How a Girl in ICT Became a Woman in Tech
In a world where stereotypes often dictate career choices, I chose to pursue a career in the traditionally male-dominated field of technology. In honor of Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day, I would like to share the story of how I became a tech professional.
My fascination with technology began around the age of 9 when I discovered the world of video games, particularly Nintendo classics. The thrill of exploring virtual worlds ignited my curiosity and strengthened my problem-solving skills, so when my family bought our first desktop computer, my enthusiasm for technology was only heightened. I vividly remember the day we set up the PC at home - notably because in a moment of pure joy, I did a spontaneous backflip in my bedroom. In this day and age, children are exposed to technology long before the age of 9, but for me, that was the best day of my life!
My natural aptitude for technology became apparent very early on and when my mother recognized my potential, she enrolled me in my first computer class where I received formal computer literacy training. What started as a hobby soon evolved into a passion as I started to explore the world of technology. Despite my growing proficiency, it wasn't until I was about 14 years old, preparing for a Career Day event at school, that the realization struck me – I could see myself pursuing a career in IT. I didn’t go to Career Day dressed as an IT professional because I never considered it as a viable option before, but seeing 2 of my female peers dressed as IT professionals challenged my perception, and ignited a newfound ambition to turn my passion into a profession.
After discovering my newfound calling, I initially faced resistance from my parents when it was time to choose my core subjects at school, primarily because they envisioned a traditional career path in medicine or accounting for their one and only daughter. However, I eventually managed to win them over and they have since been extremely supportive of my dream. Interestingly, some well-intentioned teachers tried to talk me out of doing IT and attempted to convince me to study the natural sciences instead, but thankfully I didn’t listen. I believe teachers can be great advisers, but in this case, I knew what I wanted and I have never regretted my decision.
At the age of 15, I started coding in Pascal (which is not widely used anymore) and subsequently went on to earn an Associate's degree in Computer Science by the age of 18. Unfortunately, I was forced to take a 3-year hiatus from my tech career path for two reasons. First, there were not many job opportunities available for me on my small island and second, funding options for a Bachelor’s degree were very limited. I was able to secure a summer job in the Management Information Systems department at a development bank, but this did not lead to a full-time opportunity which is what I was looking for. As a result, I found myself teaching non-technical subjects at my alma mater, but held onto my dream of one day working in tech. I didn’t know how or when I was going to make it happen, but I trusted the process.
Eventually, after securing funding through pageantry and other endeavors, I made my way back into the field by pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. To be completely honest, the road to graduation was not a straight path. I knew that I wanted this Computer Science degree, but it was actually much harder for me to stay motivated after taking such a long break from technology and school, so guess what I did. I quit. I changed my major after my first year and looked elsewhere as I tried to figure out what to do with my future and whether I would ever be as excellent as I dreamed I would be. As an overachiever, I think I was temporarily overwhelmed by the amount of effort I had to put in to catch up, and being a homesick international student did not help. Thankfully, a short trip to Silicon Valley/San Francisco, sponsored by my university, reignited my passion for Computer Science and I immediately re-enrolled in the Comp Sci program while keeping my International Studies major (I was always interested in international development). Subsequently, I went to a Christian missions conference in St. Louis where I placed second in a hackathon, which further solidified that I was truly walking in my purpose again. This conference is also where I discovered that I wanted to work specifically in the data field and I haven’t looked back since then. The road to completing my Bachelor’s degree was such a roller coaster, but still I managed to graduate with Distinction despite the setbacks, doubts and confusion. Undeterred by challenges and fueled by my ambition, I continued my educational journey in technology, earning a Master's degree in Information Systems, and my story has drastically improved since then. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and secure in my career decision, I finally entered the tech industry, initially as a Data Analytics Consultant, where I honed my skills and gained invaluable experience. Today, I am an Automation and Data Engineer, making impactful contributions in the industry and sharing my lessons and professional opinions through my blog, The Data Model.
Everyday I pinch myself a little as I reflect on the journey that led me to this amazing career path where I continuously feel empowered, challenged and excited to discover new things and solve problems. My journey from being just a girl in ICT to becoming a woman in tech serves as a testament, not only to the power of working hard for what you want, but also to the value of having supportive parents and being okay with making mistakes, changing your mind and taking some time to figure things out along the way. It’s a testament that even if your path doesn’t look like everyone else’s or if you might have to fight a little harder than others to get what you want or if it takes you a little longer to get started, you are still very capable and deserving of achieving your dreams. As I continue to walk in my purpose, I am committed to inspiring others – particularly young girls – to pursue their passions fearlessly and carve out their own paths in the world of technology. A few years ago, I established a scholarship in honor of my parents, which I donate to an IT student at my all-girls alma mater. Every year, the scholarship is donated to someone who is around the age that I was when I discovered that I wanted a career in tech. My hope is to inspire girls to consider IT as a viable career option despite the fact that it’s still a male-dominated field. I also dedicate much of my free time to celebrating and amplifying the voices of other women in tech, especially those of Caribbean heritage like me, as well as mentoring or giving tech career advice to anyone who reaches out.
The rewards of pursuing my true passion has made every single obstacle worthwhile - from not being able to find a job to migrating away from my support system to figuring out whether I was good enough to have the career that I longed for. It was all worth it. My journey also serves as a reminder that just because you know what you want doesn’t mean that it’s going to come easily. Perseverance and discipline are invaluable assets because you can’t take shortcuts to achieve your dreams. You can still embrace the hills, valleys and even the rivers that you might have to cross to get to your destination. The destination is amazing, but the true beauty is in the odyssey.
