my first roles on the Fast Stream, I was tasked with arranging an internal conference for International Women’s Day. One man who attended said that “a woman who breastfed at the back of the room was a bit too much feminism”, but that kind of overt sexism was rare in my experience, but I’m sure it went on. I was there when George Floyd was murdered, and in the wake of his death, colleagues recounted the racism they had experienced. I also found the way that the Civil Service recruits fascinating - when I was going through applications, we wouldn’t see your name or background or gender. It meant we judged your experience with fewer implicit biases. This is something we’ve tried to bring into Vouchsafe, and I’m so proud we do. We aren’t perfect. But at the point we realised we accidentally had no men on the payroll, I did feel quite proud. We also try to do small things that make a big impact. I have ADHD, so I wanted to make sure we had a neurodiverse-friendly environment. You make a company work for neurodiverse people, it will work for neurotypical people. We have places to relax, everyone gets noise-cancelling headphones, and flexible working practices. Throughout your career, you have undoubtedly encountered some inspiring people, who are they, and what made them so? I will accidentally miss people out, because there have been so many, and for that, I am sorry. There were several managers I had in the Civil Service, and to name them all - Sara Balabanoff, Paddy Salter, Elli Panagopulous & Adrian Woodcock. Each person taught me what it looked like to be a brilliant leader, each in a different way. Never met people with more patience than those dealing with a 22-26 year old, newly ADHD-diagnosed Chloe Coleman. In the start up world now, there are too many to count. Solomia Boretska makes me cry every time she talks about her start-up, Lendocare. No one pitches like her, because she knows and cares about the social impact of her company in her very soul. Candice Hampson coached me to enable me to make hard decisions and (try to) communicate them with strength and empathy. Nat Whalley was the first person I went to with the most basic startup-land questions, and is so brilliant and helpful with her advice that I’m not sure she’ll ever get rid of me (sorry!) Can you tell us how having ADHD has impacted your career - the good and the bad? The bad is what you’d expect. My concentration levels are weird, my prioritisation sucks, and my emotional dysregulation means that sometimes I am on a rollercoaster. The good things though? I like to think my ADHD makes me more empathetic, or at least have a deeper emotional understanding of people and situations. Which I hope makes me a good leader (but you’ll have to ask people who aren’t me about that). It also makes me a total, all-consuming nerd. And, beyond just being useful for a pub quiz, it’s pretty darn helpful when you’re co-running a start up in a pretty nerdy area. What advice would you give a younger Chloe Coleman? Pick your battles. Never listen to someone who tells you that you’re “too much”. Don’t try stand up. Drink less coffee. Somehow patent your Facebook page called “Overheard in Waitrose”. As Vouchsafe grows, can you tell us more about your team and what you look for in a modern workforce within Tech? I look for people who can explain complicated concepts with patience and kindness. If someone asks you a question and you roll your eyes and condescend, then you’re not gonna fit in with this team. We look for people who aren’t afraid to try something out of the ordinary, or doing it in a different way. This means we end up with a brilliant, diverse team, from different backgrounds and with rich experience. What do you do outside of work? Knit, mostly. (I mean, I do that at work as well) My favourite vibe is listening to fraud themed true crime podcasts while I knit. Nothing like hearing about a romance scam while you’re doing a purl row on a cardigan for your sister’s baby. But creativity is really important, and I can’t find anything that scratches a self-confidence itch like someone going “oh my gosh, I love your jumper” and getting to go “thaaaaanks, I made it!”. How did ChatGPT roast you? You're running a seven-person startup, yet your to-do list looks like it belongs to a Fortune 500 CEO with a caffeine problem. Oh, and LinkedIn posts about ADHD? Bold move roasting yourself on neurodiversity while crafting the world's most ADHD-unfriendly list of tasks. Your brain must be running on a mix of adrenaline and sheer chaos. What is your favourite song for our Women Rock playlist? Lose Yourself - Eminem. Back in 2004, my Dad, a 31 year-old electrician, made the crazy decision to start his own business. I remember him playing Lose Yourself in the car to fire himself up before going to his first jobs. Now, he plays it in the car to fire himself up before his board meetings. We tried to rap the whole thing together about 4 minutes before I walked down the aisle at my wedding. It never fails to make me feel invincible. What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf? OKAY - it’s a chunky one - The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro. It’s a biography of Robert Moses. He was never an elected official, but he was a civil servant in New York. He cut through a hell of a lot of red tape and created parks, highways, swimming pools etc. But, he was also racist and hugely problematic. His grandmother didn’t care what anyone thought of her. I’ve bastardised Caro’s amazing journalism with this 4 sentence review. It’s over 1000 pages. There’s a brilliant podcast series on it by 99% Invisible! I recommend that over a 1000 page book! What is your favourite quote? "Though she be but little, she is fierce!”, said by Helena about Hermia in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Interviewed by Tom Longdon  

"My advice would be to not let the fear of choosing the wrong pathway stop you from getting started." At 24, Natasha went from no coding experience to now a Senior iOS Engineer at Surfline, proving that you can truly reshape your career with persistence, passion, and a bit of self-belief. From teaching herself to code and building apps in her spare time to becoming a mentor for over 200 women and non-binary individuals through Code First Girls, Natasha’s journey is a powerful reminder that the tech world is full of opportunities — and anyone, no matter their starting point, can succeed. Natasha's story isn’t just about coding; it's about embracing challenges, pushing boundaries, and stepping outside your comfort zone — because as she puts it, "Outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens." If you’ve ever wondered how to break into tech, or whether it’s too late to get started, Natasha’s advice is clear: just begin. It’s the first step that counts. Hi Natasha, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. Firstly, please can you start by talking me through your position at Surfline? Hey! My job is Senior iOS Engineer working for Surfline. Surfline is an app for surfers, with wave forecasting, real-time surf reports, and live video streaming from surf spots all round the world. I’m the iOS Lead for a squad which handles core parts of the user experience including the home screen and forecast graphs. I work with product managers, other engineers, and designers to improve existing features and develop new ones. My week is usually split between coding in Swift, reviewing code, and planning upcoming projects.  