The women in tech at PDMS: Amisha Patel

For International Women’s Day, we spoke to Amisha Patel about the barriers to being a woman in the tech industry and what she thinks could be done to support diversity in the industry.

I discovered my love of technology during high school when computing and IT was relatively new. The excitement of this new and ever-changing technology is what piqued my interest and spurred me on to pursue it as a career. 

What do you think are the biggest barriers for women to enter the tech industry? 

The technology industry is perceived to be male dominated with well-known figures such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs. Therefore, women may feel less inspired to enter this revolutionary industry.

In previous roles I've worked in, most developers were male, as were those in senior positions. As the years went on, I watched more women move up the ranks into roles like Senior Business Analyst or Product Manager. However, there were still very few women in more technical roles like development, which is a shame.

It's interesting because if you look at India, for example, there are a lot more women in technical roles. I don' know where the problem stems from in the Western World but maybe there's just not enough information out there that women have a place in technology.

In the UK, despite 47% of the workforce being female, only 19% of the technology industry is made up of women. In India, however, women make up around 34% of the IT workforce and nearly 50% of STEM graduates. 

What do you think is being done to support diversity and equality in the technology industry? 

In recent years, things have changed massively, with new generations being exposed to and using technology in everyday life such as tablets, laptops and interactive whiteboards.

The increase in IT-based apprenticeships offered by companies provide more young people with the ability to gain hands-on industry experience without the need to go to university. This gives young people of all backgrounds access and exposure to the industry. 

Although technology is the norm in our daily lives, I believe it’s important for the Government and educational institutions to keep promoting the wide range of opportunities within the industry through media, workshops, seminars and talks to encourage more women to enter the industry. 

What is your number one piece of advice for the future generations entering the tech industry? 

Never stop learning – knowledge is power! Growing up, my older brother would make a point that I, as a girl, could not do certain things. I would question this and then prove him wrong which is always a great feeling! You can do anything if you put your mind to it.

If you are interested in a career in tech with PDMS then we would love to hear from you - we're committed to helping people get a start in technology careers! Just send your CV to hr@pdms.com with an email explaining why you think you would be a great fit for the team.