The Ironhack Blog

We have a few shocking statistics for you: only 28% of the international tech workforce is made up of women and engineering is the field that has the largest gap, with only 15% of jobs held by women. And the reasons for this gap are systemic and widespread; 31% of surveyed middle school girls in the US believe that coding and programming aren’t for them, 40% agree in high school, and 58% in college. But even for women already in tech, the outlook isn’t always positive. 39% of women cite gender bias as an obstacle to receiving a promotion. Only 40% and 25% of women hold physical science and computer science jobs, respectively. UX/UI design itself is one of the most balanced fields in STEM, with around 40% women. However, there’s still a long way to go. Women in Tech Looking at current numbers of women currently in the tech industry, it can be hard to believe that there’s a future where parity can be reached. However, there is, and it’s on us to encourage young girls to see tech as a reality and support those already in the field.  It’s proven that women in tech are quite beneficial and here’s why: Different voices : a huge part of tech roles are anticipating and solving problems that people have and women can provide unique experiences that can help make tech solutions more accessible and effective for everyone. Mentors : a huge barrier to women entering the tech industry is that they don’t see women in leadership roles and don’t have too many female mentors available to them. It is difficult to implement, but more female tech leaders would encourage younger women to also join the industry. Workplace culture : studies show that workplaces with equitable gender distribution have safe environments, boast better workplace satisfaction, and increase safety. Better products : it’s natural that we use our personal experiences when we’re creating something and a product designed by men will center male experiences. When women are involved in the design process, it can incorporate different and women-specific experiences. The proof is in the pudding and it’s time to focus our efforts on making the tech sector a more inclusive and inviting place for women and girls alike. Women in UX/UI Design Although the numbers of female UX/UI professionals are higher than in other STEM fields, there’s still work to be done. UX/UI is a great choice for women and here’s why: It boasts flexibility : more often than not, women are tasked with childcare or unpaid domestic responsibilities and this can seriously impact their ability to work or grow professionally. One of UX/UI design’s most attractive features is the ease of work; designers really only need a computer and good internet access and many employers are becoming increasingly flexible with both remote work and set schedules. There is a higher percentage of female designers : although there’s a lot of work to be done within tech to make it more inclusive, 61% of designers in the tech field as a whole are women - that’s a majority! For women nervous about being the only woman or just one of a few on a team, UX/UI design does boast more equality than other fields. There’s a wide range of roles : every company needs UX and UI designers to help improve their website and app design, understand their user experience, and keep up with the competition. This means that you can work in practically any sector or even move around, trying out new roles, like UX/UI designer, researcher, analyst, or more. It’s the perfect combination of logic and creativity: are you nervous about sitting in front of a computer screen all day, just looking at numbers? In UX/UI design, that isn’t an option; professionals are tasked with looking at data to understand what both the client and company want, but also using their creativity to make aesthetically pleasing designs. These seem like good reasons, right? So why aren’t more women joining the field? Well, there are quite a few systemic issues within the sector that influence the decision-making of women and girls. Let’s explore what we can do to change this: Increased representation : more and more women will join the sector if they see not only women in the field, but also in leadership roles. This will require a conscientious effort from both company leadership and current employees to lift women and their ideas up. Equal responsibility : you may have heard that more women role models are needed and that is true, but within reason. Women can’t take on the responsibility of being the only role models in the company, especially for younger women, and it’s on men to also serve as role models for incoming professionals. Salary transparency : the gender pay gap is even more evident in the tech sector and it’s well-known; companies must be incredibly transparent about salaries, promotions, and more, using performance-based metrics to make decisions. Female leaders in UX/UI design Don’t let the aforementioned facts and figures scare you away: UX/UI design already boasts some pretty incredible women. Let’s take a look: Cathy Pearl Since the 1990s, Cathy has been dominating as an interface expert designer, educating many on voice design and artificial intelligence. She is currently the Design Manager for Google Assistant at Google and uses her 20 years of experience to help others make the most of their designs. Debby Alberts After graduating with a degree in graphic design and working her way up that track, Debby decided to expand her skill set and learn about UX design. All these years later, Debby is into her 60s and is still blowing the field away with her tons of experience and knowledge. Maney Orm Similarly to Debby, Maney arrived at UX design through her previous career and studies in graphic design and loved how UX design has a strong impact on people’s everyday interactions with tech and how it combines both technology and creativity. Laura Mahoney Laura is a Senior User Interface Developer who began as a marketing consultant/designer in a marketing agency and worked her way over to UI design through discovering the combination of creativity and technology. She loves working with the product itself and working with the entire company, not just the development team. Are you convinced that UX/UI design is the career path for you? We’re not surprised! At Ironhack, we are diligently working to close the gender gap in tech in all areas and our bootcamps provide the perfect opportunity for women to make a career change and get into tech. Apply today to get started on your UX/UI design journey - we can’t wait to meet you!

It’s not easy to keep up with the tech industry. Understatement of the century. There are so many forces and influences that shape the global tech industry, and each country faces its own challenges and celebrates its own unique successes. So when we asked ourselves ‘what’s going to happen in the tech industry in 2023?’, we knew we had to look to more than one place for the answers. We wanted to know, (among other things)… What does the tech job market look like in 2023? How wide is the skills gap? What are recruiters desperately looking for? How are governments supporting their country’s tech industries? What future trends should all tech professionals be looking out for? We sat down with tech industry leaders, new hires in tech, and Ironhack’s own local market experts. We also looked at recently published research, government initiatives, and got elbow-deep in some pretty intense spreadsheets! Finally, we’re excited to be launching our State of Tech 2023 reports. That’s right, reports . Plural! Who are these reports for? Career changers . This is the ultimate ‘get-to-know-you’ guide for professionals in other industries looking to break into tech for the first time. Understand the tech hiring landscape and the hot topics that everyone is talking about. Tech professionals and entrepreneurs . Deepen your knowledge of the tech industry at large. When you’re busy trying to reach your next launch date, it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture. Get back up to speed with the State of Tech! Recruiters/HR managers. Get to know the talent market, understand the tech skills gap, and learn how to create job offers that top talent won’t be able to resist! Job seekers. If you’re actively job hunting right now, this is the guide that’ll unveil the ins and outs of the tech industry, helping you understand what recruiters are looking for. How We Made These Reports There are a lot of whitepapers and opinion pieces out there. And you might want to know why this one is worth your time. By prioritising diversity: you don’t just want to hear from one type of person with one type of background. Instead, we interviewed a diverse pool of participants in each local market to get a truly representative view of what it’s like to work in tech right now. By interviewing over a hundred people (via proper, face-to-face conversations) and looking into over 720 recent and relevant sources, we’re pretty sure we’ve done that. Only trusting recent information : in tech, there’s no point looking at information gathered ten years ago! The only sources you’ll find inside are no older than 2020, with the majority of our research being conducted over the past four months. Balancing government sources and the rest of the ecosystem : this balance is important to gain perspective, as governments sometimes have a different viewpoint to those in the trenches of industry. To truly understand the state of tech in each country, it’s important to know what the official version is and to listen to voices from companies and associations. The truth is usually in the middle. Balancing qualitative and quantitative data : we wouldn’t be good Data Analytics instructors if we didn’t! We looked at the cold hard ‘facts’ of qualitative data, but also listened to the voices of over a hundred people as they told us about their day-to-day experiences.

You’ve probably seen the news and Twitter buzzing about Silicon Valley Bank and everything that’s happened over the last few days. As the 16th largest bank in the US and the largest bank by deposits in Silicon Valley, SVB operated both across the United States and internationally. Most notably, SVB was responsible for the funding of almost half of all venture-backed tech startups . On March 10, 2023, SVB failed and went into history as the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history. So what exactly happened? Let’s break it down. Silicon Valley Bank: a quick history Founded in 1983, SVB was designed to meet the needs of startup entrepreneurs and learned how to operate within the startup ecosystem, growing with tech startups to eventually achieve 21 consecutive quarters of profitability. In 1990, it expanded to the east coast to meet the needs of the Boston/Cambridge tech sectors. By 2015, the bank claimed to serve 65% of all US startups and had grown to offer syndicated loans and foreign currency management. And heading into the end of 2022, it had achieved quite a lot: 14% of its loans were mortgages to high-net-worth individuals. 24% of its loans were to technology and healthcare companies. In February 2023, SVB was listed by Forbes as #20 on their “ America’s Best Banks ” list. In March 2023, Moody’s Investors Service evaluated the bank’s loan portfolio as conservative and high-performing. Overseas, the bank held $13.9 billion in deposits. A Breakdown of March 2023 As tech gadgets and tools became more popular during the pandemic, startups put more and more of their money into SVB and, in turn, SVB invested those deposits , just like any bank. They invested billions of dollars in long-dated U.S. government bonds and mortgage-backed securities. And while these decisions seemed solid when they were made, the Federal Reserve’s actions to slow inflation rates last year raised interest rates and lowered the value of both SVB’s bonds and mortgage rates . Simultaneously, the tech sector, after two years of upward growth spurred by the pandemic, started to slow down and lose momentum, with tech giants announcing massive layoffs. Tech companies began to rely more on their deposits, many of which SVB held, and requested their money. However, as banks simply do not keep all deposits in cash, they had to sell a bond portfolio to meet client demands and suffered a $1.75 billion loss from that sale. Things moved fast from here, so let’s break it down day-by-day: March 8 Silicon Valley Bank announces to investors that it needs to raise capital to recover its losses, sending both clients and investors into a panic and causing a bank run . March 9 A bank run is when lots of clients ask to make withdrawals because they don’t believe the bank can pay its debts and cover its financial obligations; just one day after this announcement, SVB was facing a large number of clients requesting withdrawals at a pace with which they could not keep up. March 10 From Wednesday to Friday, more and more clients asked for their money and this frenzy resulted in the bank collapse and the intervention of the U.S. Federal Government. The Biden administration entered the picture to prevent more damage and closed a second bank, Signature , promising those who had money with SVB will get their money back, even those that were uninsured. March 13 In response to the collapse of SVB, the FDIC created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara , which opened on March 13th. The role of this bank is simple: give people at least some of their money back. Now what? There are a few ways for the FDIC to get the maximum amount from SVB’s assets: Another bank acquires SVB (and gets their deposits). Without a bank willing to buy SVB, the FDIC sells SVB’s assets over time , giving proceeds to depositors. As we wait to see what happens, it’s key to realize how we got here. In just one day, customers tried to withdraw 25% of the bank’s total deposits . And in contrast to bank runs that happen in years past, the easy access users have to their accounts means that people can transfer money from anywhere; they don’t have to actually go to the bank. This led to an unprecedented rush of clients requesting withdrawals. Looking Forward Thanks to SVB’s risk-friendly policies and general startup-friendly outlook, it was the bank of choice for many startups. It may be easy to add to the panic, but the US government is well-equipped to handle this challenge: Biden has assured the American public that SVB won’t require a taxpayer-funded bailout; the money being used by the FDIC comes from insurance premiums from banks and interest from U.S. government obligations. As we move forward, it’s important to remember that this is not the first (nor the last) time that such a situation has occurred and to not lose faith in startups and their power; the startup ecosystem is strong and will recover. If you’re eager to keep up to date with the latest happenings in the tech sector, we have just the thing: our 2023 global report .

What is Web Development? Let's start with the basics: what is web development? Put simply, web development is the process of building, maintaining, and managing functional websites. This can include everything from designing the visual layout of a site to writing the code that makes it run to ensuring that it's optimized for search engines and mobile devices. If you want to become a web developer, it's important to have a basic understanding of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. With back-end development , you can write website code, ensure site functionality, and optimize server operation. With front-end development , you can design page layouts, incorporate graphics, and improve script performance. Or you can even work with both as a Full Stack Developer! Be on the lookout for some popular web development job titles: Computer Programmer Front-End (Web) Developer Back-End (Web) Developer Full Stack (Web) Developer Mobile (Software) Developer Software Engineer Want to learn more? Check out our breakdown of web development job titles here. What Can You Make Working in Web Development? Let's talk numbers . Potential salaries can vary depending on many factors, such as experience level, education, location, position, and more. It's also worth noting that web development salaries can vary depending on the specific skill set you bring to the table. Generally, the more experience you have, the higher your salary will be. Experienced developers often have a wider range of skills and can take on more complex projects. Speaking of skills, certain ones are in higher demand than others. If you specialize in a particular programming language or have experience with a certain type of development, you may be able to command a higher salary. Where you live and work can also make a huge difference —- since the cost of living varies greatly depending on your location, web developers in larger cities may earn more. While startups may offer lower salaries, they may make up for it with other benefits like stock options or a more flexible work schedule. It's important to consider all of these factors when negotiating your salary and deciding where to work. Web development is a global profession, so salaries can vary significantly depending on where you live. Let’s look at the average salaries in web development around the world. Spain: €24,000-€35,000 Germany: €43,000 France: €40,000 The UK: £35,000 The Netherlands: €48,000 No matter where you live and work, one thing is clear: web development is a high-demand field that offers strong earning potential. As more and more businesses move online, the need for skilled web developers continues to grow. Why Should You Work in Web Development? Well, that sounds all well and good, but why should you consider a career in web development? For one thing, web development offers a lot of variety and creativity. From building basic websites to creating complex web applications, there’s plenty of different projects and challenges. While coding might not seem like the most creative pursuit at first glance, there's actually a lot of room for innovation and experimentation. Whether you're designing a sleek, modern e-commerce site or a whimsical, colorful blog, web development allows you to flex your creative muscles and build something that's uniquely your own! Perhaps even more importantly, web development offers a lot of flexibility. Many web developers work remotely, which means you can work from anywhere in the world — as long as you have a reliable internet connection. Even if you do work in an office, the hours are often flexible , which can be a huge perk for those who value work-life balance. As more and more businesses move online, the need for skilled web developers continues to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for web developers is expected to grow by 8% from 2019 to 2029 , which is much faster than the average growth for other occupations. This means there are plenty of job opportunities available for those with the right skills and experience. How Can You Get Started in Web Development? There are plenty of resources available to help you learn the skills you need, such as online courses, coding bootcamps, or even teaching yourself through books and tutorials. Online coding schools like Ironhack offer courses on everything from HTML and CSS to JavaScript and React, while sites like Stack Overflow and GitHub can provide helpful resources and forums for those who are just starting out. Once you have the skills, there are several different paths you can take. You could work in a wide range of industries for a large tech company, a small startup, or even as a freelancer. The key is to find a niche that you're passionate about and to continue learning and growing as a developer. As you gain experience, you'll be able to command a higher salary and work on more challenging projects. Web development is a rewarding and exciting career that offers a high demand for skilled professionals, endless possibilities for creativity and growth, flexibility in work location, and opportunities for lifelong learning. So what are you waiting for? Start learning with Ironhack’s Web Development Bootcamp!