You had no coding experience until you turned 24. Please tell me about your story so far. How did you get into the world of tech? While travelling in New Zealand, I worked as an office temp for a few months to save up money. Some people in my team were using SQL to analyse education data, and after chatting with them about it, I thought that programming might be something I’d enjoy learning. So I set myself a goal: to code for at least 10 minutes a day. Over the course of a year, while I didn’t manage to code every single day, I found that whenever I stuck to the habit, those 10 minutes often stretched into much longer sessions. The biggest challenge was just getting started! I began with free online resources like Codecademy and gradually transitioned to working on personal projects as my confidence grew. After about one year, I got my first tech role in a data team. What personal projects sparked your move from Data to Mobile Development, and what do you enjoy working on outside of work? Yes, for the first years of my tech career, I worked as a data analytics engineer. But outside of work, I started learning Swift because I wanted to develop my own apps, and I quickly got hooked on iOS development! I currently have two apps published on the Appstore, along with many unfinished projects and more ideas for future apps than I can count. I enjoy working on them whenever I have some free time. You are now an instructor at Code Girls First – Amazing! What is Code Girls First for those that don’t know it, and what is your role there? Code First Girls is an organisation that offers free online courses for women and non-binary people interested in pursuing a career in tech. I’m an instructor for two courses - Python & Apps and Data & SQL. I usually teach one evening per week and give technical support to students on Slack between sessions, helping them fix bugs and work through any issues that come up. I love teaching for Code First Girls; it gives me a huge amount of fulfilment. It has been inspiring to see so many women who are excited to learn to code, especially since I’ve often been the only woman in teams throughout my career. So far, I’ve taught around 200 women across different courses. It gives me hope that diversity in the tech industry is heading in the right direction. Many people want to break into tech and know about initiatives like Code First Girls but aren’t sure where to start—whether to learn Python, JavaScript, SQL, or something else. What advice would you give on choosing the right language and first steps? My advice would be to not let the fear of choosing the wrong pathway stop you from getting started. Unless you know the specific role you want to get into, just pick one of the most popular programming languages and stick to it for a while. Follow online courses until you feel confident to become more independent and start your own projects. Don’t worry about choosing the “wrong” language - you are not locked into your decision. You can always pivot later if you find another area of tech that interests you more. The fundamentals of programming are similar across languages and the experience you gain will be valuable no matter where you start. Your role at Surfline is remote, and you live in a more isolated part of the UK. How has that experience been for you, and why do you think remote opportunities are so important? For me, remote working means being able to live somewhere where outdoor activities are easily accessible. Within minutes, I can be surfing at my local beach, running along an estuary, or walking on the coast path. Being able to get outdoors every workday has a huge positive impact on my mental health, something I struggled with while living in a city. In general I believe remote working is a way that companies can support diversity and inclusion. There are many reasons why people may be unwilling or unable to relocate for a job or to commute to an office every day such as childcare or medical issues. By offering remote work, a company can attract a wider set of people for roles. We spoke about having great role models and the significance of increasing the representation of women in senior leadership. Who is/are your greatest female role model/s? Throughout my career, I’ve noticed the lack of technical female role models at work. I’ve never worked with anyone more senior than me who wasn’t male. I do believe it’s important to see people from diverse backgrounds in more senior roles, as it helps to reduce unconscious bias and imposter syndrome. That said, I was lucky to find incredible female role models early in my career in non-tech management roles, who continue to inspire me. I’ve also found inspiring role models through online communities and my work teaching for Code First Girls. What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf?  Quiet - Susan Cain. What is your favourite song? 10 Feet Tall - Fat Freddy’s Drop. You live by the saying, ‘Outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens.’ What does this mean to you? A manager introduced me to this saying early in my career, and it’s a phrase I find myself returning to time and time again. I’ve faced imposter syndrome, felt out of my depth, and struggled with self-doubt at various points in my career. Reminding myself of this saying helps me realise that feeling out of my depth is actually a sign that I’m gaining new experience and growing. If I only stick to what I already do well, I’m not progressing. So I try to embrace discomfort and seek out situations where I feel challenged. Sometimes easier said than done! Interviewed by Bella Snell

“Work out what you want to do, and then work out how you’re going to get there, and then start working on getting there.” Zoe is proof that confidence, passion, and a little boldness can open incredible doors. From putting herself forward and landing an internship to thriving in both Mechanical and Software Engineering, she’s carved out a career built on curiosity, resilience, and a love for problem-solving. In this interview, Zoe shares her journey—from finding role models to managing imposter syndrome—while offering practical advice for anyone looking to break into STEM. She also highlights the importance of visibility in engineering and tech, showing how universities and workplaces can help more women step into these spaces. This is more than a story about being a woman in tech. It’s about doing what you love, pushing boundaries, and making an impact. Hey Zoe, thanks for sharing your experience with Women Rock! Can you give us an overview of your career in engineering/tech so far? My engineering career started when I met one of the founders of Open Bionics - a Bristol-based startup that uses 3D printing to create prosthetic arms - during a university lecture. At the end of his talk he asked if anyone had any questions - I put my hand up and asked if I could have a job! I completed an internship with them after I graduated in 2016 and later returned to work for them for nearly four years in various engineering roles. I loved working there, but during the pandemic, I decided to switch careers after enrolling in a Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp. I had done a bit of programming during my degree (and hated it!), but I found learning how to code through a more creative lens incredibly