What I Want the Next Generation of Women in Tech to Know
To the women coming up behind us in tech: I see you. You’re talented, curious, and building careers in a world we only dreamed of decades ago. You’re entering boardrooms, bootcamps, and backend systems that once felt like locked rooms. And yet, some doors still creak open slowly.
I’m not here to hand you a rulebook. I’m here to offer what I wish someone had told me.
1. You Belong Here (Even If the Room Doesn’t Say So Yet)
Imposter syndrome isn’t a flaw - it’s a side effect of being first, or few. The systems you’re entering weren’t always built with you in mind. But you belong in this field. Not because of your credentials, or your GitHub contributions - but because you’re here, showing up, and building.
Hold your ground. Pull up another chair when you can.
2. Learn the Tech - But Don’t Forget the System
Learn to code. Learn to query. Learn your way around algorithms and APIs. But also: learn the politics of the room. Learn who gets heard, who gets credit, and how decisions are made.
Technical skill will get you in the room. Strategic awareness will help you stay.
3. You Don’t Have to Be Everything
You don’t have to be the expert coder and the best presenter and the project lead and the company culture champion. Pick your battles. Protect your time. Let your work speak when your voice is tired.
And never apologize for prioritizing your well-being over someone else's expectations.
4. Find Allies - Not Just Mentors
Mentors are great. But allies - the people who speak your name in rooms you’re not in - are gold. Look for the ones who see your value without needing you to shrink, code-switch, or over-perform.
And when you’re in a position to be that person for someone else? Do it loudly and often.
5. Tech Needs Your Perspective
Don’t let anyone convince you that empathy, storytelling, ethics, or communication are “soft skills.” They are survival skills - in the workplace, and in the systems we build. We don’t just need more women in tech. We need your thinking, your lived experience, and your way of seeing the world.
Because algorithms are only as wise as the people behind them.
A Final Word
To the next generation: You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to stay curious, hold your ground, and lift as you climb. You’re not just entering the future of tech. You are shaping it.
And I, for one, can’t wait to see what you build.