Women continue to be underrepresented in tech, with only a small percentage of women pursuing careers in this field. Despite the fact that women make up half of the workforce, they are still underrepresented in many tech-related fields, including data analytics . In every industry, businesses leverage data to drive insights and make informed decisions using data analytics. As the field continues to grow, so does the demand for skilled professionals to extract insights from complex data sets. Despite the fast growth of data analytics, the historically male-dominated field still fails to bring enough women to the table. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , women held 27% of jobs in computer and mathematical occupations in the United States in 2020. Data influences every aspect of our lives, so it's crucial that both men and women are involved in interpreting and applying this information. Women who pursue careers in data science not only contribute to shaping the data-driven world but also reap personal benefits, such as gaining access to a rapidly expanding field with attractive salary options and career prospects. By encouraging more women to join the field, we can create more opportunities for them to advance in their careers and attain financial stability. Women in Data Analytics What do Women in Data Analytics Bring to the SQL TABLE … or Dataset, or Matrix? Diverse perspectives : women bring diverse views and experiences that result in more innovative solutions and better outcomes. With more women in the field, the industry can better address the needs and preferences of diverse populations. Women can also provide insights into issues that may be overlooked by male-dominated teams, such as biases in data or the impact of technology on marginalized communities. Improved accuracy : women’s perspective can help identify and reduce biases, leading to more accurate and reliable data. Since women are often underrepresented in data, this can lead to a "gender data gap" that elicits biased decisions and policies. Equality and inclusion : women can help promote diversity in data analytics by encouraging and supporting other women to pursue careers in the field through mentorship programs, networking events, and other initiatives that promote women's participation in the field. According to Stephanie Brooks, a partner at Harnham, one of the leading providers of recruitment services and advice in the Data and Analytics marketplace: “The business case for a diverse workforce is clear–research has continuously proven that diverse teams yield better results. A diverse workforce creates a more holistic business; one filled with more innovative products and services, in addition to creating a more stimulating, enjoyable and challenging environment for individuals to thrive in. In order to remain competitive in attracting and retaining the best skills in the market, businesses must explore ways to accommodate and support a diverse range of talent.” So, why aren’t more women being hired? They are significantly underrepresented in many tech-related fields, including computer science and engineering. According to UNESCO , less than 30 percent of female students focus on STEM-related subjects globally in higher education. Since many women lack visible role models, women find it difficult to not only find mentors who can provide guidance and support, but also forge a clear and definitive path to success. Conscious and unconscious bias in the workplace, manifesting in assumptions about women's abilities or preferences or gendered expectations about the types of work that they should do, can impede their tech goals even further. To combat bias, companies must create a level playing field with equal opportunities for women to succeed. By using the experiences of leading female voices in data analytics , we can not only inspire young girls to pursue tech, but also pinpoint areas for improvement in the industry. Female Leaders in Data Analytics Hilary Mason As a data scientist and entrepreneur, Hilary Mason has worked at companies such as Bitly and Fast Forward Labs. She is also the founder of the data science community Fast Forward Labs, which provides consulting and research services to businesses. Cathy O'Neil The bestselling author of "Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy.", Cathy O’Neil is also a mathematician and data scientist. O'Neil founded the consulting firm ORCAA, which provides expertise in ethical and responsible data science. Kristen Sosulski Kristen Sosulski is a professor at NYU's Stern School of Business and the author of the book "Data Visualization Made Simple." She has also worked as a data analytics consultant for companies such as Accenture and Ernst & Young. Erica Baker Tech advocate Erica Baker was a Director of Engineering at Github and is now Head of Technology at Parkwood Entertainment. She’s worked as a data analyst and software engineer at a number of other companies, including Google and Slack. Ellen Nielsen Ellen Nielsen is Chevron’s Chief Data Officer, ensuring the accessibility and trustworthiness of data to enable better decision making. Throughout her career, she’s taken a data-driven approach to sourcing strategies, organizational capabilities, and supplier relationships. Getting Started So, how can you excel in data analytics? Data analytics involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large amounts of data to identify patterns and trends that can be used to make informed business decisions. This requires a strong background in math and statistics, as well as proficiency in programming languages such as SQL , Python , and R. Check out these strategies to help you get started: Pursue a degree in a related field : consider obtaining a degree in computer science, math, or statistics. Many universities now offer specialized data analytics programs that equip students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in this field. Take online courses and bootcamps : explore online courses and bootcamps to acquire the required skills, including SQL, Python, and R. Ironhack provides various data analytics and other tech bootcamps that enable individuals to learn industry-relevant skills and gain practical experience. Seek out mentorships : join one of numerous initiatives created to empower you to succeed in the digital economy. Stanford University’s Women in Data Science (WiDS) initiative hosts datathons, features data science leaders on their podcast series, and encourages secondary school students to consider data science careers. Des Chriffres et des Jeunes trains young people in data science and offers data fellowships, to narrow the gender data divide. Build a network : connect with other data analysts by attending conferences, meetups, and joining professional organizations. Women in Data and Women Who Code provide resources, networking opportunities, and support for women working in data-related fields. Women in Machine Learning maintains a directory of women data scientists, hosts mentoring events, and manages a job posting mailing list. Ready to follow in the footsteps of great female tech leaders? Join the challenge with our Data Analytics Bootcamp .

How many apps do you have on your phone? 20? 50? Maybe 100? And which ones do you actually use in your day-to-day while working in tech? You may have a lot of apps, but those that are efficient for work are where your focus should be. You need to employ a range of apps that support your process in the majority of tech roles, but which ones will be most helpful ? Let’s take a look at some useful apps that could make your life more efficient and your workflow smoother. Evernote If organization is a struggle for you, this app can simplify it by keeping your documents, events, notes, and other essential information in one place. Evernote is used for writing and organizing notes and has evolved over time to include a variety of important functions like syncing your files and your Google Calendar to your account, sending reminder messages for pending events, customizing templates for creating documents like to-do lists, meeting and class notes, and calendars, scanning documents, and saving websites. All of these features allow the user to have everything they need at their fingertips when it comes to organizing both their personal and professional life; Evernote is the best way to have everything in front of you, at the same time and in one place. Toggl Another app that will certainly help you with time management on any project is called Toggl. Its goals are to show you how to be more intentional with how you spend your time by allowing you to input and/or sync up your schedule, manually set a timer, and view how you allocate your time. These features help you place more awareness on your current time management skills and if you see that you do need some more support in reaching your goals, it will provide you with push reminders and show you your patterns; it can even integrate with hundreds of available online apps as an extension. This tool is a proven way to complete tasks throughout the day and to stay on task with projects. WiFi Analyzer WiFi Analyzer not only checks out your current WiFi connection, but also extends the WiFi range. As IT professionals or students, you need to have access to the internet throughout your house and with WiFi Analyzer, you will be able to monitor the current signal. The app can also show you the coverage of an ample list of internet providers, which can be useful when working remotely. Wifi is an integral part of working in tech, especially for remote workers, so having this app can be a game changer. Fellow Have you ever left a meeting and felt like it was a waste of time? Same . Team meetings can feel like that when there isn’t as much structure in them, but Fellow can make meetings much more productive and efficient. The features of the app include collaborative agendas, real-time note taking, a myriad of templates for all types of meetings, integrations and extensions into apps like Google Meet and Zoom, feedback loops, action items, and streams. Fellow can be used to organize, support, and maximize the efficiency of any team and its functions allow a team manager to put abstract aspects of group work into words and concrete goals. If you’re working on a team, this app can be a way to truly take advantage of meetings. Figma If you’re a designer, there are a ton of apps out there for creating original and dynamic designs and letting your creativity flow, but Figma is one that stands out. It has a lot of fantastic tools that allow you to customize and build whatever designs you desire ; when designing on Figma, you are using an app that facilitates your workflow using auto layout and integrates widgets and plugins . It also allows you to have easy and quick access to all your creations by having them on the cloud and it provides an unlimited number of invited viewers the opportunity to go into the files directly too . Another important feature that Figma offers is for programmers to show their clients the work throughout the designing process. Figma’s accessibility and ease of use makes it one of the best design apps for any web developer. PhpStorm For techies, smart code editor PhpStorm is key: it doesn’t just read code, it understands it . Because it understands the text that you’ve inputted, it also provides assistance with in the moment error prevention and zero configuration debugging, as well as best autocompletion and code refactoring . In addition, it boasts extended HTML, CSS, and JavaScript editing capabilities that support the programmer when writing code. Although the app is not free, the price is very reasonable given how useful it is and the app decreases in price after each year of use for the first three years. PhpStorm makes it much easier to program and is a must-have app for professionals writing code. These apps are just a few of the most important ones for anyone who is working in IT. An infinite number of apps beyond the ones mentioned here can support you in completing your work and by working as a programmer, you can both design and develop these and other apps that make life easier for everyone. Fortunately, programmers have many more opportunities than just creating apps at their disposal; they also write code for software and web pages. Check out some software and tech tools that web developers use and actually created themselves.

You’ve probably heard about tech salaries and that you can expect to earn a nice salary in the tech field. And while tech salaries vary significantly based on country, you can expect lots of room for growth, flexibility, benefits, and that salary you’ve dreamed of. Are you aware of all these benefits? After we dive into some average UX/UI design salaries in some major European countries, we’ll explore other advantages - like bonuses! - that you can expect from a career in tech. Average Salary for UX/UI Designers A lot of factors go into someone’s salary, like their experience level, education, location, position, and more. And while we can’t guarantee the exact salary you’ll earn at your role as a UX/UI designer , we can provide average salaries for Spain, Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands: Spain : €25-35K Germany : €42K France : €42 The UK : €35K The Netherlands : €50K What determines a tech salary? As we mentioned, it’s hard to determine an exact salary based on just the role, but we can try to explain some of the main factors. For example, the cost of living of where your company is located , even if you aren’t located there, is major. Countries with higher costs of living will typically offer higher salaries and remember that if you’re in a place with lower salaries and a low cost of living, you’ll probably have the same disposable income as those who hold similar roles in other countries. Apart from location, your experience level also makes a difference when it comes to deciding your salary. Do you have similar experience in other roles? Or is it your first time working in tech? It can be disappointing at first, but understand that you may have to start at a lower-paying role for a few months before you’re promoted or given a raise. This is quite common in on-the-job learning roles like those that exist in tech. Lastly, another major factor to keep in mind is your education level . Companies are placing increasingly less importance on university or master’s degrees and prioritizing skill-based hiring, but some still may ask for a degree in a certain field or want to see some sort of bootcamp or additional course. Additional remunerated benefits of tech The growing international skills gap in tech means that employers need to be providing candidates with incredibly attractive offers to not only get their attention in the first place, but also retain them. Employers have two main ways of doing this: signing bonuses and yearly or performance-based bonuses. As the need for highly specialized tech workers continues to grow and companies are faced with a shrinking candidate pool, many have turned to offering attractive signing bonuses , an extra bonus given upon beginning your new job, performance-based bonuses , bonuses given when you reach a specific goal, or yearly bonuses, annual bonuses awarded at the beginning of each year. Other benefits of tech roles Although it can be hard to see past the number of your salary, there are other benefits of UX/UI design roles that may be hidden behind the dollar signs. Lots of tech companies offer health insurance, childcare, and other programs that can help you save money in other areas. One of tech’s most infamous benefits is probably its flexibility, which can have incredible effects on your overall life and wellbeing . Are you spending an hour each way on your commute? Tech companies that boast flexible working conditions such as completely remote or hybrid can help you enjoy more of your personal time. Another important thing to consider is that tech is moving away from traditional hiring processes that rely heavily on university or higher education degrees. Tech is evolving fast and the programming language or design style that students learn in university may not be relevant once they reach the workforce. Now more than ever before, employers are prioritizing skill-based hiring , meaning instead of looking at where a candidate has studied, they’ll look at what they’ve studied to see if they could meet the job requirements. Recently, companies have also begun to look for soft skills in addition to hard skills, such as communication, teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking. And let’s not forget about tech’s upward mobility options ; the dizzying speed at which tech is moving means that there’s always a new tool or skill that employers are looking for and as the skills gap increases, employers see more value in re- or upskilling their current employees instead of hiring new ones. Not only will you begin in a junior role and be set to move up, but you’ll also get to try your hand at various skills and roles and see what the best fit for you is. Why UX/UI Design? If you’ve decided that jumping into tech is the right decision for you, you might be wondering exactly what area you should pursue. And UX/UI design is not only an area of tech that will let your creative juices flow, but it’s also in high demand and will continue to be: UX/UI design helps clients create both highly functional and visually appealing designs for websites, apps, and more. UX/UI designers do work specifically with clients to figure out exactly what is needed for the design and continuously consult with them to ensure their vision is accurate. They also work to improve customer satisfaction and therefore ROI; customers that are frustrated with an app design or can’t find what they need will go to a competitor’s site instead. Why should you get into UX/UI design? If you’re interested in getting into tech and maintaining your creativity, UX/UI design might be just for you: You’ll get to solve real-world problems, thinking critically to understand client behavior and meet customer needs. You can use both creativity and logic to solve problems. The UX/UI design field is vast and you can try new things until you find the perfect role for you. There’s lots of room for growth and free online courses that can help you continuously learn and expand your skill set. You don’t need a college degree or four-year course; UX/UI design skills can be learned through bootcamps, online courses, on-the-job training, or through many other avenues. Is UX/UI design seeming like the right choice for you? Makes total sense! At Ironhack, we’re eager to help you take that next step, sign up for an UX/UI design bootcamp , and get started on your new and improved tech career.