rewarding and building useful software projects became a fantastic, time-consuming lockdown hobby. After completing the bootcamp I spent a couple of years working for WordPress agencies before transitioning to a React and TypeScript tech stack. I am now working as a Software Engineer at Anya, a fem-tech startup providing 24/7 digital healthcare support for women. Working in two different STEM careers (Mechanical Engineering & Software Engineering), have you found they both face similar challenges in terms of diversity? I think the industries are very similar. Both engineering and computer science are still predominantly studied by men, and while more women are entering STEM roles, they tend to leave the profession earlier than men, resulting in fewer women in senior positions. This lack of visibility can discourage younger women from seeing themselves in those careers, which creates a bit of a vicious circle. However, there’s a lot of great work being done to address this disparity - Code First Girls and STEMazing are two organisations I follow that are doing fantastic work to promote women in tech. On a personal level my jobs have ranged from working in teams where I was the only woman, to my current team which is nearly entirely made up of women. I’ve been lucky to find female engineering role models throughout my career, but I had to seek them out actively. Greater visibility of women in senior roles would have been beneficial to me when I was deciding what to study at university and what to do after. What was your personal experience of studying a STEM subject? Are there any steps that Colleges & Universities could take to improve the experience of groups that are currently underrepresented? Growing up I loved making things and was good at maths and physics, which led me to study mechanical engineering at university. For most of my degree, I couldn’t picture what I wanted to do after graduation - the traditional routes into big engineering firms building cars, planes, or buildings really didn’t appeal to me. I feel very fortunate to have met Joel from Open Bionics when I did - at the time I didn’t know anything about the health tech industry, but it’s now something I’m incredibly passionate about and where I see myself focusing my career long-term. If I hadn’t gone to his lecture I might not have pursued a career in engineering at all, as the traditional options widely advertised at career fairs didn’t feel like the right fit for me. Schools and universities could improve the experience for underrepresented groups by showcasing a wider range of career options, especially in less traditionally male-dominated fields. I know many women who have found really rewarding careers in traditional engineering roles, but for students like me who couldn’t see themselves in those paths, increasing visibility for industries like health tech, renewable energy, and social impact engineering could inspire a wider group of students to see a future for themselves in STEM. You’ve worked in a couple of impactful industries that you have a personal passion for, do you have advice for other people regarding how they can work in a sector they are passionate about? I think the first challenge is working out what you're passionate about. Sometimes working in jobs that you don’t like can be just as valuable as working in jobs you enjoy, because it helps you work out what you don’t want to do. Then when you have that dream job or sector in mind, work backwards and break it down into small manageable steps. What skills do you need for that role? What experience would be helpful? Once you’ve broken down what might feel like an overwhelming goal into smaller actionable chunks, you can start working towards achieving it in little ways every day. What do you think the biggest obstacles are that you have faced in your career to date? Definitely imposter syndrome - it’s something I’ve struggled with at university, in my engineering jobs and especially in my software jobs. Since retraining, all of my jobs have been mainly remote - while I really like the remote working lifestyle, a downside is that it’s easy to get stuck in your own head when you’re facing a problem without colleagues physically around you to vent to or ask for help. One thing that I have found really helpful in these situations is reflecting on how far I’ve come in my software career, instead of fixating on what I’m stuck on. I’ll write down something I struggled with a couple of months ago but now find easy. It’s a great reminder to focus on the progress I’ve made and the skills I’ve built over time, rather than the challenges I’m currently facing. Have you noticed any changes in the industry during your time? Is there progress being made? The pandemic caused so many people to reevaluate their relationship with work and also caused a big shift towards flexible and remote working. I think this has been fantastic for encouraging more women into software engineering. The rise of online coding boot camps has made retraining really accessible, and remote work has improved work-life balance while opening up opportunities with companies far beyond local areas. I recently attended a lovely Bristol meetup with Code First Girls which was a great example of seeing this shift happening. I met women from all walks of life - students still in school or university, mums seeking flexible work that fits better around childcare, women with long careers in other fields who were looking for their next challenge. It was really inspiring to see how many different paths can lead to this industry and to connect with such a strong, supportive community of women. What advice would you give to her people who are on a similar journey to yourself, or perhaps about to start that journey? Work out what you want to do, and then work out how you’re going to get there, and then start working on getting there. Don’t be afraid to leave a crap job after a short amount of time because you think it might look bad on your CV - as long as you can explain why you left that job if you get asked about it in an interview, it doesn’t matter if you were only there for a couple of months, finding a job that you actually enjoy is way more important. Looking after yourself physically is so important, especially if you’re working remotely and don’t go into an office regularly - get out of the house at least once a day, even if it’s just for a 15 minute walk. If you are about to start learning how to code, also learn how to touch-type - if you can type quickly, you can code quickly! Genuinely one of the most useful things I have ever learnt how to do. What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf?  I'd recommend The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. What is your favourite song? My favourite song is Go Down River by The Heavy Heavy. Finally, could you leave us with your favourite quote? I have three favourite quotes from three awesome ladies: "Find out who you are and do it on purpose." — Dolly Parton “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” — Maggie Smith“ "I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn't been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn't have been lucky.” — Oprah Winfrey Interviewed by Doug Gear  

