The future of technology should be shaped by diverse voices. That’s why we are proud to spotlight the incredible women in tech in our team who are pushing the boundaries of innovation, tackling challenges, and inspiring the next generation of leaders in the field.
This article is part of a series of interviews with our team who share their careers experiences. Meet our first interviewee: Sian Rogers , Senior Developer at Netcentrix.
💡What is your current role?
I’m a Senior Developer. As a developer, I design, write, test, and debug software applications. Being in a senior role within the team means that I oversee development projects. So, I make decisions over which tasks to prioritise in the development lifecycle, collaborate with other members of the team to make things happen, and communicate with our clients and other key stakeholders.
💡How did you get started in IT?
I actually didn’t start my career in IT until I was in my mid to late 20’s. I was drifting around unsure what I wanted to do long-term, when I saw an advertisement for a short IT pathway course with a training/recruitment company. I had been interested in computers since university, so I decided to dig into the last of a little inheritance and invested it in myself. Taking the course was one of the best decisions I ever made as it led to a job as an IT Support Engineer, subcontracted to a multi-national company called Tetra Pak.
💡Can you share a little about your career to date?
I worked in IT support for around 6 years, eventually reaching the position of 3rd Line Engineer. I enjoyed IT support, but software development was what I was really interested in. So, during those years, I studied in my own time for a degree in Computing with The Open University. I graduated in 2011 achieving a 2.1.
This new qualification led to me changing job roles to software development. I was promoted to Senior Software Developer in September 2022.
💡What is it about technology that keeps you engaged and passionate about your role?
It can be a lot of fun and it can be very satisfying. Sometimes can feel like I come to work and solve puzzles all day. Working alongside a customer to build some software from scratch that will make their business more effective and more able to achieve their aims can be very fulfilling.
💡Have you noticed a lack of women in the technology industry throughout your career? If yes, how has this changed as your career has progressed?
I have always worked with companies that employed plenty of women. However, for most of my career, I have been the only woman in a technical role. I am seeing more and more women in technology in roles like project management, so I hope it will just be a matter of time before gender diversity is reflected in technical roles too.
💡Do you believe your gender has ever impacted the way you have been perceived or treated in your career?
I’ve never been treated differently by the men I have worked with; however, one or two customers have been sexist. I remember just after starting with a new employer, I answered a support call and the customer told me to “get one of the lads on the phone instead”.
💡What do you think businesses should be doing to encourage more girls and young women to consider careers in technology?
I think encouraging young girls to do work experience placements in IT environments would show them how different the reality of IT is! Companies should also actively promote the women in their teams at recruitment fares, school career talks etc. It would help girls realise that careers in IT are open to them.
💡What is the one piece of advice you would give to a young woman looking to enter the industry or just at the beginning of her career in technology?
Never stop learning. The tech industry is constantly evolving, and you will need to keep up with the changes and that can be challenging at times.
It can be daunting when you are familiar with one technology, but another technology is emerging as the industry standard, but learning these new advancements is essential. It will allow you to provide the customer with the best products possible, and you can progress and grow in your career. Everyone wins!
We’re spotlighting the incredible women who are part of our team. Keep your eyes peeled for our next Women in Tech installment.