It’s no secret that the tech industry is dominated by men and overrun by a masculine bro culture. According to a 2020 report from the National Center for Women & Information Technology, women only make up 28% of the tech industry workforce . That number has grown in recent years, but the industry remains dominated by men. Equally, women are paid less than men doing the same job in the industry. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2020, women in computer and mathematical occupations earn, on average, about 82% of what men earn in those same occupations . All of this is to say that the gender gap is still a problem across all industries and the tech industry is on that list. In order to close the gender gap in tech, we need creative interventions and a fuller understanding of the situation at hand . Fortunately, tech is an industry that seems more conscious and committed to addressing gender inequality. And luckily, the tech industry is not short of information and ideas on how to close the gender gap. We have five books that we’d recommend for both men and women who are interested in creatively addressing the gender gap in tech. These texts will help readers better understand what we mean when we say “closing the gender gap” and aid folks in identifying concrete steps that the industry can take in order to alleviate the problem. 1. "Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado Perez " Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men " by Caroline Criado Perez is a groundbreaking and illuminating book that exposes the systemic gender bias that exists in the collection and interpretation of data , and its impact on women's lives. Drawing on extensive research and a wide range of case studies, Perez reveals how data bias affects everything from medical research and transportation design to workplace policies and urban planning. One of the strengths of the book is its ability to make complex statistical concepts accessible and engaging, while highlighting the ways in which they can perpetuate gender inequality. Perez presents a wealth of evidence to demonstrate how the exclusion of women's experiences and perspectives from data collection and analysis leads to a "default male" approach to policy and design , which can have serious and far-reaching consequences for women's health, safety, and economic opportunities. The text forces readers to consider potential interventions that could happen on an individual or policy level. Perez emphasizes the importance of collecting sex-disaggregated data, integrating a gender perspective in research and design , and increasing the representation of women in decision-making positions. She challenges readers to critically examine the ways in which data shapes their understanding of the world and to take concrete steps to ensure that women's experiences and perspectives are fully recognized and valued in all aspects of society. The book is an urgent call to action to policymakers, researchers, and all who are concerned about closing the gender gap. 2. "Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley " by Emily Chang Silicon Valley is often seen as a bastion of innovation and progress, but it has a troubling history when it comes to gender equality. In "Brotopia," Emily Chang explores the gender dynamics in the tech industry and how they have led to a culture that is hostile to women . She also profiles women who are working to change this culture and offers ideas for how to make the industry more inclusive. The text does an amazing job humanizing the often faceless and monolithic tech industry. Through providing vivid and compelling accounts of the experiences of women and marginalized groups in the field, readers truly get a sense of what it’s like to be on the inside of the industry. The book offers a complete analysis of the sector through providing historical context to the industry's gender imbalance , tracing its roots back to the early days of computing and the male-dominated culture that developed around it. " Brotopia " leaves readers with concrete recommendations for how the industry can change. Chang suggests increasing diversity and inclusion efforts, implementing transparent and fair hiring practices, and creating safe and supportive workplace cultures. The book also challenges readers to examine their own biases and assumptions about gender and technology and to take action to promote gender equality in their own spheres of influence. It’s an eye opening read that anyone interested in disrupting the gender gap in tech should be versed in. 3. " Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators " by Susanne Tedrick Susanne Tedrick’s " Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators " is a must read for anyone interested in addressing inequality in the tech industry. The book highlights Tedrick’s experience as a Black woman in tech . Tedrick also interviews other women of color in the field in order to provide a complete picture of the obstacles that women of color face while navigating a white masculine industry. " Women of Color in Tech' ' offers readers clear recommendations for how to foster diversity and inclusion in tech workplaces. Tedrick is a proponent of implementing unconscious bias training, creating mentorship programs, and promoting inclusive hiring practices. The book also emphasizes the importance of community-building and networking, and offers guidance on how to find and build supportive communities in the tech industry. Overall, " Women of Color in Tech " is an essential resource for anyone seeking to promote diversity and inclusion in tech and to support the success of women of color in the field . The text is a powerful call to action for the tech industry to embrace the talents and perspectives of women of color and to create a more equitable and inclusive future. 4. " Geek Girl Rising: Inside the Sisterhood Shaking Up Tech " by Heather Cabot and Samantha Walravens " Geek Girl Rising: Inside the Sisterhood Shaking Up Tech " by Heather Cabot and Samantha Walravens is an inspiring and empowering book that profiles women who are driving change and creating a more inclusive and diverse tech industry. The text draws on interviews with a diverse range of women in tech in order to provide a comprehensive and engaging look at the challenges and opportunities facing women in the field. The book is important because it not only focuses on the experiences of women who are breaking through the glass ceiling in tech, but also showcases the ways in which many women are using their knowledge and influence to carve out their own spaces in the tech industry. From entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to activists and advocates, the “ Geek Girl Rising ” profiles a wide range of women who are driving innovation and promoting diversity and inclusion in tech. Cabot and Walravens offer tangible examples of what it looks like to address the gender gap in tech. They suggest investing in education and training programs, promoting inclusive hiring practices, and fostering supportive workplace cultures. The book also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community-building and offers guidance on how to find and build supportive networks in the tech industry. It’s a must-read for folks looking to expand their understanding of the gender gap in tech and committed to transforming the future of the sector. 5. " Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change " by Ellen Pao Ellen Pao’s " Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change " is a compelling and thought-provoking memoir that chronicles the author's experiences as a woman of color in an industry dominated by white men . Through her personal story, Pao provides a sharp critique of the industry's culture of sexism and racism and offers insights and strategies for creating a more inclusive and equitable tech industry. The text outlines the challenges, including the pervasive discrimination and harassment that Pao and other women of color in the industry experienced. Pao offers an honest, nuanced and thoughtful analysis of the cultural and structural factors that perpetuate gender and racial disparities in tech. Her writing also provides examples of how the industry can work towards more inclusive and equitable practices. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community-building, and offers guidance on how to find and build supportive networks in the tech industry. " Reset " offers a powerful call to action for individuals and organizations to take responsibility for creating change in the tech industry. Pao's own experiences as a whistleblower and activist demonstrate the importance of speaking up and taking action to promote inclusion and diversity in tech. It’s a powerful memoir and a must-read for folks interested in tackling racism and sexism in the tech industry. Getting informed and closing the gender gap in tech In all, the gender gap in the tech industry is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted solution . Reading books that explore the issue can help both men and women understand the extent of the problem and identify potential solutions. These five books are an amazing place to start for anyone interested in disrupting the gender gap in tech, promoting diversity and inclusion in the sector, or simply looking to better understand how sexism plays a role in the industry. Equally, these texts offer inspiration and guidance for folks looking to critique the industry's culture and practices and are a roadmap for creating lasting change in the industry. The task at hand is big, but these books will help us in the struggle to shape a more inclusive tech industry.

Miami is known for its sunny days, multicultural community, and sandy beaches. Located in southern Florida, Miami brings together a wide range of cultures and countries with its extremely diverse population. Thanks to this diversity, Miami is one of the most popular destinations in the US and the entire world . With a wide range of shopping opportunities, incredible nightlife, outdoor activities abound, and lots of sunshine, there’s no doubting why so many people choose Miami to live, work, and study. Why Miami? Miami plays a unique role: it connects Latin America to the US, ensuring that the city is extremely diverse and full of different cultures. Take for example the Wynwood Arts District , a hipster neighborhood filled with galleries, shopping, tech companies, great restaurants, and nightlife. Or the Brickell neighborhood , a metropolitan area filled with high rises, large businesses, tech companies, and restaurants. Both of these offer tech happy hours consistently that help newcomers connect and network with the bustling Miami tech community. Following the pandemic, lots of workers saw the possibility of remote work and moved towards Miami’s sunny beaches, making it a new powerhouse in tech. Miami’s tech scene raised close to $1 billion in venture funding in 2022 and is ranked as the #1 city in startup activity . Is that not enough?! Check out these highlights: Year round tech and Web3 conferences : eMerge Americas is one of the largest tech conferences in the country. A wide variety of industries : Miami is known for tourism/hospitality, maritime, and real estate (all industries that need tech workers). Up and coming tech hub : since the pandemic, many tech companies based in California and New York have opened offices in Miami. Rise in Web3 activities : there has been a rise in Web3 activities as Miami’s mayor has bet on the future of the blockchain. This has helped many tech groups, conferences, and startups build a future in Miami, providing our students with great networking opportunities. Ironhack in Miami Ironhack Miami looks to harness the region’s potential and offer in-person and remote courses for those looking to dive into tech in the US. Boasting lots of events to connect students with local tech leaders, you will be well-suited for success. Here’s why: We’re certified by the Florida Department of Education We have a Women in Tech Collective , where we host events with community thought leaders and discuss ways to close the gender gap Our financing partner is Climb Credit We serve the Tri-County Area (Miami-Dade, Broward, and West Palm Beach) as well as the whole country Many students from neighboring counties take the new Brightline train for our in-person offerings or do the remote program Ironhack courses in Miami Web Development : learn front and back end technologies and everything else you need to know to become a full stack web developer. Data Analytics: become a data analyst through learning tools such as Python, SQL, and Tableau and learn to interpret data to make the right decisions. UX/UI Design Uuser-centric design is key here; learn design thinking to build digital experiences created specifically for users. No matter if you choose remote, full-time, or part-time courses in Barcelona, Ironhack’s campus offers you something beyond your course; we offer events, chances to network and connect with your fellow Ironhackers, an awesome space to get your best work done, and much more. Unsure if you should take the full-time bootcamp? What about part-time? Or remote? Let’s discuss: Our full-time bootcamps are ideal for those looking to get a new job soon and can exclusively dedicate nine weeks to learning. If you want fast results, this is for you. Our part-time bootcamps are for those who can’t dedicate nine weeks to just the bootcamp; if you want to keep your job elsewhere or continue your studies in another institution, our part-time bootcamps are perfect for you. The results are the same as our full-time course, just spread out over more weeks to allow you time to handle your other commitments. Our remote bootcamps are an option for everyone, even if you’re already located near our campus. These courses offer more flexibility and start dates, in addition to language variations, to help you choose the perfect course for you. And don’t worry about missing out on our events or course help; remote students are welcome at campus any day of the week and can benefit from everything offered to in-person students. Financing options in Miami As part of our dedication to making our courses accessible to all, we’ve partnered with ClimbCredit to offer funding opportunities to students. Full-Time programs Upfront payment : pay the entire course upfront by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Interest-free recurring payments : Make four recurring payments of $3,000 by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer over the course of four months. Climb loan : this monthly loan payment plan allows you to pay $67 to $115 for the first three months and then pay it off over 36 monthly payments. There are available co-borrower options and the final terms are subject to approval. Applying does not affect your credit score. Deferred climb load : pay $0 for the first 6 months and then pay it off over 36 monthly payments. Interest accrued over the first six months will then be added to the payment over the next 36 months. Applying does not affect your credit score. Part-Time programs Upfront payment : pay the entire course upfront by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Interest-free recurring payments : make seven recurring payments of around $1,786 by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Climb loan: take advantage of reduced payments of $7 to $131 for the first 3 months and they pay it off over 36 months. There are available co-borrower options and the final terms are subject to approval. Applying does not affect your credit score. Does Miami seem like the right fit for you? If you are eager to take advantage of all it has to offer and jump into your new tech career, we’re ready to hear from you. What are you waiting for?!

Celebrating International Women’s Day, we’ve gathered twelve of London’s biggest female voices in tech. We asked them to share some advice for the next generation of women thinking of getting into tech. Looking at how they started their careers themselves and the challenges they had to face, they talk about their own role models, and even debunk some tech myths. Ready? Following the Part 1 of our interviews, here are the next six women in tech: Devyani Vaishampayan Remco Chair & NED at Saietta Group Plc Devyani is an experienced Independent Non-Executive Director. She is Remco Chair & NED at Saietta Group Plc, Audit Chair at Norman Broadbent Plc , NED on the Audit Board at Mazars and on the REMCO Committee at The England & Wales Law Society. Devyani is CEO of the HR TECH Partnership which runs The Human Capital Digital Innovation Hub focused on Digital/AI solutions around leadership, culture and talent management. Prior to this, Devyani was an international and multi-sector FTSE 30 Group CHRO and board member, effectively leading large, diverse and multi- billion complex organisations through transformational change. She has held global roles in successful organisations across various industries such as Citibank, AT&T, British Gas, Rolls Royce and BSI. Having lived and worked in China, Singapore and Europe (and managed teams in the Americas & Middle East) she has a very international outlook. Devyani is considered a thought leader around the future of work, inclusive leadership, digitisation of the workforce and is a well-known speaker at business events. Devyani has received several international accolades: 2021 - Top 100 Digital Influencer around the Future of Work 2020 - Finalist-Asian Woman of Achievement, Technology & Digital 2017 - Financial Times Ethnic Leaders List 2015 - 100 Women to Watch, Cranfield Business School Devyani’s advice Tech can sound scary, difficult and not very exciting! In reality, it’s the opposite of all these  things. Let's look at the top 3 myths about tech: Myth 1 You need to have a maths/computer science /engineering/technical degree No, you do not! There are a range of roles in the tech space that need a variety of skills - creative, marketing, project  management, design, administration, and more. Coding/technical design is only one part of the tech industry. Personally, one of the things I learned working in tech is that many things are being done for the first time (had anyone heard of AI a decade ago?). You have to be willing to ask the stupid questions, plunge in and learn. Don't be put off by this misperception that you need a hardcore sciences background to be in tech. Myth 2 You will end up working in a sea of hoodies It is true that coders/technical product analysts tend to be males and certain functions in tech tend to be male dominated. But, there are many women in tech and even companies with mostly female employees like Skillcrush. IBM’s CEO Ginni Rometty has been a positive influence on expanding female leadership within the company and IBM’s blockchain division of 1,500 employees is now led by women, which is a tremendous contrast to other blockchain start-ups in Silicon Valley, which are most predominantly run by men. Myth 3 There are very few senior women in tech Whilst there is clearly a lack of women in tech, compared to men, there are still notable role models in the industry for women to look up to. Apart from well known leaders such as Susan Wojcicki , Youtube’s CEO, Poppy Gustafsson , Chief Executive Officer for Darktrace and Fei-Fei Li , Co-director of Stanford’s Human-Centred AI Institute, there are hundreds of successful senior women professionals, especially in the start-up/scale up area. Data from Tech Week (2022) showed that 68% of respondents believe gender perception to be the biggest obstacle to women entering tech, so if we can change this by having more successful women for people to look up to in this field, it will help to diminish this stereotype. Weerada Sucharitkul CEO & Co-founder at FilmDoo Weerada is an international entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of FilmDoo, a platform using innovative technologies to bridge film content with edtech . After living in 11 countries across 5 continents, Weerada launched FilmDoo to bring together her three greatest passions: films, languages and technology. Weerada’s advice There has never been a better time to be a woman in tech. There is a growing community of female entrepreneurs, female investors and female exited-founders-turned-investors who are actively looking to help nurture and mentor the next generation of amazing female tech entrepreneurs. The most important piece of advice I would give to women of all ages looking to break into tech is: believe in yourself and every good thing in life will follow . Even if you don't have the necessary tech skills or resources today, do not let that stop you. Everything can be learnt if you have the dedication. Here are some things you can do: You can grow your network in tech by joining the myriad of vibrant tech communities and events around the world. You can join a coding or programming school to acquire new skills. If you have revenue or funding, you can use those to help bring in key technical hires to join your team. The most important thing to remember is that tech is just an enabler to do things faster, better or at scale; tech is a way to help you achieve your vision, but the vision must still be grounded on economics fundamentals that work and serve a real consumer demand. Weerada’s role models When I started my company, these were the female role models that most inspired me: Melanie Perkins, Canva In her first company, Fusion Books, Melanie was able to turn that company into a multimillion dollar company without any external investment or significant technical experience .  Her company was a great example of how organic and bootstrapping growth driven by profitability at the core value is still the best way to achieve a sustainable and profitable business. When you have revenue, and more importantly profitability, you will be able to fund any growth, including expanding your technical capabilities yourself, even without external investment. Sara Blakely, Spanx Just like Melanie, Sara was able to grow her company SpanX into a multi-billion retail empire without ever needing external investments.  Her dedication to invention, understanding consumer needs and appreciating mass media as key distribution channels were all vital elements behind her success. Dimitra Christakou MSc, DIC, MBA Chief Operating Officer at BusinessLDN Dimitra is BusinessLDN Chief Operating Officer. She has over 20 years of experience in international business management and strategy, leading private and non-for-profit strategic partnerships and business development teams, stakeholder management and board level participation. She is an expert on data driven research and the use of data analysis and statistics to connect evidence and action. In 2021, Dimitra co-authored WISE’s Exploring Pathways into Tech Careers report. She is a passionate advocate for increasing female participation in tech roles. Dimitra is also the co-founder and director of Sustainable Blueprints, an intellectual property and strategic analysis consulting firm. In the past, she worked at Bloomberg, where she was responsible for a product’s overall strategy and direction and a global team of analysts. She has held positions at Accenture and the Corporate Executive Board (currently Gartner). She received her Bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Crete in Greece and holds an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College of London and an MBA from London Business School. Dimitra’s advice There’s never been a better time for women to start their tech careers. Employers are keen to attract diverse talent in tech and, most importantly, they recognise that a computer science-related degree is not a prerequisite for success in tech roles. Bootcamps and apprenticeships are excellent entry routes in tech careers . Having said that, it is imperative to connect with other like-minded individuals and learn from women that are already working in such roles – social media and women tech networks are great resources. Flavilla Fongang Founder at 3 Colour Rule: Branding and marketing agency Flavilla Fongang is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and an international and multilingual keynote speaker. Computer Weekly named her the number one most influential woman in tech in the UK , among a list of more than 600 women in tech nationwide. She is a neuroscience brand expert covering strategy, design, marketing and customer experience. She is the founder of 3 Colours Rule, an award-winning branding and marketing agency and Global Tech Advocates – Black Women in Tech, the first and largest organisation of black professional women in tech. Flavilla is BBC’s chosen brand advisor and regularly provides actionable brand strategy advice. She hosts the Tech Brains Talk podcast providing insights and advice to tech entrepreneurs and companies. Flavilla’s advice Be curious and cultivate great conversations, new experiences, new perspectives to grow and innovate. Spend time with 5 people who elevate you. You’ll become like them. Be yourself while learning to adapt to different situations. Sahiqa Bennett Founder and CEO ar Instatalent.ai Sahiqa Bennett was born in a place of poverty, but thanks to her dad moving countries and getting a job, her life changed forever. Sahiqa has lived and worked in NYC, San Francisco, London and spent over 10 years in the Middle East. She spent half of her working life building things such as digital marketing agencies and tech companies using artificial intelligence. Before that, she worked at a corporation looking at venture capital, private equity, industry trends and data. Now she is working on creating a Metaverse University for people to truly have access to the future of jobs because the skills gap is getting wider . Parent company Instatalent.AI is designed for employers to pre-plan and build out talent pipelines at scale; she’s looking at developing that with artificial intelligence. She believes through an upskilling and employability approach , more people will have an easier route into the workplace. She has worked with many leaders globally and enjoys helping humanity. Sahiqa’s advice Straightaway, I would say go for it . Being in technology gives you so many options and I think a lot of women think “ oh, I can't do that because, you know, I would need to have done that at school” or “ I should have done a degree in computer science .” Yes, that helps, of course. But I think there's a perfect opportunity for people to re-skill and a lot of women end up leaving the workplace. You get much more choice and flexibility in tech and you’re able to pick and choose which role you want. The first year or two are going to be difficult; it's all about the learning curve. But if you rally through those early months, there's an incredible future waiting for you that really works around your family life and all that you can achieve professionally. Sahiqa’s role models We need more role models and I think democratising access to upskilling and learning is really, really important. When I first worked in the private equity venture capital, we'd go to conferences and there was probably about 1% of women representation in the whole room ; it was extremely male-dominated. Whenever I came across women who shared their stories, I was always fascinated by their backgrounds and realised they're people just like me and you. Listening to that advice and listening to what they've gone through will make your path easier. One of those examples for me is Anousheh Ansari, CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation . Here’s why: she went on an 11-day space expedition, accomplishing her childhood dream of becoming the first female private space explorer, first astronaut of Iranian descent, first Muslim woman in space, and fourth private explorer to visit space. I heard her description of how she felt watching Planet Earth every night and made me think about how she just went and pursued her dream. That dream can be traced back from being a young girl, right? And you may sound crazy when you are young and dreaming but she used to actually say she would sit under a tree looking at the stars, fascinated by the moon. Olga Shoraka Senior Customer Solutions Manager, EMEA Aerospace and Satellite Amazon Web Services Olga Shoraka is a Senior Customer Solutions Manager at Amazon Web Services' (AWS) Aerospace and Satellite (A&S) business unit, based in London. Olga runs strategic programs for EMEA satellite communications customers to help them accelerate their cloud adoption journey. She has been with Amazon for 4.5 years, initially joining as part of the post-MBA leadership rotation program. Before A&S, Olga held program and product management roles in Amazon Advertising and ran sales strategy and operations in EMEA for AWS Startups org. Olga's first career path was in the financial services industry in New York City in institutional equity business where she worked across the technology lifecycle, helping hedge funds and mutual funds build their investment portfolios. Olga received her MBA in General Management at London Business School in 2018 with concentration in entrepreneurial studies and change management. Olga’s advice When I think back to when I started my career in tech, there were a few things that helped me, practically speaking. Even though I covered the tech industry from the investment perspective for eight years on Wall Street before making the career change, I didn't know what knowledge domains and roles were out there. The first thing I did was immerse myself in the tech startups scene by getting involved with now defunct Google Campus London (I co-ran the Women at Campus community). Secondly, I attended a number of “Introduction to…” type classes at the General Assembly, such as Introduction to Digital Marketing or Introduction to UX Design , diving deeper in areas that seemed interesting. Thirdly, I had lots of coffee chats with people in the industry, learning what they did, how they liked the company they worked for and inevitably asked to introduce me to a couple of people in their circle. These activities helped me a lot to narrow down my own plan, which was: Starting my own company Working for a startup Working for a scale up Trying out VC Working for a big tech company I managed to try all of these during my 2-year MBA program. I ended up joining Amazon straight out of business school where I've now worked for four and a half years. However, the career path refinement never ends and even within Amazon, I’ve finally made my way into AWS' Aerospace and Satellite business unit, an industry I always felt passionate about and also always considered out of reach for me. Everyday feels like being in Disney World! Something I've seen happen time and again is that people (and women more so than men) are not going for their dream job or their first choice because they start off by compromising with themselves and aiming lower. I've heard things like “ I'm not ready” or “ I'm not good enough for X yet, so I first 'have to' do Y or Z instead ”. I have to remind myself to be brave, go for my first choice and then if that doesn't pan out, use that experience to learn and re-adjust accordingly. It’s also my reminder to not short change myself from the start. And this is the main piece of advice I'd like to pass on to you: be bold, go for your first choice, that dream job , even if it feels out of reach - because everything is possible if you give it a go. You got this.