When was the last time you did something for the first time? Christine Curtius is no stranger to breaking new ground. As the Co-Founder and former CEO of an EV charging startup in Germany, she set out to revolutionize the industry—making EV charging more sustainable and convenient through autonomous technology. In this conversation, Christine takes us through her journey as a female founder in the EV and energy sector, from turning an idea into a fully funded startup to securing government grants. Now, she’s paying it forward, supporting founders and startups across North Rhine-Westphalia. We also dive into her leadership style, the power of diverse teams, and why the language in your job ads could be the key to attracting more women into the industry.   What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf?  The Cafe At The Edge Of The World What is your favourite song? "mit dir" Joy Denalane and Max Herre. Interviewed By Milo Johnson

“Be proactive and utilise your network” Ying Liu is a Machine Learning Engineer with a Ph.D. in Physics and over four years of industry experience. She is currently the Head of AI at TG0 and one of the founding Directors of the Women Coding Community in London. Her inspiration to support women in tech came after attending AI meet-ups, where she noticed the lack of female representation. Determined to make a difference, Ying began sharing her knowledge and creating opportunities to encourage more women to enter the field. In this blog, Ying talks about her journey and offers advice on how women can successfully transition into tech. Hi Ying, thank you for getting involved with Women Rock! Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to pursue a tech career, specifically in the field of machine learning and AI? I entered the field of machine learning relatively late after transitioning from a PhD in physics. At this time, I had limited coding experience but during my PhD I learned Python so I could develop custom software for simulations. It was during this time I became aware of machine learning's growing popularity in physics through conferences and discussions with peers. In 2018 I attended an event at the Alan Turing Institute discussing AI's impact on life, where a speaker emphasised the rapid evolution of machine learning and the importance of joining the field quickly before being left behind. Motivated by this, I began learning machine learning through online platforms like Coursera and eventually transitioned into the field part-time, marking the beginning of my career in ML. What challenges have you faced in your career to date? Finding that ‘first job’ is hard, especially as I was looking for one that offered the balance between engineering and research which was made even more challenging as I don’t come from the typical computer science or mathematics background. It meant that I had to learn a lot on the job, including basic concepts like computing time and memory management, which are fundamental in computer science and would come more naturally to those who followed a traditional career path. It was during this period I observed that AI meetup events are predominantly attended by men, which motivated me to begin promoting and encouraging more women to get involved in the field. Do you feel that people with a computer science background have an advantage over people who don’t when transitioning into more industry-focused roles? Definitely. There is a noticeable difference in the first few years of work between those with a computer science background and those from a purely academic route. That being said, after a few years of work experience, the difference becomes negligible and having a strong scientific background has its advantages within the field of ML. What is your proudest professional achievement? My proudest achievement was publishing two papers as a first author. The papers focused on visual learning, specifically addressing challenges in gesture recognition with limited data and on low-power devices like microcontrollers. I developed an algorithm to sit on top of legacy AI models, allowing for efficient tuning towards new datasets without extensive retraining. These algorithms have been used and continue to be used in a commercial setting. What advice would you give to young women or women in general who are looking to transition into tech? Tech is a very competitive field so you need to do as much as you can to stand out. Interview panels understand that people entering the field for the first time won’t have much commercial experience to discuss so you should invest time working on personal projects and publishing them on GitHub. It’s also important that your coding skills are as sharp as possible. Again, the bar won’t be as high as it would be for experienced people, but participating in coding challenges is a great way to hone your skills and demonstrates during an interview that you’re eager to learn and develop.  It’s all about differentiating yourself from other people and going the extra mile. Do you think people coming from university or PhD backgrounds should take up a research role or a research engineer role and then try to transition to become a machine learning engineer? Maybe. In my experience, I have found that it's easier for PhD graduates to become machine learning engineers than researchers. Machine learning research roles are harder to come by as fewer companies hire them. There’s a higher demand for machine learning engineers as the title can carry a range of responsibilities and the number of engineers in a business grows as they scale which often isn’t the case for researchers. Moving on to the work you’re doing to help increase diversity in tech. Can you tell us a little more about the Women Coding Community and how your role with the organisation came about? Initially I started volunteering at the London chapter of Women Who Code but unfortunately due to funding issues, the organisation closed. Without wanting to lose the community completely, I and a few other members decided to start the Women Coding Community and things took off quickly, within a few weeks we had a brand new website! Women Coding Community runs various programs including a range of workshops to help people improve their public speaking and interview confidence as well as ones focused on more technical subjects like front and backend development, machine learning etc. We even run book clubs, writing clubs and LeetCode competitions. The workshops are run by both directors and leaders within the organisation. We have people specialising in certain technologies, and programming languages so they host events that are relevant to their area of expertise. How often are the events and how do people get involved? We aim to do three events a week, which is a lot. Most of the events we run are virtual, but we aim to do an in-person event once a month. We currently have a few thousand active members but of course, not every event is relevant to everyone. For more information on upcoming events and how to get involved, please visit our website - https://womencodingcommunity.com/ - we’re always looking for new members, speakers, volunteers, and sponsors. What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf?  The book I would recommend is Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow.  What is your favourite song? My current favourite song is Freddie Freeloader by Jon Hendricks Any final words of wisdom to close off the interview? It’s important to be as proactive as possible when looking to make a career change into tech. You can achieve anything you want with hard work and patience. Another piece of advice is to seek internal referrals. These are arguably the most effective ways to break into or transition into a career in tech. Applying directly is a numbers game and it’s hard to stand out. Having people within a business advocate for you is much more powerful. Interviewed By Jamie Forgan

