DoingItAnyway Banner

The Doing it Anyway campaign

In recognition that the tech industry needs more women, the Tech Talent Charter (TTC) created the Doing it Anyway campaign in 2019. This campaign focused on working-age women and compiled accessible resources for people considering retraining for a career in tech, including non-traditional qualification and training routes. It used the power of storytelling and social media to build a community and shared the stories of many inspiring role models who have faced barriers but are doing it anyway, with the goal of helping more women see themselves in tech careers.

Resources to help you get ready for your career in tech

The tech industry needs women like us. Problem solvers, multi-taskers, communicators. We have the human and transferable skills that are vital to a successful and rewarding career in tech. Whilst it may seem like a job in tech isn't for us, it is. We have everyday life skills and despite barriers or hurdles, many amazing women are doing it anyway. Even if you don’t have formal tech education or training you can explore below to see how TTC is here to help you find an accessible pathway to a fulfilling career in tech.

Women who are #DoingItAnyway

Magdalene Amegashitsi

Magdalene Amegashitsi

Facing a nasty divorce, with a small salary to look after a baby and a toddler alone, my future was at stake. Research led me to study Data Science and AI. At 3am every day, I was up studying before my kids would wake up. I’d study at every spare moment until I got my first break working in tech. Now, I’ve got the flexibility to work from home and during short breaks I do the laundry and prepare dinner while enjoying my mocha. Currently, as a senior consultant to a multi-national oil company, I lead a team creating an analytics and AI platform whilst advising on transformational projects pivotal to the business strategy. Tenacity, good communication, self-discipline and an analytical-mind are skills that have made me successful in tech.

Honesty Haynes-Williams

Honesty Haynes-Williams

As a queer, young, black woman of mixed heritage living with a life-long illness, my passion for driving change was never optional. I always had to fight for equity and equality. Last summer, my journey brought me to a women’s empowerment programme by the charity ‘You Make It’. This experience has helped me grow in confidence, self-esteem and finding my own path. But I was also given the chance to enter previously out of reach spaces. I knew my interests were in writing which allowed me to start a placement and ultimately a digital marketing apprenticeship. Working in tech is an exciting journey. It combines strategy, creativity and speed. But most importantly, it has the potential to create change for the better.

Molly Watt

Molly Watt

As an individual living with a disability, technology very quickly became the centre of my universe. Without tech that is inclusive, I would not be in the place that I am today: running a company as a Deafblind person and having confidence with tech tools to be a valuable part of society.  I'm a keynote speaker and usability and accessibility consultant, specialising in assistive technology and design for those with sensory impairment. I'm also an ambassador and advocate of the Molly Watt Trust and Sense. My presentations range from awareness of Usher Syndrome, sensory impairments, accessibility, assistive technology and accessible design. I've spoken at the Houses of Parliament, Harvard Medical School and the Apple Campus. I originally wanted to be a teacher, but was constantly told that I couldn’t teach if I couldn’t see or hear properly. I quote “How on earth do you think YOU could teach a room full of 30 children??” Here I am, not a teacher but educating on a bigger stage.

Kam Rai

Kam Rai

I have an Economics degree and when I graduated I decided to take some time to figure out what I wanted to do. I worked for four different companies that year and ended up going to a lot of tech events. That's when I fell in love with the tech scene. I did not have any tech skills so I joined a corporate, hoping they'd upskill me while I pursued basic coding courses on the side. Working at PwC gave me exposure to cyber security, data protection and IT operating models, but also to innovation. In my first six months I got involved in an internal accelerator programme and finally found my ideal role as a product manager: I discover problems, validate them and use technology to solve them. Now I help people within the firm bring their ideas to life.

Clare Streets

Clare Streets

Following a long maternal career break I felt like I was never going to find a rewarding career that still allowed me to be the school-run mum that I wanted to be and resigned myself to odd jobs during school hours. After retraining at a software development bootcamp I found there were many opportunities in tech where I could also make the most of my transferrable skills, that allowed for both of these roles to be fulfilled. I’m two years into my career in tech, Associate Director at B13 Technology, Board Member for the West Midlands Digital Skills Partnership, Non-Exec Director at Birmingham Tech Week, Ambassador for School of Code and DiDFest and on the Women in Software Power List 2020. But most importantly, I found an awesome and progressive career path and still get to be the mum I want to be.

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson

If you’d told me when I finished my philosophy degree ten years ago that I’d end up being a developer I wouldn’t have believed you, but here I am and I love it! After starting out in an admin role then spending years being a Project Manager I started to learn JavaScript in my spare time and, with the help of the amazing tech community at the Financial Times where I work, I’m now a full time developer. I may not (yet!) be the most technically experienced, but I make up for it with over-enthusiasm and by going out of my way to create a great environment at work. I want my team to look forward to coming to work every day! I’ve just had a baby girl, and gone from team mum to real life mum. I’m still learning as much as possible, coding while she naps, and writing blog posts about my journey. Forging my career alongside motherhood is a whole new challenge; and one that I’m embracing with my usual energy!"

Sifaya Vellaithamby

Sifaya Vellaithamby

I am a lead technical architect in digital, data and technology at the UK Home Office. I am a mum of two and was born and brought up in a Muslim background in Sri Lanka. I immigrated to the UK at the age of 27 and started my career in technology in the private sector with various roles such as a tech engineer, consultant and architect. It was a challenging journey to balance the roles as a mum, wife and an architect, but ultimately I achieved a highly responsible role in a male dominated technology sector. My message to all the women out there is to break the barriers, trust in yourself and believe that your voice matters. Most importantly it's no longer about having an “if I can" mindset - now it’s more about “how I can”, so just make a start.

Patience Ndlovu

Patience Ndlovu

After 10 years in the Royal-Navy I left and accepted a role in logistics management. I attended an AWS Restart Course, I also took online courses and attended meetups to develop my skills. In March 2019, I attended an event at Sky (Leeds Dock) and fell in love with the company and the culture. In May 2019, I joined Sky as a tester and now I write automation scripts for feature delivery. I gained a lot of transferrable skills from the Royal-Navy, like communication, problem-solving, leadership and teamwork. Not everyone needs a Computer Science degree (mine was Business Management), all you need is to be passionate about technology, willing to learn and not afraid to take a risk.

#DoingItAnyway campaign sponsors

Global 200px
HP 200px
institute of coding 350px
PwC