You’ll often see us talking about how great the tech industry is ( naturally ), and we truly believe it is. It’s a place where we see all kinds of people build the careers of their dreams, no matter their background, socio-economic status, demographic, or even personality type. However, we would be remiss to discuss the state of the tech industry and not include the prevalent problem of the workforce gender gap. Apart from the obvious social implications of an incredibly male-dominated field, it also affects overall political, economic, and cultural behaviors. The simple truth is that the workplace and skill gap in the tech industry can largely be attributed to the wide gender disparity ; to meet this both international and growing gap, a serious effort needs to be made to understand the origin of this problem and solve it. We see efforts made in this arena every day from all corners of our community across the US, Europe, and South America. But there’s no sense in combating a problem that we don’t truly understand. So we wanted to look into the current state of the gender gap in tech, trace the root of the problem, and look towards future solutions. Sexism and Gender Discrimination The tech industry is not unique in facing diversity challenges: far from it. Sexism and gender discrimination are, unfortunately, tales as old as time. Sexism is a complicated concept but one that includes the belief that one sex or gender is superior to another. Gender discrimination, on the other hand, is when someone is discriminated against because of their gender identity. Historically linked to favoring men, this kind of discrimination can have drastic effects. Societies are heavily influenced by gender expectations and can alter career choices, workplace options, how we dress, how we should act, what we should study, and much more. One of the clearest examples of the effects of gender-based societal expectations is the workplace. Both men and women are heavily influenced in their career choices by what they’re taught society expects . 97.78% of nurses and nursing assistants, 95.65% of legal secretaries, 89.09% of dancers and choreographers, and 88.45% of receptionists are women. On the other hand, 99.19% of vehicle technicians, 98.97% of carpenters and joiners, 96.4% of electrical and electronic technicians, and 95.38% of telecoms engineers are men. But these huge discrepancies in certain jobs aren’t the only thing to keep in mind. Globally, there’s a gender pay gap of 20% , meaning that women make, on average, 20% less than what men make. This is of course exacerbated by the actual roles that men and women hold: if high-level and higher-paying jobs are dominated by men, it’s natural that they’ll make more money. Unfortunately, however, that’s not the only reason: Like we mentioned above, women tend to work in sectors that pay less than male-dominated industries. Leadership roles tend to be held by men. Men get promoted more often. In every single country worldwide, women make less than men for the same work. Women face incredible pressure when getting pregnant or choosing to stay at home with their children. Women take on a lot of unpaid roles, such as childcare or caring for a sick relative. The differences between men and women are due to centuries of patriarchal beliefs that have put men in a position of power over women. In most parts of the world today, the gap between men and women has closed considerably; men used to have complete control over women opening bank accounts, driving, how they dressed, healthcare access, education access, or voting rights. Even though most of us can’t remember a case of the aforementioned examples of gender discrimination in our own lives, there are still major issues with gender equality in today’s society. And it affects everyone; only 50% of women in the world are in the workforce, compared to 80% of men. Gender Inequalities To measure the gender gap by country, the annual Global Gender Gap Index by the World Economic Forum uses four main categories to determine a country’s level of gender inequality: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Countries received a ranking from 0 - 100 in each section; 100% means gender parity has been fully achieved. Economic participation and opportunity In this section, five factors are evaluated: labor-force participation rate, wage equality for similar work, estimated earned income, legislators, senior officials, and managers, and professional and technical workers. The report showed that on average, higher-income economies scored 69%, upper-middle-income economies scored 68%, low-middle-economies scored 63%, and low-income economies scored 66%. Gender equality is linked to economic opportunities and those with higher-performing economies score slightly better. Educational attainment This section defined the literacy rate and enrollment in primary, secondary, and higher education. Here, 29 countries were able to boast full gender parity across three different economic levels. Worldwide rates range from 48% to 100% and as the report gets to the lower-ranking countries, the gaps get even bigger. Health and survival This index used the sex ratio at birth and healthy life expectancy to produce the section with the least variation and smallest gender gap . No one country has reached parity, but 141 have closed the gender gap by at least 95%; Qatar, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, China, and India are the only countries with gender gaps bigger than 5%. Political empowerment Women in parliament and ministerial positions and years with female heads of state (in the last 50 years) are evaluated to define the gender gap as it relates to political empowerment. This is the section that has the largest gap with an overall global percentage of 22% ; the range here is also massive with the lowest country, Vanuatu, scoring 0% and Iceland scoring at 87%. Only 11 countries worldwide have closed more than 50% of their gender gap: Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Rwanda, Germany, Bangladesh, Sweden, Ireland, and South Africa. Only 39% of countries are above the global average, meaning more than 60% are below it. The United Nation’s Path to Gender Equality The United Nations has established sustainable development goals to be achieved by 2030 and gender equality is the fifth. Made up of nine steps, these are the UN’s priorities when it comes to achieving gender equality: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. Eliminate all forms of violence against girls and women everywhere, including trafficking and exploitation. Eliminate all harmful gender-based practices, like early or forced marriages and female genital mutilation. Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through public services and public protection policies that promote shared parental responsibility. Ensure the full and effective participation and equal leadership opportunities for women in all levels in political, economic, and public life. Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health education and rights. Undertake reforms to provide women with equal rights to economic resources and access to ownership and control over land, financial services, and inheritances and natural resources. Use technology to promote female empowerment. Adopt and strengthen policies and legislations to enforce gender equality protection for all women and girls. The Gender Gap in Tech Gender-based digital exclusion has serious effects on society and the tech industry itself. “Hurdles to access, affordability, (lack of) education and skills and technological literacy, and inherent gender biases and socio- cultural norms, are at the root of gender-based digital exclusion. Enhanced, safer and more affordable access to digital tools is critical, as are policy interventions addressing long-term structural biases.” The first matter regarding gender equality is its ethical and just implications. A more equal world, however, could bring about benefits in lots of areas, especially global economics; research shows that a smaller gender gap improves global GDP, increases productivity, and promotes innovation . Need more convincing? Empowered women have been shown to: Increase consumer spending Improve decision-making processes Encourage more inclusive societies Increase sustainability efforts The IMF reports: “We know that in countries with greater gender inequality just closing the gap in women’s labor force participation could increase economic output by an average of 35 percent [...] In Norway, the expansion of universal child care increased the likelihood of mothers’ employment by 32 percentage points.” The World Bank’s Gender Employment Gap Index (GEGI) reports that if the gender gap were closed and men and women had equal access to paid employment, GDP per capita could increase by almost 20% . But in tech specifically, the gender gap is quite wide in four areas: internet use and access, digital skills and tools, STEM participation, and tech sector leadership and entrepreneurship. The gender gap and internet usage Internet usage is key to providing women with more opportunities, in tech and other areas. Europe and the American continents have the highest rates of internet usage and have reached gender parity or are very close to it; however, almost half the world’s population doesn’t have internet access. The majority of this group is made up of women in underdeveloped nations. Universal internet access is one of the UN’s SDGs and is absolutely essential to closing the gap. Worldwide access could provide women with educational options, widened healthcare, and more opportunities. The gender gap and digital skills Digital skills aren’t required for just tech jobs; everyone needs digital skills to fully participate in society and access financial services, educational opportunities, healthcare services, and more. But the gender gap could be shrunk even further if women had the same advanced digital skills to meet the gaps in the tech market. As the Digital SME Alliance reports: “Gender inequalities are most pronounced in disruptive tech skills, which are strongly requested in emerging sectors like AI, robotics and cloud computing. According to the World Economic Forum, women make up only 26% of AI jobs globally. The situation is even more dire in cloud and data, where the numbers are 15% and 12% respectively.” The digital economy is advancing rapidly and tech professionals are needed in practically every industry. Ensuring digital skill access will help achieve gender parity and improve the global economy. The gender gap and STEM participation Globally speaking, women have almost reached parity in their studies: undergraduate education (45%-55%), graduate education (53%), and PhD studies (43%). However, they only make up 35% of STEM students . This is problematic for two main reasons: one, STEM fields are rapidly gaining importance and if women aren’t studying them, they won’t be able to access jobs in those industries. Second, STEM jobs are some of the best-paid positions worldwide and if women don’t have access to those because they lack the necessary education or skills, the gender pay gap will only increase. We can equate the lack of women in STEM to these three causes: a lack of self-confidence, stereotypes of tech workers, and a male-dominated culture . These 2020 statistics help highlight the severity of this gap: Women made up just 16% of bachelor degree recipients in computer and information services, 21% in engineering, 27% in economics, and 38% in physical sciences. Women hold less than 20% of tech leadership roles. Only 19% of senior vice presidents and 15% of CEOs are women. 39% of women in tech see gender bias as a hindrance to getting a promotion. 34% of Apple’s employees are female but only 24% of their technical roles are held by women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, women were nearly twice as likely to either leave their jobs, be furloughed, or be fired. The gender gap and tech leadership and entrepreneurship As we already discussed obstacles that women entering the tech field face, this section will center on the problems that those already in the industry see, especially when up for promotion. Frequently, women face problems that men don’t even consider, such as taking on caregiving responsibilities, lacking role models and other women in similar roles, and greater pressure to prove their skills. Even though women make up 40% of global early-stage entrepreneurs , men still tend to start more businesses than women. Surveying entrepreneurs helped us learn that women are more likely to start a business due to making a difference or job scarcity while men do it to build wealth or continue a family tradition. In tech startups, only 2.7% women are involved, compared to 4.7% of men. The Gender Gap by Country Global statistics can help us get an idea of the overall gender gap in tech, but it’s essential to look at country-by-country data to get a more accurate picture of each market, its areas of improvement, and specific things to do to reach gender parity. The United Kingdom Five million people work in the tech industry in the UK but only 17% of those roles are held by women. When looking at the UK’s entire workforce, however, women make up 49% of all workers. This difference between the number of employed women and women employed in tech is precisely what we call the gender gap . This issue starts before women even enter the workforce - just 35% of higher education STEM students in the UK are women. Looking at this issue, we can separate three causes: Girls are less likely to choose to study STEM . This comes down to a few reasons: in such a man-heavy industry, girls don’t see role models or a place for themselves. Teachers are also ill-prepared to show girls the possibilities of tech roles and therefore aren’t even encouraged to promote girls in STEM. 33% of men had a technology career suggested to them and just 16% of women can say the same. Girls aren’t considering a tech career. Girls are more likely than boys to consider their future career when choosing their A-levels and when they don’t see a tech career as a possibility, they don’t take STEM courses. There’s a lack of female role models . Representation is absolutely essential; girls who don’t see female leaders in tech and instead see a vast majority of men won’t feel like a tech career is for them. And these numbers directly correlate to salaries. According to the UK Tech Workplace Equality Report , the average salary for male tech workers is £ 66,000 and £ 63,000 for women. To combat this gap and encourage more women to join the tech industry, some British companies have hired empowerment mentors to help women gain confidence when applying for jobs, ask for the right salary, speak up about harassment or other issues, and start new jobs. However, this isn’t a personal decision that women are making; it’s a systemic societal issue and for this to be fixed, a proactive approach by society as a whole is required. The United States The US tech market employs just 26% women , despite a nearly equal divide in the total workforce (49%). And despite the fact that 45% of STEM majors were women in 2020, only 22% and 20% graduated with a degree in engineering and computer science, respectively. Two years of collected data can help us determine where this problem originates: There are few female role models . Since the tech industry is largely run and made up of men, girls don’t see themselves as future tech workers. Stereotypes are prevalent in tech . Lots of girls are steered away from tech due to stereotypes and ideas that tech is a career for men and they should choose “feminine” paths. 44% of women surveyed between 18 and 28 years old were never given information or resources about getting into tech; just 33% of men said the same. The STEM industry is hostile for women . Women in STEM report feeling isolated, being the target of microaggressions, and having lower confidence in the workplace. In addition to not having their opinions heard at work, these are all reasons why women don’t choose tech or decide to leave the industry. Another problem occurs when women actually reach the workforce. 38% of women with computer science degrees are working in the industry, compared to 53% of men; engineering has similar data. Women also feel that the glass ceiling, a metaphorical barrier that prevents women and minorities from advancing like men, is stopping them from holding leadership roles. 48% of women account for entry-level hires but just 40% of first-level managers; this gap continues to grow as the leadership role gains more importance. However, the data is promising. The National Science Foundation reports that more women than ever before are earning STEM degrees . As Gen Z enters college and then the workforce, we can expect to see more and more women joining the tech industry, thanks to their status as the first digital native generation. Spain In Spain, only 20.6% of tech workers are women. And in the tech sector, the number of professionals needed doubles every year, leaving a wide gap for women to get into tech. But in Spain, women earn 9.4% less than men ; it may not seem like that much, but that means that they work for free 34 days annually. As we’ve mentioned, the lack of women in tech stems from problems that occur long before women enter the workforce . Only 35% of higher education STEM students are women and just 3% study Information and Communication Technology and related subjects. Women made up 55.3% of all students from 2020-2021 but just 29% of them were in engineering programs and 13.4% in computer science programs. Interestingly enough, however, science is a female-dominated field in Spain . 75% of biomedicine students, 68.7% of medicine, 65.8% of biochemistry, and 61.7% of biotechnology students are women. In tech careers specifically, however, 87% of men are in telecommunications, 74% in industrial, and 73% in physics. This large distinction is due to differences in socialization for boys and girls; strong gender stereotypes dominate young Spanish children’s lives and boys are expected to invent and calculate while girls take on a more caring role. Women make up just 20% of the Spanish startup ecosystem and that number hasn’t changed over the past eight years. 51% of women are serial entrepreneurs; 62% are men. 42% of women have failed in a previous entrepreneurial venture and only 24% record having successfully sold a startup, compared to 33% of men. Spain, however, has the most female FinTech startup executives in Europe (25%). Spain is taking real steps to close the gender gap; in 2012, there was an 18.7% wage gap, nearly 10% higher than what it is today. And the Spanish government is also working to guarantee equal pay through its Real Decreto 902/2020 , which educates workers about the pay gap and wage discrimination, opening every company up to transparency. Germany 17% of German tech jobs are held by women, even though women and men are nearly equal in the general workforce. And despite making up more than half of the university population (52%), women only make up 35% of STEM students. Negative stereotypes contribute to German women’s reluctance to enter the tech industry, in addition to lower levels of digitalization for women which has the following effects: Limited information access Complicated job opportunities Reduced industry efficiency Increased gap between different socioeconomic groups Increased risk for cybercrimes A survey by Microsoft tells us that girls are interested in STEM at age 11 but have a change of heart by age 15; the main reason for this switch is a lack of role models. In addition, the gender wage gap in Germany is one of the worst in Europe; male tech workers earn approximately €15,000 more per year than female coworkers in the same role. In the engineering sector, for example, experts believe that women are socially conditioned to choose lower-paying industries and are more willing to accept part-time jobs . Women are also leaving the tech industry earlier than men; by the age of 45, only 9% of women are still in their tech field. In the startup ecosystem, German women struggle with receiving funding and receiving support to help them manage their work-life balance. In fact, 63% of startups are entirely founded by men and just 6% of female founders are active business angels. What Germany now requires is an equality-centered approach that focuses on eliminating both structural and cultural barriers for women. Portugal A key detail in Portuguese workforce data is that the pay gap between men and women in tech and men and women in all industries is quite similar, meaning choosing a tech career is not as financially risky of a decision as in other countries. Although the wage gap isn’t as severe as it is in other countries, male tech employees average 16% higher salaries than women in the same roles. This deters women from joining the industry: just 18% of tech professionals are women; many cite limited growth opportunities and low salaries as reasons for either avoiding the industry or leaving it. Many of its neighboring countries severely lack female representation in STEM courses in higher education, but Portugal actually has a female-majority of STEM-enrolled students , at 57%. However, this percentage lowers as the courses become more advanced and students report not feeling included or integrated into the courses. Similarly, students reported working in departments with one to two women for every ten men and 10% work in a department with zero women. Groups like Portuguese Women in Tech and the PWIT Salary Transparency Project are working to both close these gaps and educate the general population about these issues; these problems stem from an overall lack of diversity in the workplace and as tech continues to propel Portugal’s economy forward, women will play a key role. The Netherlands Long viewed as a male-dominated field, the tech industry in the Netherlands is beginning to open up to women. In the digital industry, women represent 38% of the total workforce ; this number falls to just 18% in the IT sector. And just 36% of women hold leadership roles (25% of those are CEOs). For entrepreneurs, this number has risen from 2% to 8% since 2005. Secrecy clouding diversity, inclusion, and salaries doesn’t help the Dutch tech sector attract women, either. 88% of companies don’t report salaries and 99% don’t have a public strategy on how to close the gender wage gap in the Netherlands. Not being forthcoming about pay, equality practices, and company diversity can promote stereotypes, myths, and inaccurate information and further deter women from entering the tech industry. The Netherlands suffer from specific societal views and norms about gender, education, and career choices that severely limit womens’ options. Curiously enough, women-dominated industries like healthcare (70%) and education (48%) boast mainly women working part-time and more than half of those working part time do so because of childcare obligations, housework, and informal care ; only 27% men say the same. These societal views also impact the educational choices young Dutch students make; the Netherlands has one of the lowest numbers of women in STEM in Europe and the lack of female role models makes joining the tech sector largely unappealing to women, in addition to long-held stereotypes or sexist beliefs. Although it may seem like these problems are insurmountable, the key to success in the Dutch tech industry lies with women. If women joined the workforce at the same rate as men, the national GDP could grow by €100 billion . To achieve this, PwC suggests establishing networking options for women in the industry, reskilling female talent, sharing success stories for female role models, promoting inclusive environments, and focusing on hiring and training women for tech roles. Brazil Although Brazil can say that 39% of roles within the tech industry are held by women, there’s an important distinction to be made: only 20% hold tech-related positions and the majority work in support or administrative roles. Until 1964 , Brazilian women didn’t have access to their finances and couldn’t even have an ID until 1963, therefore limiting their access to bank accounts; financial independence is still something to which Brazilian women are getting accustomed. Due to strong social stereotypes, the Brazilian tech industry lacks both gender and racial diversity; Black women are extremely underrepresented. But studies show that more diverse and inclusive offices are overall more productive and positive, where employees feel valued and empowered. Just like lots of Latin American countries, Brazil’s stereotypes are strong and hard to change: women are expected to become nurses and men engineers. In 2019, just 26% of graduates in STEM fields were women. Here are some changes companies could undertake to promote diversity and inclusion: Ensuring job descriptions use inclusive language Conducting anonymous interviews to remove any conscious or unconscious bias Providing training to help employees identify and report incidences Promoting work/life balance, which helps women feel that they are not missing out on home responsibilities if they choose to work The truth is that these techniques won’t just help women; they’ll improve the overall workplace experience and job satisfaction for all. And when it comes to female leadership, there are 20 times more male-founded companies than those founded by women and women-founded ones grow much slower and are limited in what they achieve. An imbalance of women in leadership positions can make it harder for younger girls to see themselves in tech and choose to study STEM-related fields. But women need more than just a nudge to get into tech; Brazilian girls need to receive the proper training and empowerment to see that they belong in tech and see that both success and leadership options are a true possibility for them. France Despite the never before seen growth of the French tech scene and wide talent shortage, female workers make up just 20% of total industry workers . This is an improvement from 2020 where the percentage sat at just 17% , but there’s still a long way to go. Just 12% of French startup founders are women and just 11% hold a c-suite role; the money they receive to fund their startups is also less than male-founded startups, which doesn’t encourage women to jump into tech entrepreneurship. In addition, 46% of women in tech report experiencing sexist behavior , such as gender-based mockery and the lack of women in tech generally creates less innovation and a less inclusive culture. Others fear imposter syndrome, the feeling of not belonging, or facing unfair stereotypes. However, organizations such as La French Tech are working to combat this with their 2022 Parity Pact which aims to ensure the following in their member companies: Reaching a minimum threshold of 20% of women on the company’s board by 2025 and 40% by 2028. Training 100% of managers on diversity and inclusion and how to fight discrimination and harassment. Guaranteeing that 100% of published job descriptions are aimed for men and women. And starting in 2023, companies applying to join the French Tech Next 40/120, large companies with the potential to enter the CAC 40 stock index, must commit to working to improve gender inequality and receive gender equality monitoring. Mexico In Mexico, the gender gap in tech stems from a much more systemic problem: digital skill and internet access to the general population and, of course, women. When compared to other countries on gender gaps in tech, Mexico scored well below the global average. This is because state-by-state, digital access varies significantly with rural areas experiencing extremely low levels of access. Men generally have more digital skills than women and this goes from basic to advanced, sending an email to coding. And for women over 36, the gap expands even further ; however, girls and women between 16 and 25 are the most digitally literate, creating the perfect opportunity to welcome more women into tech . Only 12% of university tech graduates are women and only 10% of women who graduate with a degree in a STEM-related field actually work in it. In Mexico, 44% of women are in the workforce , compared to 77% of men; regarding management roles, only 9% of digital and tech companies have women in leadership roles and 23% have a female co-founder. And the outlook isn’t that much more positive on the salary front: male software developers can make 26% more than women with the same skills and experience. We can attribute this lack of women in the workforce to a few factors: Financial independence : few women boast financial independence in Mexico and taking an extra course or starting a new job would mean shirking on their childcare or family care responsibilities. COVID : Mexico lost 1.1 million employers due to COVID and women bore the brunt of lots of layoffs, in addition to taking on additional family care responsibilities. Non-paid domestic work : studies show that Mexican women across all socio-economic statuses dedicate more than 30 hours weekly to non-remunerated domestic work and care. Despite the troubles facing Mexican women in tech, many organizations are taking the next step to reach gender parity. The Women in Digital Award was first awarded on March 8, 2022 to president Salma Jalife Villalón of Centro México Digital, which publishes annual reports about the digital and tech industry. The Confederación Patronal de la República Mexicana provides scholarships to women to encourage remote work and developing digital skills; NIÑASTEM PUEDEN works to promote tech among young girls and Codigo X works with all levels of education to encourage women and girls to participate in tech. Women in Tech are the Future It can be daunting to take that first step into tech, especially as a woman. But don’t stress; it’s a great choice that will benefit both you and future generations of women in tech. If you don’t know where to start, take a look at some of the things you can do to get into tech: Create a strong network : use LinkedIn, your university connections, or people you already know in tech to help you gain confidence, get advice, and receive support from women already in tech. Be persistent and resilient : there will be challenges along the way and you might feel discouraged at times but remember to ask for help, keep learning, and continue pursuing your goals. Remember that you belong in technology: women are meant to be in tech and every field. Even if you can’t see as many, they’re there and eager for you to join. Advocate for yourself: know your worth and ask for promotions, raises, new opportunities, and any other thing you want on the job. You belong in tech and can achieve anything. And as you can see, the problems that women in tech face differ from country to country but there are overall themes that are constant across the globe. We spoke to some international experts about seven of the biggest challenges worldwide and what society can focus on to address them. Eliminating gender biases from childhood The gender gap begins in childhood and in very innocuous ways: giving girls dolls to play with and boys cars and legos encourages different behaviors and therefore conditions the way in which girls and boys choose their future career paths. When children see a majority of nursing or caregiver roles held by women and STEM and critical thinking roles held by men, they’ll assume that’s their path as well. Men are frequently given the most risky roles as well in group activities, giving women “safer” tasks such as organization, design, or details. Many countries have already placed a focus on this, but ensuring that children are raised in a more gender-neutral environment without societal-based gender expectations can help expand children’s minds and prepare them to take on whatever role they desire. Build womens’ self-confidence Here’s a quick stat: women tend to apply to jobs only where they are sure they meet at least 90% of the requirements; men apply even if they don’t meet them. This could stem back to societal expectations; men are encouraged to take risks and not be afraid of failure, women are more cautious. In addition, women can be faced with different kinds of scrutiny at work and asked about their family plans, marital status, or other questions that are reserved for just women. An increased focus on impartiality in the interview process and inclusive language could help women feel more comfortable when approaching new situations. And companies that offer maternity and paternity leave, supporting both parents equally, can help fight stereotypes. Create more female tech role models Women lack role models and examples of successful tech women; when women see the biggest tech companies with a male-dominated staff, it can be tough to feel encouraged. However, women’s associations and communities can help women connect with other female tech employees and access resources, tools, and mentoring programs. Companies can also work to give women more opportunities, offer scholarships, and provide mentorship connections to women. Create healthy work/life balances Women are disproportionately affected by domestic and family-related responsibilities and this can cause them to work part-time or leave the workforce entirely. Providing women with hybrid or remote options, in addition to childcare and flexible parental leave, could make tech roles an option for many more women. The gender gap in tech can be intimidating but here’s the key: it’s improving worldwide and more and more countries are taking action to ensure that all women have access to tech education and the same career opportunities as men. Women in tech are the future and here’s a fact: achieving gender parity in tech and all areas will improve overall life for everyone in every sector. At Ironhack, we're dedicated to helping more and more women enter the tech sector. Interested in being part of the change? You're in the right place.