“It's our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.” Meet Joinna… A Data Engineer at Rockpool Digital. Joinna grew up in the Philippines, moved to sunny England (I still can’t quite work out why) and has built a promising career so far! After realising the insurance industry was not quite right for her (and after watching a fair few coding videos on YouTube), Joinna found her passion in tech and has not looked back since. Joinna is a big advocate for diversity in tech and covers some really important topics in her blog—enjoy the read! Hi Joinna, thank you for getting involved with Women Rock! Let’s start by telling us a little about yourself and what a day in your life looks like. I was born and raised in the Philippines, spending my early years on a farm with my grandmother. I've always had a deep love for animals, and one of my aspirations is to someday run my own animal sanctuary where I can rescue and care for them! In 2011, I left the Philippines and moved to the UK with my parents. Adjusting to the drastic change from tropical warmth to grey skies wasn’t easy and when I tell you as soon as I got off that National Express coach in SWINDON? out of all places, my jaw dropped, and I don't mean that in a good way. I sometimes wish my dad had brought me here during the summer to minimise the impact! I work as a Data Engineer at Rockpool Digital. When I’m not working, I tend to spend a lot of time with my family, animals, nature, and friends! How, and why, did you get into Data Engineering? What inspired you? After college, I embarked on a Degree Apprenticeship in Insurance through an Insurance Brokerage, juggling full-time work with studying for my degree over three years. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—many tears were shed! Once I finished, I thought I’d finally have some freedom, but the universe had other plans, keeping me home for the next year. When COVID hit, I was working from home full-time, and like many others, I found myself in a creative, idea-filled phase. Since I felt unfulfilled with the role I was doing then, I decided to do some research and see what else is out there, and that is when I stumbled upon the magical world of Data Science and AI. I learned that you needed to know how to code to start. Throughout my research, I mainly saw Python and SQL as the common language, so I decided to watch YouTube tutorials and learn how to code independently. I was so scared to start, but I just pushed myself to do it. I told myself; I've got nothing to lose. I persisted and did further research on qualifications I could get, and then I saw the MSc Data Science course at UWE. The great thing about this is that they welcomed anyone with a non-technical background, so I was able to use my insurance degree to apply, and I got in! I graduated with a Distinction and during my time at UWE, I met some of the most incredibly talented, creative, and ambitious people, and I know they are out there achieving great things. During my dissertation, I started applying for jobs as I didn’t want to be unemployed after graduation, your girl took a very proactive approach. As much as I loved charts and Excel, I preferred doing a more technical-focused role, leading me to apply for data engineering roles. This effort paid off when I secured a position as a Junior Data Engineer at Elemis, which has been a fantastic career start, especially with such a supportive team. Is it no secret that, currently, women and people from diverse backgrounds still face challenges. What challenges do you think are faced in the tech industry, and how do you think these challenges should be combated? I believe there aren't enough women in leadership roles within the tech industry. During my time at Elemis, I truly admired that their IT department had several women in head positions. According to Forbes, in 1984, 35% of tech leaders were women. By 2022, that number had fallen to 32%, and in 2023, it went down again to 28%. The way that it is decreasing is quite concerning if you ask me. This could be due to a lot of factors, and here are some of the things I could think of: Promotion Gap: Implement clear, transparent promotion criteria and actively sponsor women for leadership roles. Retention Gap: Create supportive environments with flexible work policies and career development opportunities. Workplace Culture Gap: Foster inclusivity through diversity training and zero tolerance for discrimination. Mentorship Gap: Establishing structured mentorship and sponsorship programs tailored for women is crucial to fostering their growth and success, particularly in the early stages of their careers. These programs offer guidance, support, and opportunities for advancement that are often hard to come by. I find this essential as it can help build confidence, develop key skills, and create a pathway to leadership. It ensures that women have the resources and advocates they need to overcome barriers and thrive in their professional journeys. Representation Gap: We need more representation, and it looks like SR2 is already 2 steps ahead by creating Women Rock as a platform for women to share their voices, but it would be great to see more of this! Work-life Balance Gap: Encourage work-life balance with flexible hours, remote options, and parental leave policies. What strategies do you think companies can use to attract diverse talent when recruiting? We will start to see an increase in emerging young and highly diverse talents, so it's essential to cater to their needs and adopt a forward-thinking mindset. To engage and retain these emerging professionals, we should create events that are not only interactive but also enjoyable, helping to foster a sense of community and connection within the company. I find that designing an office environment that is both dynamic and functional is essential. An inspiring workspace, like what we see at Gymshark HQ (I am going to need some companies to take notes! ), can significantly enhance employee productivity and overall satisfaction. Investing in such an environment can make the workplace more appealing and conducive to innovative thinking. In addition to a well-designed office, it’s important to offer flexible work arrangements. Providing options for remote work, flexible hours, or a hybrid model can cater to diverse lifestyles and preferences, making it easier for employees to balance their professional and personal lives. This flexibility can also help in attracting and retaining top talent by aligning with their expectations for modern work environments. Most importantly, make sure you offer great packages and compensation. What am I supposed to do with a fruit basket that gets emptied by Wednesday? Ultimately, to attract and retain young talent, consider offering competitive salaries, comprehensive health and wellness programs, generous paid time off, professional development opportunities, student loan assistance, work-life balance initiatives, employee discounts and perks, innovative office spaces, social