PIVOTING TO A CAREER IN TECH


Switching to a new industry or starting a completely different role can be daunting, but not if you know how. Ledetta Asfa-Wossen went to glean insights from October’s Women in Tech Week.


T


hinking about a career in tech? The tech industry is waiting for you, said Dr Vanessa


Vallely OBE, founder and CEO of WeAreTechWomen, while moderating an inspiring panel of women in tech. According to techUK, the


UK’s technology trade association, women make up roughly 50% of the UK workforce. Yet in the tech sector, only 24% of tech roles are filled by women and only 5% of leadership positions.


The panel featured unique


stories from female tech experts at PA Consulting who shared what it’s like to switch industries or enter from a non-technical role and how to successfully make the transition.


LEARNING ON THE JOB Former musician and art administrator turned strategic tech partner, Kathryn Lewis, began by discussing her eventful journey into tech. Working her way up from IT manager at a small boutique firm to IT service management, high-


level project management and management consulting, she is now partner at PA Consulting. “My first journey in tech started


at a junior level when I was working for a government department,” she explained. “I was the person who helped people solve problems. For instance, how to use their software, what to do when they forgot their passwords, and was a conduit to the IT helpdesk. I also became the printer whisperer – I was the only one who could fix the problem and get it to work.


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GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUPPLEMENT


EDI CAREER


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