“Girls can’t do math!” is something you may have heard at school when you were a child. Unfortunately, the world we live in is built upon long-running beliefs and notions that influence how we think, feel, and act , which can continue into cycles in adulthood and beyond. When we look at companies in STEM, there is a clear disparity between the ratio of men to women. But why? And how can we change it? Not as many girls pursue STEM from a young age for a few reasons: Gender tropes: when you think of math, do you associate that with masculine or feminine behaviors? By no fault of your own, the association of STEM with masculinity has developed over time and as a result has influenced women when faced with choosing their passions as early as in elementary school. Oversaturated male space: since this is a cyclical problem that is continuously perpetuated by a field oversaturated with men, women entering tech spaces are met with exclusion and inflexibility. To admit that these spaces don’t feel safe or welcoming to both women and minorities is an important and uncomfortable truth behind this problem. Lack of female role models: now that you know that these spaces are dominated by men, you can also imagine how the media represents these positions in TV shows and movies. Examples of strong leaders in STEM throughout the media and pop culture that inspire young girls are somewhat sparse. Even though these factors have negatively impacted STEM, movements are being made to combat them . Before we move forward into women in cybersecurity, let’s take a look at some organizations that are working hard at attacking the problems that face women when pursuing STEM and working to close the gender gap. Organizations Leading the Charge As of 2022, women in tech made up 28% of the workforce , which is both an unsettling and unfortunate statistic given women make up more than half of the world. Luckily though, organizations have made strides in helping more women have access to STEM as a career choice and they tackle obstacles through offering coding bootcamps, professional development courses, after school programs, and setting up networking and mentorship opportunities. Supporting women with all of these opportunities allows them to close the gap more and more. Some of the organizations that are doing this work are the National Girls Collaborative Project, Association for Women in Science, Girls in Tech, National Center for Women & Information Technology, AnitaB.org, Ada Developers Academy, Black Girls Code, and so many more. Although the obstacles are deep-seated in society, these organizations are working to improve the lives of both current and future professionals. Under the STEM umbrella, cybersecurity stands out as a sector that has a wealth of opportunities for professionals . Women in Cybersecurity Cybersecurity has been male-dominated for many years, but things are changing slowly but surely . Currently, women make up 25% of the cybersecurity workforce, which is an increase from 2019 and 2013 where women held 20% and 10% of cybersecurity positions, respectively. Although more women have been pursuing cybersecurity thanks to grant programs and initiatives providing support and information to women, there is still more work to do . According to the Women in Cybersecurity Report of 2022 , the future of cybersecurity is female with an estimated upward trend of women in cybersecurity rising to 30% in 2025 and 35% in 2031 . As the gap closes little by little, it's important to keep in mind why female involvement in cybersecurity is important for the world at large. Vacant positions: available cybersecurity positions are vast . In 2022, there were almost 3.5 million cybersecurity positions left unfilled . This means that there are not enough skilled professionals for these roles and since cybersecurity is so essential right now, there is an enormous need to fill these jobs with female professionals that can take on the challenges of cybersecurity. Higher wages: working in STEM, you may instantly have an increase in salary especially compared to many other jobs out there; unfortunately, women are not pursuing STEM careers as often as men are. The gender wage gap is partially due to the positions that women hold and if men continue to take on more higher-paying roles, this gap will only increase. Cybersecurity’s importance: every time you sign up for a website or give your sensitive information to a website or company, they are inputting and storing all your information. No one wants their information in the hands of cybercriminals and that’s where cybersecurity comes into play; cybersecurity professionals work to protect your data. More minds, more solutions: when dealing with new cyberthreats, the need for more ways of looking at a problem are extremely important and diversity of thought makes a team stronger . As cybercrime becomes more and more creative in how they carry out data breaches, the cybersecurity professionals behind the screen also must be creative in how they defend against and search for potential threats . Female leaders in cybersecurity Although the gap still exists, there have been a number of women who have accomplished so in the field of cybersecurity. Dr. Alissa Abdullah (Dr. Jay) Leading Mastercard as their deputy chief security officer, Dr. Alissa Abdullah has a long list of experience including serving as deputy chief security officer for other organizations such as Xerox and the White House. While working these jobs, she founded a company-wide information risk management program and updated the Executive Office of the President’s system’s cloud and virtualization services. She also heads the Emerging Corporate Security Solutions team and hosts the Mastering Cyber Podcast. Deneen Difiore With more than twenty years of experience under her belt, Deneen Difiore is currently working at United Airlines as their vice president and chief information security officer after working her way up the ranks at GE. In addition to her current job, she also sits on several boards such as that of Blackbaud and the Internet Security Alliance and has received recognition for her work from publications like Technology Magazine and CSO Magazine . Kyla Guru She may not have finished her undergraduate degree at Stanford University, but Kyla is the real deal when it comes to cybersecurity. As a high school student, she co founded GirlCon Tech, a high school tech conference that brings together a huge group of professionals and students and Bits N’ Bytes, a cybersecurity education program. She also gives presentations on cybersecurity, working to close the skill gap, unite Gen Z to fight the good fight, and promote internet safety for women at RSAC-USA, TEDxChicago, RSA-APJ in Singapore, and NIST’s NICE K12 Conference. To add to her impressive list of accomplishments, she is currently interning for the NSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in Washington DC and will graduate from Stanford in 2024. These are just a few exemplary women that serve as role models for young girls looking at the possibilities of the future, and as more and more people continue to advocate for women in cybersecurity and STEM, the gender gap will continue to close too. With a huge amount of vacant job positions and a need for more women to be the leaders and role models for future generations , cybersecurity is full of possibilities and now it’s your turn to become the role model . Check out Ironhack’s cybersecurity bootcamp course that will get you ready for the job in no time flat .