and team-building activities, and the latest technology and equipment. As a woman in technology, what would you say is the best and worst thing you’ve encountered within the industry over the years, and what did this teach you? The best part of working in the tech industry so far is being a part of such an amazing and funny team. Since I started, the support from senior members has been incredible, especially when I’ve doubted my skills or struggled with Imposter Syndrome. My manager has been incredibly supportive, pushing me to challenge myself and speak up. Most importantly, the whole team is so encouraging and constantly reminds me that I am more than capable. On top of that, they get me—tolerating my TikTok references, even if they don’t always get them. I’ve never felt so comfortable being myself at work, and this team will be hard to beat. By the time this gets released, I’ll probably have moved on from the company, but to Paul, Shawn, John, and Jasper, I’m going to miss you guys so much. Thanks for making work fun! Moving on to one of the most frustrating work experiences I’ve encountered is when colleagues bypass direct communication with the team and go straight to the CIO. This approach creates unnecessary tension and could be easily resolved by open dialogue. I feel this is an area where we can improve—addressing concerns directly with each other would lead to smoother collaboration and avoid misunderstandings. The key lesson from this experience is the importance of open communication. Instead of escalating issues to higher management without first addressing them with the team, fostering a culture of direct dialogue can build trust and resolve problems more efficiently. It emphasises the value of transparency and collaboration, which can lead to a more cohesive and supportive working environment. What are your proudest moments/achievements, both professionally, and personally? My proudest moment in my life is being the first woman in my family to complete a master’s degree. This was such a girl boss move from me, and I will never shut up about it. But this is just the beginning—I have more goals to reach and aspire to set a powerful example not just for the women in my family but for women everywhere. If you could go back to your 16-year-old self, what advice would you give to her? All I can say is to keep moving forward, no matter the challenges, setbacks, or heartaches you encounter. It may feel like the world is falling apart, but it isn’t. Keep being brave, strong, and ambitious. These experiences will help shape who you are, so embrace them and allow yourself to simply be. It’s going to be fine. Who is someone in your life that inspires you? Someone from my personal life would be my mother, she is such an incredible and talented woman. In her early 20s she left her home country to work and earn money to support me and our family. The thought of moving to a different country solely to financially provide for someone else seemed unimaginable. I truly admire her courage—crossing the ocean leaving everything that she knows behind, facing an unfamiliar language, and taking on a physically demanding job. I'll always be grateful for her. Another person who inspires me is Malala Yousafzai. She stood up for the right of girls to receive an education in Pakistan, despite the threat posed by the Taliban. Even after surviving an assassination attempt in 2012 when she was just 15 years old, she remained steadfast in her mission. Her activism brought international attention to the importance of education for girls in marginalised communities. She inspires me because I see her as a symbol of hope. Malala represents the power of young people, especially young women, to drive change and make a positive impact. After reading "I Am Malala," I feel incredibly inspired. It has strengthened my motivation to return to the Philippines, share my knowledge and teach girls from unprivileged backgrounds how to code. It's all a matter of timing! What is your favourite song? Good question! I have a lot haha, but Baile Inolvidable and DtMF by Bad Bunny are currently being rinsed on repeat! You know what put the whole album in there. What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf?  Tuesdays with Morrie is such a beautiful book! I hold it very close to my heart. Finally, could you leave us with your favourite quote? “It's our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.” - David Attenborough. Interviewed by Adam Townsend

"Stay curious and keep learning." Meet Neha, Senior Data Scientist. In this inspiring interview with Finlay, she shares her journey into data science, the hurdles she’s overcome as a woman in tech, and her vision for fostering diversity in the industry. Neha opens up about the valuable lessons she’s learned, offering insights for aspiring tech professionals and emphasising the need for inclusive environments to support underrepresented talent in the tech space. A lifelong advocate for continuous learning, she believes that determination and curiosity are key to success: “With the right mindset, anyone can carve their path in this dynamic field.” Her passion for growth shines through as she actively pursues opportunities to expand her knowledge—whether through online courses, workshops, or industry conferences. This interview is packed with inspiration, whether you're just starting your tech journey or looking for ways to diversify your team and create meaningful change in the industry. Hey Neha, thanks so much for being part of Women Rock! We'd love to hear about your story so far. Can you tell us about yourself and your journey into the field of data science and what inspired you to pursue a career in this area? My journey into data science began while writing my thesis in Cambridge. Surrounded by a vibrant academic community, I attended numerous open sessions at the university, captivated by discussions on the transformative power of data. These conversations, combined with my own need to analyse data from my research, ignited a curiosity that would shape my future. Eager to dive deeper into this emerging field, I committed the following year to learning about data science through online courses and classroom instruction. I immersed myself in statistics and programming languages like Python and R, discovering the joy of working with data and uncovering patterns that could lead to meaningful insights. I pursued a few internships to bridge the gap between theory and practice, gaining hands-on experience in applying my newfound skills in real-world contexts. After moving to Germany, I joined Blue Yonder, marking a significant turning point in my career. Here, I’ve spent the past five years working alongside some of the best minds in the industry. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities to learn, and I’m constantly inspired by the impact that data can have on decision-making and innovation. Transitioning to data science was not without its challenges, especially coming from a non-computer science background. However, my passion and perseverance have propelled me forward. I believe that with determination and a willingness to learn, anyone can carve their own path in this dynamic field. Data science is not just a career for me; it’s a journey of discovery and endless possibilities. What is your role and responsibilities in your current company? As a Senior Data Scientist at my current company, I play a pivotal role in developing and maintaining our state-of-the-art products, which are utilised by over 50 Global customers.  