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Women in IT - Software Developer

February 21, 2023
2 min read
Women in IT - Software Developer

Women in IT- Software Developer

As an ode to the Women this month we will be profiling a few leading ladies in the Information Technology (IT) sector. Statistics show that there’s still a gender bias in the tech industry, and this keeps too many women from even considering such a career. Statistics further show that:- Only 25% of computing jobs are held by women.

This is a number that has been on a steady decline for years.- From 1980 to 2010, 88% of all IT patents were by male-only invention teams, while 2 percent were by female-only invention teams. So essentially, the technology being created for a widely varying and diverse population is formed by a generally homogeneous group. Not ideal.- 12 percent of engineers at Silicon Valley start-ups are women. Only 11 percent of executive positions at Silicon Valley companies are held by women.

We chat briefly to Daisy about her journey in the IT space.


1. Can you share a little bit about what it is that you do and what a typical day for you is like?

I am a Software Developer.

Mostly I work from home. I plan my day by identifying tasks that I’m required to work on and their priority. Carry out coding, problem-solving and development. I have daily stand-ups between 10:15 am – noon that run for 10 – 20 mins. I’m usually at a constant communication with my managers and ensure I provide constant updates on my progress or any issues that come up. After finding a solution to a coding task, I create a “pull request” summarising changes proposed, which someone else would review and approve or/and provide feedback. Once approved, I deploy the changes.

Did you always know that working in technology was what you wanted to do? How did you decide to go into IT?

No, but I always knew that I would pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

I joined the university to pursue a degree in Information technology. I developed an interest in software development after the 1st year in University. I attended a lot of tech conferences and meetups just to gain more knowledge on the industry. I also started working on small WordPress projects that motivated me to pursue a career in software development.  In 2016, I coached and mentored a team of 5 high school girls (Team Sniper) in developing a mobile app for Technovation challenge. The team emerged 1st in Africa and 2nd World wide. This was such a huge motivation for me to continue coding.

What do you think is the best part of being a woman in the tech industry?

Opportunity to mentor other people especially young women in high school and college/university who are interested and/or pursuing stem education.

Opportunity to work in diverse teams. You get to meet/work with people from different countries and backgrounds hence exposed to different perspectives, views and ideas.

There’s always something to learn. New technologies are emerging every now and then.

Flexible hours

What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in the tech industry? What do you wish you had known?

Mentors are really important especially when you are getting started. They will guide you and motivate you in the early stages, which is really important.

Imposter syndrome! Good news, you are not alone! A lot of women in tech experience this because they find themselves in rooms or teams that are male dominated. Be confident in yourself.

What woman inspires you and why?

Entrepreneurial women but mostly Serena Williams. She is limitless. She has excelled in sports, launched Serena Ventures to invest in companies that embrace diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity and opportunity and also has a fashion line. This has taught me to be open minded and ambitious.

Do you think we should all code to be in the tech industry?

Not really, there are other fields that one can pursue in the technology industry like cyber security, networking, project management etc. Though it would be advantageous to understand some of the concepts in coding.

What have you sacrificed (both personally and professionally) at each stage of your career?

Personally I have sacrificed my leisure time and used it to level up my skills. To me coding is a continuous process and demands constant upskilling. There’s always something to learn in technology industry especially when it comes to software development.

What would you say to a girl/ lady considering getting into the IT industry?

Do your research and determine which field of IT you’re passionate about. Passion is key.

Attend tech conferences whenever you can. They will give you a lot of information and exposure.

Google is your friend. There are a lot of materials online that you can use to learn how to code.

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