About the author: Jaroslav Bláha specializes in building complex, international IT systems, as well as executing innovative technology initiatives. Among others, he was Chief Architect of NATO, Global Program Manager of DB Schenker, CIO of the Swiss electrical grid operator, CIO/CTO of Solera Holdings (Dallas), and Co-Founder/CEO of CellmatiQ, a startup for AI-based medical image analysis. He is the CIO/CTO of trivago since March 2022. The Path to Leadership So, you want to become a leader, for example, of an engineering team or of a large project? Do you have what it takes? And what would that be? Countless books have been written to address the question of what makes a good leader and whether leaders are born or made. I don’t believe in the “greatness by birth” theory of leadership and many anecdotes of supposed leadership prodigies support this belief: Napoleon Bonaparte? Won his first major battle with a promotion to general at age 24 – but he enrolled at age nine in a military academy and underwent 15 years of officer training until he was ready. Ferdinand de Lesseps? Successfully led the harrowing 15-year mega project to build the Suez Canal in Egypt – but prior to that, he spent 23 years on increasingly challenging international diplomatic missions. Bill Gates? Has led the development of the Windows operating system; arguably one of the biggest software systems ever written – but at its initial launch in 1985 he had already spent 17 years (since age 13) programming software together with various groups that he influenced and led. While birth is certainly a pre-condition, there are other factors that allow leaders to flourish: “Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them." Robert K. Jarvik (inventor of the first artificial heart) I believe some relevant factors and associated recommendations for a path towards leadership are the following: A dedicated education and specialization in a challenging discipline Be it medicine, computer science, civil engineering, military, etc., which builds the foundation to participate in interesting projects, work on challenges that expand the understanding of complex technical or organizational systems, and accumulate a decent number of errors. While the often quoted 10,000 hours rule of practice appears arbitrary, several years of collected and applied expertise seem useful. Also – and this is crucial to me – it establishes a solid basis in at least one domain needed to build self-esteem and project confidence as a leader. For example, I have been programming since age 16 (then on a Commodore 8032) and have until now utilized almost 30 programming languages. Even if I don’t know all the latest technologies and frameworks on a detailed level, I am confident that I understand the basic principles and can ask interesting questions in front of any software engineering team. Boredom with the status quo While we fully appreciate the high value of professions and people who keep our organizational systems stable through routine tasks and standard procedures, whose bosses are called managers, in contrast, leaders are those who detest too much stability. They push the envelope, develop crazy ideas, motivate their teams to new levels of performance, try uncommon solutions to novel problems, and take risks. I have been a soldier, a government official, a regular employee, unemployed, had multiple startups (even some mildly successful), and have worked in ten different industries. That might be extreme, yet, if some aspect of that sounds appealing to you, that might imply leadership potential. Embrace fear Most leaders have regular doubts about their abilities and their chosen path. Still, they control this fear and overcome their anxiety because they know that calculated risks must be taken, decisions must be made, some level of failure is inevitable… and their team is watching. Unfortunately, leaders are not normal members of their team and being in front of everybody implies a degree of organizational and human loneliness. There is no innovative activity without problems or failures “Resilience” is the modern term for the ability to deal with stressful events, whether caused by own misjudgment or adverse external factors. How can one improve their resilience? Mountain-climbing or similar sports may offer a good model. Mentally, an ever-increasing sequence of challenges (e.g., in project size) and their associated problems will train a leader on how to recover and learn. With that, what was stressful in the last project will become the relaxed normal in today’s task. While leadership challenges - especially in IT - are nowadays rarely of a physical nature, there is a lot of value in physical fitness, health, and good sleep. Since age 18, I’ve been doing some kind of regular physical exercise and believe that it helps me to handle acute stress, as well as to relax faster when difficult situations wear off. Unless you are into extreme sports, it might be difficult to “enjoy” a similar opportunity. Yet, military survival training, while not being funny in the least, has shown me how far body and mind can be pushed. A day in the office is always easier… Divide and decide The most critical skill of a leader is the ability to make decisions while handling information deficits. Despite being somewhat simplistic, the military adage of “better a wrong decision now than no decision” is worthwhile to be kept in mind. Yet, decisions should be made at the lowest organizational level of sufficient competency – this is applied delegation . Rarely has a leader all the necessary expertise to make good decisions at the required speed. But a good leader has assembled a team of qualified people who will be empowered to make plenty of decisions on their own. This eases the leader’s cognitive load and allows them to focus on the really hairy decisions and their consequences. Be prepared to decide when it becomes necessary and stick with the decision unless changes in the environment or new information justify a change. “I don’t know” is, in my experience, the best way a leader can establish trust with a team If the team is good, they will recognize when you are guessing or bullshitting, so don’t! Nobody knows everything; being able to identify your weak areas as a leader and to “outsource” these to qualified team members is a sign of strength. In return, when you confidently claim some knowledge or information, the team will trust that you know what you are talking about. Pre-condition is the first bullet in this list. Grow your expertise through fanatic learning! There are some leadership philosophies that I do not fully embrace: Servant leadership This is the idea that a leader serves the team with their efforts. Almost by definition, a leader’s role comprises the need to set goals, to provide the necessary resources, and to resolve issues that jeopardize success. Yet, to serve goes too far. When necessary, a leader must be willing to make tough or unpopular decisions. While the typical IT department is a much more benevolent environment than a battlefield, even a leader in that safe space must accept, endure, and resolve conflicts to ensure that their visions are implemented. It is nice when it works by serving, but don’t stake your success on it. Leading by numbers There are several approaches attempt to represent leadership using quantitative means. The most popular are OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). While those were developed by the military in the mid 18 th century and modernized by Peter Drucker about a hundred years later, they are just a systematic way to define goals and measure the status of their achievement. That might be a valid part of managing (!) activities, but this does not constitute leadership. In software engineering, we could say that those methods cover the “happy path”, i.e., when everything goes according to plan. Yet, OKRs, Earned-Value, and similar methods do not provide any mechanisms for how to deal with adverse events, breaking systems, non-functioning technology, problematic employees, or any other events that require inspired and brave… wait for it … leadership. This is certainly not a complete nor a step-by-step instruction on how to become a leader. Still, I aim to identify a few areas which need to be covered by a seasoned leader. I am also convinced that these areas make the difference between a leader and a manager or administrator. While my history and original leadership education come from the military, I believe that the above topics are sufficiently generic to describe the challenges across many industries. The readers of this post are probably at their initial steps into a new career in IT or software engineering and I propose that you observe your leaders and learn from their good, bad, and their ugly. It is entirely legitimate to establish your career as a staff engineer or individual contributor/expert without leadership responsibility but if you aim to take the leadership path, the above explanations might help you to prepare for this equally scary and rewarding challenge. To answer the original question: Leaders are made - or maybe better – molded and you yourself play the biggest role in this endeavor.