Data Analysis and Interpretation: I analyse complex datasets to extract meaningful insights that drive product enhancements and inform strategic decision-making. This involves leveraging statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms to identify trends and patterns. Model Development: Design, develop, and validate predictive models that enhance our product offerings. By applying advanced analytics, I help optimise customer operations and improve overall performance. Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams: I work closely with product managers, software engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure that our data-driven solutions align with business goals and customer needs. This collaboration is crucial for translating technical findings into actionable product features. Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: As a senior member of the team, I mentor junior data scientists and contribute to their professional development. I also share insights and best practices to foster a culture of continuous learning within the team. Performance Monitoring: Develop metrics and dashboards to monitor the performance of products in real-time. This helps ensure that we deliver reliable and impactful solutions to our customers. Customer Engagement: Engaging with customers to understand their needs and challenges is essential. I gather feedback and insights that inform our product development processes, ensuring that we are responsive to the evolving demands of our client base. Through these responsibilities, I contribute to the company's mission of delivering innovative, data-driven solutions that empower our customers to achieve their operational goals. Each project presents an opportunity to leverage the power of data, making a tangible impact on businesses around the globe. What specific areas of data science and machine learning are you most passionate about, and how have you developed your expertise in those areas? I am particularly passionate about data modelling and creating robust data pipelines, as I believe these areas are crucial for developing features that enhance the responsiveness of our products. Effective data modelling allows us to structure data in a way that maximizes its usability, while well-designed data pipelines ensure that our systems can efficiently process and integrate data for future feature development. My interest in these areas has deepened through hands-on experience. I’ve learned that success in data science doesn’t happen overnight; it requires patience and dedication. I’ve invested time in collaborating with experts in the field, which has been invaluable. Working alongside seasoned professionals has not only helped me grasp the foundational concepts but also exposed me to best practices in feature engineering and data pipeline architecture. To further develop my expertise, I continually seek out learning opportunities, whether through online courses, workshops, or industry conferences. Engaging with the data science community has also allowed me to stay updated on emerging trends and technologies, ensuring that I can apply the latest techniques in my work. Ultimately, my goal is to harness the power of data to create innovative solutions that drive meaningful impact for our clients. By focusing on data modelling and pipeline development, I aim to lay the groundwork for future enhancements that will elevate our products and deliver exceptional value. As a female data scientist, have you faced any unique challenges or obstacles in your career? How have you navigated and overcome them? Throughout my career as a data scientist, I’ve faced various challenges, but I prefer to view my journey through a lens of resilience and support rather than gender bias. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside cooperative colleagues who were always willing to share their knowledge and help me grasp complex concepts. Their support played a significant role in my development. One of the key challenges I encountered was balancing work with family responsibilities, especially as someone transitioning from a non-computer science background. Juggling the demands of home life and raising kids while learning coding and data science skills was certainly challenging. However, I approached this balance with determination and a commitment to my goals. By creating a structured schedule and leveraging the support of my colleagues, I managed to navigate these hurdles. I focused on continuous learning and sought out resources that fit into my lifestyle, making the most of both my professional and personal commitments. Ultimately, perseverance and a strong support network helped me succeed. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made and excited about the opportunities ahead, and I believe that everyone’s journey is unique, and shaped by their own challenges and triumphs. In your opinion, what are some key steps organisations can take to promote and increase diversity in the tech industry, specifically within data science and machine learning roles? Here are key steps organisations can take: Inclusive Hiring Practices: Implementing hiring practices that actively seek to reduce bais.  Outreach and Partnerships: Building relationships with women’s organisations, universities, and community programs can enhance recruitment efforts. Engaging with initiatives that focus on empowering women in STEM can create a wider pipeline of female talent ready to enter data science and machine learning fields. Mentorship and Sponsorship Programs: Establishing mentorship programs specifically for women can provide the guidance and support they need to navigate their careers. Pairing junior women with experienced female leaders can help foster a sense of belonging and empowerment. Flexible Work Policies: Offering flexible work arrangements, such as flexible hours, can significantly support women who are caregivers, making it easier for them to thrive in their roles. Career Support Programs: Implementing “back to work” initiatives are essential for women who have taken career breaks, whether due to family responsibilities or relocation with spouses. Career re-entry workshops and training programs tailored for these women can help them refresh their skills and confidently re-enter the workforce. Creating an Inclusive Culture: Fostering a culture that values diverse voices is critical. This can be achieved through diversity training focused on gender equity, encouraging open discussions about the challenges women face, and creating forums for women to share their experiences and insights. Tracking and Accountability: Setting measurable diversity goals related to female representation in tech roles and regularly reporting on progress is vital. These are my personal views and is nothing to do with any organization. What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in the tech industry? Here’s some basic advice for those looking to enter the tech industry: Start with the Basics: Build a strong foundation in core concepts. Whether it's programming, data analysis, or machine learning, understanding the fundamentals will serve you well. Online courses and tutorials can be great resources. Embrace Continuous Learning: The tech field