62. How networks can be your biggest support

Description

How networks can be your biggest support

#Takeaways

Seeking the right support networks can help through career obstacles

Why female mentors in specific industries can make a huge impact

The power of having male allies

Using opportunities that allows talent development in other areas

Don’t underestimate the power of connection and building relationships

Companies need to ASK their people what THEY need to retain their women in tech

On today's show I am talking to the awesome Kyra Audley Charles, a Business Development Manager who has worked across VFX, M&A and Data Analytics and we are exploring the obstacles and challenges facing women in tech.

I know this is an important area with initiatives to increase the numbers because right now there are not enough women in the industry.

Kyra talks about her own experiences and how she stayed in tech when so many women leave within the first five years. Seeking out the right support really did make all the difference to her and she shares some great places and top tips on the benefits of networking and connecting with others who understand what it can be like and we also talk about how companies can also encourage more women to join and stay in the tech industry.

And before we dive in don’t forget you can get the latest on female leadership, the gender pay gap, strategies that can help women raise their profile through self promotion at work and even book recommendations when you sign up for my newsletter. Link below in the show notes.

Get yours by clicking >> https://www.gemmastow.com/newsletter

“Women start a career in tech and then because of these small things that build up they leave the industry” - Gemma

“I have had a few obstacles on my journey all the kinds of things including sexual harassment, people looking down on me, talking to me in a bad way, but I have been able to overcome that with different networks and solutions out there” - Kyra

“It’s the darker side of being in an industry where you are outnumbered...but it’s important to talk about these obstacles so women know what to expect and what they can do about it” - Gemma

“I have had a lot of support and have also done a lot of outreach to find that support as well” - Kyra

“Make the use of your colleagues and outside of that - your network is who you know” - Kyra

“There are stats that show that companies who have more women on the board are the most profitable companies - I often target clients that my male colleagues haven't thought about because they are not relevant to them” - Kyra

#Resources

Get my NEWSLETTER that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, book recommendations and good practices that are happening all over the place that support more women to step up and be recognised for the value they bring.

Get yours by clicking >> https://www.gemmastow.com/newsletter