Celebrating International Women’s Day, we’ve gathered twelve of London’s biggest female voices in tech. We asked them to share some advice for the next generation of women thinking of getting into tech. Looking at how they started their careers themselves and the challenges they had to face, they talk about their own role models, and even debunk some tech myths. Ready? Let’s dive in and hear from the first six. Sabrina Duda UX Researcher, Msc Psychology, Author, Speaker & Mentor Sabrina has over 20 years of experience in UX and earned her MSc in Psychology at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, where she specialised in Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics. Sabrina co-founded one of the first UX agencies in Germany, eye square, and served for over 12 years as a managing director and partner. In the UK, she has worked as Head of Insight, Head of UX, Principal UX Researcher, and Senior UX Researcher for various public and private sector organisations on both the client and agency side. Sabrina enjoys going to UX conferences and frequently speaks and writes about UX. She has published around 30 articles, co-authored a UX textbook and spoken at many international conferences (see the full list of publications here or take a look at ResearchGate ). She is also an active mentor on ADP List . Sabrina’s advice Choose the right subject to study . A degree is the basis of your career and especially as a UX researcher, you need an academic degree, ideally a master’s degree or even a PhD. At university, find a professor who supports you and ideally supervises your master’s thesis . Choose a research topic for your master’s thesis which is unique, relevant and reflects your passion and on which you can work independently. Your master’s thesis can be the entrance ticket to your career because you will have a great case study and, with luck, your first publication. Create a website, maybe even a brand for yourself. On your website, you can present your experience and examples of your work. Create a professional LinkedIn profile and ask people you have worked with for recommendations (that works best when you also offer to write a recommendation for them). Job recruiters will find you on LinkedIn; try to write blogs or articles and try to give talks. Go to conferences and meetups, both to learn and to network – and because it is fun! Do courses and training. Choose jobs where you learn something new . If you feel you cannot learn anything new or are stuck with no further options to advance, switch jobs. Sabrina’s role models and inspiration The basis of my career is still my former professor Prof. Hartmut Wandke (Engineering Psychology & Cognitive Ergonomics, Humboldt University Berlin). I specialised in Engineering Psychology and he was the supervisor of my master’s thesis and encouraged me to publish my thesis. I owe him my career and I still benefit from the knowledge and expertise I gained from his lectures and seminars almost 25 years ago. More recently, I enjoyed reading Sheryl Sandberg’s books Lean In and Option B . They are well-researched and her personal story is impressive and inspiring. Two books I would highly recommend to everyone working in UX are ‘ The Lean Startup ’ by Eric Ries and ‘Sprint’ (Google Design Sprint), by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky and Braden Kowitz. Both books show the importance of a data- and evidence-driven approach to business strategy and give practical examples and advice on how to put this into practice. My personal inspiration is Hannes Robier, the founder and organiser of the World Usability Congress (WUC) in Graz, Austria. The WUC has grown into a unique and inspiring international UX conference with insightful talks. He created a real community, the WUC family, which includes all speakers and supporters of the WUC. Janthana Kaenprakhamroy CEO at Tapoly Janthana is the CEO of Tapoly, one of the first on demand insurance providers for SMEs and freelancers in Europe and the winner of Technology Development at the European Business Awards 2021. Here are some of her many awards: Forbes named her sixth on their Top 100 Women Founders to watch list The Insurance Institute named her among the Top Ten Insurtech Female Influencers She was listed as one of the Most Influential Women in Tech 2021 She won the Insurance Leader of the Year by the Women in Finance Awards 2021 Her previous work experiences include working as a former chartered accountant and internal audit director at investment banks like UBS, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, and BNP Paribas. Janthana’s advice My advice for young women who want to get into FinTech is to just go for it . Many companies include diversity and inclusion metrics in their recruitment process and most companies are starting to increase their headcount again after the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s a good time for those who want to find new opportunities. Overall, you have a good chance at getting the job today; however nothing is guaranteed, you will still have to show that you are the best candidate. Depending on your experience, you may need to refresh your knowledge or upskill. Finding a mentor within the industry who can support you in your career will also help. Aside from their connections and insight, mentors provide invaluable support and can be a useful sounding board. I would encourage women to expand their knowledge about the sector as much as possible. This could be by reading articles and listening to podcasts and attending networking events because you never know who you might meet who could open the next door. Finally, don’t believe that your gender will hold you back or be a barrier to your FinTech career. In our careers, most of us will have moments when we doubt our own abilities, experience imposter syndrome, or lack self-confidence, but we are all capable of so much and should feel empowered to go after our dream roles. Dr. Anastasia Dedyukhina Founder at Consciously Digital Dr. Anastasia Dedyukhina (UK) is a global thought leader on digital wellbeing, twice TEDx speaker, bestselling author of Homo Distractus , and founder of the international network of 110+ digital wellbeing coaches Consciously Digital . But that’s not all: She acts as a director of the first digital wellbeing training program certified by two major coaching associations, ICF and NBHWC. Anastasia is a frequent speaker at global conferences, such as Mobile World Congress (Barcelona), National Wellness Conference (USA), Sync Digital Wellbeing Summit (Saudi Arabia) on digital wellbeing, the ethics of tech and more. She has appeared numerous times in the national and international press, including BBC, ITV, Metro, Guardian, and others. Anastasia's first TEDx talk “ Could you live without a smartphone?” has been viewed more than 370,000 times on Youtube. Her second TEDx talk "Are you a robot?" will be published shortly. Dr. Anastasia’s Advice If anyone told me 10 years ago that I'll be one of the people defining the global digital wellbeing movement and tech ethics, I would never believe them. I've always been curious about tech, but my background has been too "soft" for it. I never thought I could make a difference in it without knowing how to code (and I did try coding - and found it boring!). What helped me was just living my true story - I got rid of my smartphone for a year and a half because I was frustrated by the many distractions and this piqued my interest in why I felt this way. I researched it, did a TED talk, wrote a book... and one thing followed the other, and now I am running a network of over 110 digital wellbeing coaches! And... just do it, try things! In my experience, women frequently have the idea that they are not prepared enough or that they need to study more and they end up overthinking and missing opportunities. Be a little bit more adventurous and have fun with it - you'll figure things out! Amelia Kallman Futurist at The Big Reveal UK Recently named one of the “Top 25 Women in the Metaverse,” Amelia Kallman is a leading London futurist, speaker and author. As a technology communicator, Amelia regularly consults brands, agencies, and governments on the impact of new technologies on the future of business and our lives. She forecasts global trends and behaviours, helping clients navigate innovation, build strategies and deliver industry leading initiatives. She specialises in the emerging opportunities - as well as the risks - of AI, XR, data and Web 3.0. Recent areas of study include the metaverse, sustainability, Gen-Z/Gen-Alpha, NFTs, and the surfacing human rights issues of tomorrow. Host of XR Star , Blockchain in the Metaverse and The Big Reveal , Amelia's clients include Together Labs, Unilever, JLL, Lloyd's, Red Bull, TD Synnex, and UK Parliament. She is a mentor, activist and is currently writing her third book. Amelia’s advice Don't be afraid to speak up! Be heard, ask questions, ask for support, call out bad behaviour, take credit when it's yours to take, ask for a raise, ask how much a male counterpart is getting paid, champion others, admit when you're wrong, and don't let anyone make you feel like you don't have a voice. Secondly, find a mentor and be a mentor. This can be someone you work with, someone you find on LinkedIn whose career you admire or someone you find through a community group. Knowing that you have someone you can talk to and ask for professional advice, who has your best interest in mind, provides you with both a valuable and rewarding relationship. Jeanette Carlsson Founder and CEO, Tech Nordic Advocates Jeanette is Founder and CEO or Tech Nordic Advocates (TNA) Northern Europe's largest and only pan-Nordic/Baltic tech/startup and women-in-tech ecosystem and Nordic arm of Global Tech Advocates, the world’s only global tech startup community. She is also the founder and CEO of newmedia2.0, a leading independent strategy boutique, a corporate, startup, diplomatic and EU advisor and leading conference chair and keynote. Over a 30 year career in tech, Jeanette has led UK, European, US and global businesses, founded tech sector businesses, played a key role in London’s tech city ecosystem, advised the UK and Nordic government, ambassadors and the EU on all issues relating to growing and scaling technology businesses Jeanette also lectures about innovation & entrepreneurship and supports tech accelerators at leading international business schools In recent years, Jeanette has developed and delivered Europe’s only international female tech founder growth programme , helping over 200 female tech founders launch, grow and scale innovative tech sector businesses to date In 2018, Jeanette was voted “Inspirational Woman” by the City of London and invited to Buckingham Palace for her contribution to London’s tech sector In 2021 and 2022, she was a finalist in the 2021 Nordic Women in Tech Awards In 2022, she was voted amongst the 10 most impactful women in tech Jeanette’s advice Believe in yourself - never apologies for your performance (before speeches/presentations). Stand tall, be confident and smile! Never think you need to know everything - no-one can! Asking for help is not a weakness, but a strength . Focus on understanding what your key strengths/skills are and use those and get others with complementary skills to do the things you are less skilled at/enjoy less. You don't need to be a nerd to be in tech -  there are so many different skill sets needed in the fast moving and super exciting tech space. Take a look at your skill set and what you enjoy . Tech is pervasive and is in every industry sector. If you're excited about how technology and technology enabled innovation can improve user experiences and peoples personal and/or business lives, there will be a role for you to play in tech - and if you're a tech nerd, that's of course great too! You can show other women that it's perfectly normal to be a female techy nerd. Be yourself - don't assume you have to look or behave in a certain way. Remember to be inspired by all sorts of people from any gender/background/race - don't assume that just because you're not in a room full of women or are even the only woman in the room, you're not meant to be there - you absolutely ARE! And in doing so, you are helping to make tech a space for all talent to feel included and empowered and inspire other women And to close our first part of the article, we asked one of our own alumni to share their experience and advice with 5+ years of experience since graduating from Ironhack in Barcelona. Here is what she had to say: Maikha Abarca Senior Software Engineer - Ironhack Alumni Ambassador Maikha is an Ironhack alum who has been working as a software engineer for more than five years. Originally a designer, she focuses on the intersection between design and people-centred software engineering and likes to build artsy AI bots in her spare time. Her current area of expertise is the creation of multi-platform applications from a single codebase . When she first started her career as a software engineer, she was lucky enough to join a global software consultancy firm where I was inspired by the words of CTO Rebecca Parsons: “You are the only person who truly knows what you are capable of.” Starting a career in tech can be daunting, especially when surrounded by colleagues who may feel the need to prove their worth and competence. Don't feel intimidated by the competitive atmosphere; you are the only person who truly knows your potential and what you are capable of achieving. Believe in yourself and your abilities and don't let the actions of others discourage you from pursuing your career goals. Have you enjoyed hearing from some of the leading women in tech in the UK? We’re proud to be working to create the next generation of female tech leaders. Are you next? Next, we’ll bring 6 more leading women’s advice to continue learning and getting inspired.

You’ve probably heard about the gender gap and there’s a reason why: it’s an issue that permeates practically every industry, but especially tech. The gender gap is defined as a relative disparity between people of different genders and although it’s typically associated with the salary differences between men and women, it can also refer to rights, benefits, or levels of participation and access. The Global Gender Gap Report is an annual publication that evaluates the existing gaps between men and women in the following areas: economic participation and opportunity, health and survival, educational attainment, and political empowerment . Through its analysis of 146 countries, it determined that at the current rate, it will take 132 years to reach gender parity. But there’s no reason to panic: significant progress has been made and it will continue to advance over time. Gender gap stats The gender gap varies significantly depending on where we’re looking. Let’s break down the main gender gaps that exist in the workforce: the pay gap and the employment gap . On a global level, women are paid about 20 cents less than men and 25% more men are employed than women. In Europe, 11% more men are employed than women and hourly, women earn an average of 13% less than men. In the United States, women earn about 17 cents less than men and women have a significantly lower chance of getting promoted. We could dedicate entire blog series or even whitepapers to the gender gap, what it is, the forms it can take, and much more. But for now, we’re going to focus on the effects of the gender gap and the steps that can be taken to reduce it. The Effects of the Gender Gap The simple truth is that the gender gap has significant effects in society and starts affecting people from childhood. Stereotypes can affect how children see themselves from a young age and influence the choices adolescents make about what to study, where to study, and their future opportunities. And while the majority of the effects of gender inequality are clear, such as lower pay or limited opportunities for career growth, there are more effects that are so ingrained in our society that we may not even realize. For example, even as the two-parent households with both parents employed continues to rise, women are still disproportionately tasked with household chores and responsibilities. Studies show that on average, women spend 8.5 more hours on domestic chores a week than men. Similarly, women are typically the ones who provide unofficial and unpaid care to family members. In addition to the unpaid nature of such a responsibility, taking care of ill or disabled family members can take a toll on the caregiver’s own mental health. Education is another area that is seriously affected by the gender gap. While overall access to education has improved over recent years, certain areas are more affected than others and girls tend to have limited access to universities or higher education . Some areas, like tech, are more affected than others by this: girls who don’t complete high school are usually not even introduced to the basics of tech. But there are also other consequences of underdeveloped educational opportunities: women who don’t have access to sexual and reproductive health education severely affects their chances at advancing to further education. In the workplace, even women who hold high-level degrees and positions are still faced with gender-based discrimination and practices designed for men. For example, women are frequently asked about their family planning/pregnancy plans in interviews and are expected to take significant time off when expecting a child. And that’s not even mentioning assumptions that women will be the ones to take days off to care for sick children, attend sporting or school events, or place their priority on their children and not work - something that is not generally associated with their male counterparts. The effects of such assumptions and expectations can have drastic consequences and can lead to the following situations : Lower rates of schooling and employment for women Lower pay for similar work Higher stress levels Higher rates of unpaid work (childcare, caring for family members) Exposure to higher levels of sexual assault and gender-based violence A lack of representation in government And that’s not all: this imbalance can lead to mental health issues . When compared to men, women are: 2x likely to suffer from anxiety and have a panic disorder 2x likely to suffer from depression throughout their lives 4-10x more likely to suffer from eating disorders More than 2x likely to suffer from PTSD More likely to attempt suicide How to Combat the Gender Gap Many of the issues associated with the gender gap come from systematic oppression and a long history of structures designed for men. However, progress has been made recently and will continue to be made. Here’s some of the main things we can do to foster growth opportunities for women: Invest in infrastructure : there are so many factors why women may be deterred from entering the workforce or pursuing higher education and governments need to take the proper steps to protect these rights. In Mexico, for example, the government implemented women-only buses to promise safe travel and the Indian government built adequate sanitation facilities to ensure women felt comfortable at work or school. Push for parity in maternity/paternity leave : first, all countries need to offer generous maternity leave to all new mothers but second, they have to offer equal maternity and paternity leave to guarantee that both parents are responsible for taking time off and not just the woman. Make childcare accessible or free : childcare is extremely expensive and more often than not, the woman is the one who gives up her job or switches to part-time to stay at home with children. Companies and countries that offer free or low-cost childcare help encourage women returning to the workforce post-pregnancy. Provide women with the tools they need to succeed : women face different barriers to education and employment such as higher loan rates and gender discrimination; governments need to prioritize facilitating access to women. There’s a long way to go today to achieve gender parity but progress is being made daily, thanks to increased global awareness and an overall higher importance placed on the issue. And the most important part is that we continue our fight until we reach equality.

We’ve talked about what to do when you have a bad interview, but have you thought about what happens when you nail that interview? Probably not. No worries, we’ll break it down and cover everything you need to know. First: how do you know it was a good interview?! It can be hard to know if an interview went well, especially when you’re nervous and trying to impress the interviewer. If any of these signs sounds familiar, it’s probably a good sign: The interview went longer than expected : was your conversation natural? Did you have good banter and find it easy to chat with the interviewer or the team? That’s great! Frequently, if interviewers know that you’re not right for the job, they’ll wrap it up quickly to avoid wasting both their time and yours. You met additional team members : an interviewer wants to know if your skills match the job description but they also want to see how you would fit into the team. Meeting other team members or employees is a great sign. The interviewer took time to “sell” the company too : you’re not the only one on display in an interview; you need to make sure the company is the right fit for you as well. If an interviewer takes the time to boast about the company to you, it’s probably because they’re hoping the interest is mutual. You got a timeline for the next steps : lots of interview processes require different interviews or even case studies before an offer is made; if an interviewer lets you know about what to expect next, it means they’re thinking about your next steps in the interview process. You get a quick response: interviewers and HR departments aren’t looking to draw out the hiring process; just like you want an answer as soon as possible, they want that role filled. A quick answer means that they’re pleased with you and want to move forward with the process. They ask for/contact your references : talking to references can be a bit of a challenge sometimes, especially in international companies with references located across the world, so if you hear that your prospective employer did in fact reach out to your references, that’s a great sign! Still not sure if it was a good or bad interview? Well, there are a few telltale signs that it didn’t go that well. Was the interviewer vague about next steps? Or did you not get a chance to ask questions? Did the interview end early? These could be signs that the interview didn’t go great. But don’t worry: take this as a learning opportunity and get ready to rock your next one . After the AMAZING Interview It’s nice to ride that post-interview glory, especially when you just know that you nailed it, but don’t get carried away! These tips can help you take advantage of that rush and give you an even better chance at getting that role: Follow up with a thank you message to your interviewers : this doesn’t need to be a formal phone call or message; even a quick email after the interview thanking them for their time and sending them additional materials such as your portfolio or writing samples can help reinforce your interest in the role. And who doesn’t love being thanked for their time?! If you worked with a recruiter, follow up with them too : recruiters want to know how the interview went, what was discussed, and what the next steps would be. Thank them for their help thus far and keep them updated on your progress. Make your situation clear: if you're fielding other offers, let them know you've had interest from other companies. It's important that they know so they don't leave you hanging unnecessarily; at the same time, make sure you’re respectful of their time and interview process and give them enough time to make a decision. Be responsive : some companies will ask for additional information, such as references, your portfolio, a case study, or a work sample. Be responsive and open to additional requests: it most likely means they need one last thing to help them make their final decision. Even if you've had a great interview at your dream company, don't turn down other interview offers until you've signed an agreement; don't put all your eggs in one basket . Last minute company hiring freezes or an unexpected offer could mean your prospects change and you don't want to be left without any offer at all. What not to do after an interview You’re pumped and feeling great but you can’t get carried away. Following the interview, try to avoid these three things: Don’t pressure the decision : if it’s been longer than what they originally told you, it’s totally fine to follow-up politely about a decision. But if it's within their window, try to be patient, no matter how hard it can be. A lot of things go into making an offer, such as advising other candidates, getting permission from the hiring manager, and deciding what salary/benefits to offer. If you are not respectful of the company’s time, it can come across quite negatively. Don’t quit your job/stop looking for a new job : sometimes you won’t receive an offer after even the most perfect interview and that could be for a multitude of reasons: limited salary options, another great candidate, a change in heart, or practically anything else. Until you have signed your offer letter, make sure you’re keeping your options open. Don’t obsess : it’s quite the challenge, but after the interview is complete, you’ve done all you can. If you replay the interview in your head or obsess over any tiny detail, you’ll drive yourself crazy. Follow our above steps but leave it there: everything will work out as it should. Are you feeling great after your interview? We’re so happy to hear it! Stay calm and be patient: you’ll get an answer soon and we can’t wait to see you succeed in your new role.