is always evolving. Stay curious and keep learning. Follow industry trends, read relevant articles, and consider pursuing certifications that align with your interests. Hands-On Experience: Practical experience is invaluable. Work on personal projects, contribute to open-source initiatives or take on internships. These experiences not only enhance your skills but also help build a portfolio that showcases your work. Network Actively: Connect with others in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, and conferences to meet professionals and peers. Networking can lead to mentorship opportunities and potential job openings. Don’t Fear Failure: Mistakes are part of the learning process. Embrace challenges and view setbacks as opportunities for growth. Resilience is key in the tech industry. Find a Mentor: Seek out mentors who can provide guidance and insights based on their own experiences. A mentor can help you navigate your career path and offer valuable advice. Cultivate Soft Skills: While technical skills are crucial, soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are equally important. Being able to collaborate effectively with others can set you apart. Stay Diverse in Your Learning: Explore different areas of tech. Whether it’s data science, software development, cybersecurity, or UX design, gaining exposure to various fields can help you find your passion. Focus on Impact: Consider how you can make a difference through technology. Whether it’s developing solutions that improve lives or contributing to social good, having a purpose can motivate you in your career. Be Patient and Persistent: Breaking into the tech industry can take time, and the path may not be linear. Stay focused on your goals, be persistent, and keep pushing forward. Entering the tech industry can be a rewarding journey, and with dedication and the right mindset, you can thrive and make a meaningful impact. What is your favourite song? My favourite song is Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf?  The Fountainhead Ayn Rand Finally, could you leave us with your favourite quote? “Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.” -Oprah Winfrey Interviewed by Finaly Bright

“There’s no such thing as a stupid question” Meet Helen, a Senior Software Engineer at Sopheon with over 25 years of experience in the web industry Beya recently caught up with her to discuss how her role has evolved over the years, climbing the ladder as a woman in tech, her challenges, and her advice for women looking to start their own tech journey. Helen is a remarkable woman who has navigated her career across diverse roles, from Client Service Management to Software Engineering. With six years as both a Senior Software Engineer and Team Lead, she has been an invaluable asset to her team, driving collaboration and product growth. She’s also an active tech community member, regularly attending meetups and participating in various community initiatives. Helen is a wonderful individual, and we’re excited to share her story with you! Hey Helen, thanks so much for being part of Women Rock! We'd love to hear about your story so far, and how you got into the world of tech. I attended a classic Bootcamp in Central London in the late '90s and have worked in the industry ever since. Starting as an HTML coder, I progressed to roles like Client Services Manager, Project Manager, and Software Engineer. I've built hundreds of websites, created custom themes in WordPress and Drupal, and advised and managed clients. My work has recently focused on “Product”, modern JavaScript, React, Agile methodologies, and the software development lifecycle. With 25 years as a developer, how has your journey been as a woman in tech? and how have you found climbing the career ladder throughout this time? Before having children, I navigated a significant gap between programming languages like PHP and ASP and basic HTML. There were very few women in the programming space, so I decided to take a more client-facing route whilst continuing to code both at work and freelance. After returning from maternity leave in 2007 and again in 2009, I found it challenging to be taken seriously as a part-timer working three days a week. I managed on very low pay for 10 years while also caring for my children. I believe part-time workers who balance caregiving responsibilities are taken more seriously now, though I may be wrong. Six years ago, I made the deliberate decision to return to coding full-time, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way, especially the late Tim Marsh, to whom I owe so much. I strive to carry forward his kindness, inclusivity, and remarkable intellect. What advice would you give to Women wanting to start a career in tech? Start coding and building things The vast majority of people in tech are friendly and helpful, it’s a wonderful community, try going to some meetups There are no stupid questions Do you believe a University Degree is essential for individuals wanting to get into the tech world? No, although there are more companies asking for a computing degree. I have never been asked or needed any qualifications. How have you found the female/ men diversity split in varying workplaces across your career? The general statistic for 2024, is that only 13% of females work in specifically the php sector. Recently, we successfully built and recruited a team consisting of 75% female JavaScript and PHP engineers, which is quite rare. I have never been interviewed by a woman, but I have had the opportunity to recruit engineers myself. We weren’t practising positive discrimination—just hiring the best candidates. In most teams I've worked with, there have been significantly fewer women. The 13% figure sounds about right. What is your proudest achievement in tech? Successfully moving back to full-time coding in my mid-40s and being promoted to a Senior Software Engineer. Have you faced any challenges or barriers as a Woman in Tech in your career? I don’t know if it’s being a woman or working part-time but yes. You mentioned when we previously spoke that diversity is something you are passionate about, therefore, what do you think can be done to help attract a more diverse mix of people in tech? Ensure there is more diversity within the hiring team and give opportunities to people who may not look or sound like the rest of the team. Create an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome. What is the next step for you in your career? Stay in a dev role, or move into a team leader role. I love watching and encouraging others to develop and grow and would like to use my people skills again. What do you do outside work to relax? Walk my dog, spend time with friends and family, pottery and yoga. Who have been the most influential people in your life? For life in general my wonderful family and friends and in my professional life; my friend and colleague (Tim) who sadly passed away. If there is a song that would describe you, which song would this be? I don’t have a song, but my favourite animals and probably what describes me best are Goats. What book would you recommend? It's a tricky one. Although it's incredibly traumatic, it is by a woman, so "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara made me cry more than once. Finally, could you leave us with your favourite quote? “There’s no such thing as a stupid question” Interviewed by Beya Durante