Female technology (FemTech) is often thought of as a niche market. And this massively impacts funding. For example, despite representing half of the global population, and spending over $500 billion per year on medical bills , only 4% of healthcare research and development funding is put toward women's health. But FemTech founders in Bavaria are on a mission to tip the scales and bring more funding to women's health and develop life-changing technology that can improve women's lives. FemTech is starting to explode around Germany, and Bavaria is making plans to attract as many innovative new female-focused health techs to the region as possible. The global market for FemTech is forecast to reach $60 billion by 2027 so over the next few years as funding increases we can expect to see numerous new startups emerge. In this article, we will explore what a FemTech is, the growing scene in Munich and Bavaria, and share with you three FemTechs from the region that you need to watch in 2023. What is FemTech? If you're not clear on what the term FemTech means, don't worry. It's a relatively new word and has only been circling around in the startup scene since 2016. Ida Tin was the first person to use the term FemTech back when she was founding her own women's health startup. It was one of the first health tech startups to focus solely on women and has grown to tremendous success. It's called Clue – maybe you’ve heard of it. In 2023, the term FemTech has expanded to include all the startups, scaleups and wider organizations that focus on women's health and use technology to provide support and solutions for women's health. According to PitchBook , FemTech startups raised over $2 billion in funding in 2022. This was a huge increase from the years before – only  $476.8 million was raised in 2019 – and shows how much interest in the space is growing. In 2023, we predict that investment will grow even more and funding will surpass even the 2022 levels. Why are FemTechs so popular? FemTechs are a group of startups that focus on plugging societal gaps and creating fairer and easier access to services for previously underserved groups. These types of startups are particularly popular in the current social and economic climate which is why we will only see continued investment as these underserved audiences flock to companies that meet their unique needs. FemTechs are using a combination of technology and creativity to develop solutions to all kinds of women's health issues. From reproductive health and fertility to menstrual tracking, pregnancy, and menopause there are so many areas of women's health that are now being addressed by FemTechs. And they are not only focusing on reproductive health, but also finding treatments for diseases that are more prevalent in women (such as Alzheimer's, certain types of cancer, and autoimmune diseases). These FemTechs are doing important work that can affect the lives of millions (if not billions) of women across the world. This new wave of women's health technology could bring about significant change to women's health and help women across the globe live happier and healthier lives. The FemTech scene in Bavaria Bavaria’s startup scene is on the road to success and quickly catching up with the capital, Berlin. Numerous health techs are incubating in the Nuremberg and Erlangen region which has become a digital health hub. This region is home to some renowned research institutions in the healthcare sector along with the headquarters of several high-profile businesses – bringing together capital and innovation. The Digital Health Hub for the region around Nuremberg and Erlangen focuses on digitization in the healthcare sector and has attracted a lot of both healthcare and technology talent to the region – making it the perfect place for a German FemTech to locate. Munich is another bustling startup city in Bavaria and is one of the top tech hubs in Europe – up there with Paris and London. And the city is starting to put a major focus on attracting women in tech and FemTechs to the area. Thinking of relocating to Munich to start your tech career? Check out our Guide to Why Munich is the City to Start Your Tech Career in 2023 . The Femtech Career-Building Programme The Technical University of Munich has created a FemTech Career-Building Program as a way to attract more female-led startups to the city and encourage more women to get into tech. TU Munich has set itself the goal of becoming the most desirable technical university for women in Germany. Its FemTech program uses unconventional measures to create study and workplaces that focus specifically on meeting the unique needs of women. The TU Program is an incredible track that helps female students to pursue a career in FemTech and gives them the skills they need to achieve their goals after graduation. In Germany, specialists with managerial skills are highly sought after and also very rare in the technology sector. One of the areas that the program focuses on is giving women the skills to be able to fill more management positions in the technology sector. The university provides support and guidance for its female students that gives them actionable insights they can put to use in their careers. FemTech events in Bavaria Not only is there a tonne of great options for those looking to start their FemTech careers in Bavaria, there are also a lot of women in tech events that you can attend to build a network and connect with other people interested in FemTech. You could look at Salesforces Women in Tech Group , and Female Tech Leaders who both hold events and workshops in Munich. And we are only scratching the surface here. In Bavaria, there are numerous initiatives dedicated to supporting women in tech and healthcare. Ironhack recently held several events for women in tech in Munich and is hoping to hold more similar events in the future. Follow us on Meetup to stay up-to-date on all our local events. Top FemTech startups in Bavaria to watch FemTechs in Bavaria are some of the most exciting startups on the scene right now. They are still not the most popular type of startup in the region but many healthtechs in the area are now focusing on creating specific women-focused products and services so in the coming years we expect this list will grow significantly. For now, here are three of our favorite cutting-edge FemTech startups from Bavaria that are leading the charge in womens health technology. 1. Wellster Wellster is one of the larger Munich-based healthtech startups. It is a go-to solution for consumer health, building digital clinics and the next generation of healthcare consumer goods. In 2022, Wellster announced it had secured a total of $60 million (€53m) in a series B financing round. This investment makes it the highest-funded integrated healthcare platform not only in Germany but the whole of Europe. That all sounds great, but you are probably wondering what puts Wellster on our FemTech lists. Well, since the platforms were launched in 2019, more than 1.5 million patients have registered for and used them for everything from mental health to intimate health, hair and skin problems, to medical self-testing. But that audience has primarily been male. To change that, the startup has announced that it is going to use its series B funding to focus more on women's health. The company's pivot towards the FemTech sector shows the high volume of opportunities now available and seen as profitable in providing women with the healthcare solutions that they've been deprived of historically. We are excited to see the kinds of innovations Wellster will bring to the table and what women's health issues they are going to focus on. 2. GoBunion GoBunion is a smaller FemTech based out of Munich and founded by Sarita Bradley. Her idea is centered around making life easier for women who have problems with their hallux (also known as a bunion, which is one of the most common forefoot deformities). GoBunion stockings have a toe separator that gently stretches the big toe into its original position and ensures that the curvature does not increase. The comfortable and discreet solution is non-slip and accommodates the everyday life of style-conscious women. Sarita launched in October 2018 after putting in extensive research to create a pattern that would be effective and that women would want to wear. She launched at the Munich 'Beauty Forum' fair and later gave a pitch in the lion's den where she received two offers. Since then she's seen tremendous success with over 100,000 socks sold. 3. XO Life While not specifically a FemTech, XO Life is a healthtech company that is providing services that have tremendous benefits for women's health. XO Life is on a mission to create the largest real-world evidence platform for patient insights across all kinds of medications and therapies. This matters for women, because typically most medicines and therapies are tested on men rather than women. As you can imagine, this means that medicines can then have unknown side effects and women's health can be put at risk. One study found that in 90% of cases , women experienced stronger side effects than men when taking the same medicine and experienced adverse drug reactions nearly twice as much as men. XO Lifes is hoping to use data to combat this and other issues. It’s website says: “Medicines can have different side effects in men and women – XO Life is an effective and easy-to-use reporting system with which gender-dependent side effects can not only be recorded but also scientifically evaluated.“ The research they are doing could lead to many women having happier and healthier lives by making more informed decisions about the medicines they take. Get ready to start your tech career in Munich Are you a woman ready to kickstart your career in tech? Sign up for one of our bootcamps and learn the skills that FemTechs in Munich are searching for. Our tech school offers a range of immersive courses from UX/UI Design to Cybersecurity that are delivered in formats tailored to your needs: online or on campus, full-time or part-time. Apply today .

Surprise, surprise, 2022 was another year where men dominated the startup scene –, particularly in health and tech industries. While there is no change to the male dominance in the startup world, women in North Rhine Westphalia (and the whole of Germany) aren't letting that deter them. Women building FemTech brands are writing an important new script that will deliver a happier and healthier future for women across demographics and increase representation for women in tech. Female entrepreneurship has been on the rise in Germany in the last decade and many exciting new female founders are focusing their incredible talents on using tech to tackle women's health problems. There are more and more female founders behind startups, especially in the healthtech space. But women are still underrepresented and have to fight against male dominance for every penny of funding they can get. The “ Female Founders Monitor ” study from 2022 shows that in Germany, only: 20% of founders in Germany are women. 37% of founding teams include women as well as men. Although we are seeing a positive upward trend in comparison to previous years, women are still clearly in the minority. Financing has been playing a big part in this. According to the study, investors demonstrate a bias in favor of men. Male teams receive almost nine times more investment than their female counterparts. This builds an ever more challenging environment for women in FemTech to work in – but incredible women are fighting those odds and paving the way for a better future for all women. FemTech has started to explode in recent years with many new cutting-edge startups emerging that focus solely on women's health. With increasing popularity, the global market for FemTech is forecast to reach $60 bn by 2027 . With such big bucks on the table, we hope that in the next few years, FemTech will grab more of the attention of venture capitalists, and funding will flow to help female founders continue to disrupt the women’s health market in 2023 and beyond. In this article, we will explore the emerging FemTech scene, how it has started to grow in North Rhine Westphalia (specifically in Düsseldorf and Cologne), and share some of our favorite FemTechs from the region that you need to watch in 2023. What is FemTech? FemTech is one area of the startup world that puts the spotlight on women. But what exactly is a FemTech? If you're not familiar with the term FemTech, don’t worry, we weren’t 100% sure either until we did the research for this article. The term FemTech was first used in 2016 by the female founder Ida Tin. She founded her FemTech Clue in Berlin and led the way for many other FemTechs to emerge in the city. A FemTech is a startup, scaleup, or company that uses its resources to create products and services that incorporate technology in providing support for women's health. This can be obvious women's health issues such as fertility, family planning, menstrual tracking, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. But, in addition, FemTechs also focus on finding treatments for diseases that are more prevalent in women (such as Alzheimer's, certain types of cancer, and autoimmune diseases). FemTechs are doing important work for women everywhere. There are many historically taboo topics in women's health, such as periods. These stigmas have prevented innovation and left women to deal with their health problems in discomfort and silence. But FemTechs are now shining a spotlight on these issues that women face and the conversation they are starting as well as the new products and services they are creating are helping women better manage their health. This new wave of women's health technology is set to bring rapid change to the women's health market and help many across the globe live happier and healthier lives. And some of the most exciting FemTech startups in the nation are coming out of North Rhine Westphalia. The FemTech scene in North Rhine Westphalia North Rhine Westphalia is beginning to emerge as an important region in the nation for FemTechs. Government initiatives, local organizations, and talented female tech workers are coming together to put the region on the map and make it an attractive location for female founders, digital innovation, and sustainable industry. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia , is “pushing ahead with the digital transformation of state government services and supporting businesses on their path into the digital age. When it comes to the energy transition, we are banking on innovation and technological advances in the pursuit of our aim to turn North Rhine-Westphalia into Europe’s most modern, climate-friendly, and environmentally sustainable center of industry.” In addition, Dusseldorf is home to the MEDICA Trade Fair, the world’s largest event for the medical sector. This event is a prime location for FemTechs to demonstrate how their technology is being used in women's health and medicine as well as connect with experts and investors in the medical field. Cologne is another major city in the region where the FemTech scene is growing. There are almost 100 healthtech startups in the city . From BioTech to MedTech and everything in between, digital health is becoming one of the industries that Cologne is known for. The health tech companies in the city are fueling innovation and growth in a sector that is changing rapidly due to demographic change and increasing health awareness. And the area is perfectly poised for FemTechs to grow with access to over 40 hospitals and clinics in the city and 6 Life Science Excellence Research Institutes. Top FemTech brands in Düsseldorf & Cologne to watch FemTechs in Düsseldorf and Cologne are some of the most exciting startups on the scene right now. Want to see who's leading the charge? Here are three of our favorite cutting-edge FemTech startups from Düsseldorf and Cologne that are revolutionizing women's health. 1. uma app (Cologne) uma is a startup from Cologne that is focused on science-based pregnancy. The uma app was developed by midwives and accompanies pregnant women throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum to help them be independent and safe. The uma app aims to empower pregnant women and improve their care through digitization. It focuses on providing tailored and personalized support so that women are able to enjoy this magic period in life in a self-determined way and without comparison to others' experiences. 2. Elona Health GMBH (Düsseldorf) Elona Health is an evidence-based and sustainable startup based in Düsseldorf that is focused on patient-centered psychotherapy. It has a scientific advisory board that continuously evaluates the effectiveness and safety of its solutions and it is opening up tailored pathways for people with specific issues such as depression. According to Mindsetsd , despite the fact people from every walk of life can develop depression, women are about twice as likely as men to experience major depression in their lifetime. While the app is focused on all audiences, as women suffer from depression at higher rates than men, we still put Elona on the list as a FemTech as it's tackling a women's health issue. Its goal is to be “the leading provider of innovative outpatient mental health solutions by 2023 and improve the treatment experience for patients and therapists.” It has a lot of exciting new releases planned for this year so you should definitely keep your eyes peeled for what's coming. 3. JUPP Cologne (Cologne) JUPP is a healthtech startup out of Cologne that was founded by a designer and an economist. JUPP works to help patients who suffer from dementia and their families. Women are more greatly affected by dementia than men. Worldwide, double the number of women have dementia than men. Research, based on brain scans, shows that the rate at which brain cells are dying in the brain is faster in women than in men and this combined with the fact that women are more likely to live longer than men makes them more likely to suffer from dementia in their lifetime. JUPP is a new startup and its first product to be developed is a mindfulness diary that creates moments of happiness, promotes communication, and captures memories. It also  offers an interactive information system for dealing with dementia and they are working on an app that will hopefully be released soon and will focus on helping people with dementia in their everyday life. Get ready to start your tech career in Düsseldorf & Cologne Are you a woman ready to kickstart your career in tech? Sign up for one of our bootcamps and learn the skills that FemTechs in Düsseldorf or Cologne are searching for. Our tech school offers a range of immersive courses from UX/UI Design to Cybersecurity that are delivered in formats tailored to your needs: online or on campus, full-time or part-time. Apply today .

Technology plays a crucial role in connecting our physical and digital worlds, bridging the gap between the tangible and intangible. Advancements in technology have blurred the lines between our physical and digital worlds, creating new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. With the rise of innovative technologies, we can now connect with others, learn new skills, and access products and services from anywhere in the world. New technologies involving IoT, AR, and VR provide imaginative solutions to various industries to revolutionize how we live, work, and play. Internet of Things (IoT) connects our everyday objects to the internet, allowing them to work together more smoothly. Mobile devices , such as smartphones and tablets, enable us to access digital information and services wherever we are. Augmented Reality (AR) technologies overlay digital content over real-world objects, creating a blended experience for us to explore. Virtual reality (VR) technologies create a simulated environment, allowing us to interact with a digital world more naturally. Thanks to these advancements, we now have a plethora of new applications that can help us connect with the physical world around us. Can you imagine a world where healthcare experts are at your fingertips or distant places are at your doorstep? Now you don’t have to — it’s already here! Utilizing Digital Experiences Health Technology has revolutionized the way we take care of our health, making it easier for us to monitor and maintain our well-being. With wearables and health apps, we can track our fitness levels, monitor our nutrition, connect with local athletic groups, and receive personalized health recommendations from our smartphones. With video conferencing software and other communication technologies, doctors can remotely monitor and diagnose your conditions, reducing the need for in-person visits. Whether you have a chronic condition that needs continuous monitoring, live in a remote area, or have mobility issues, you can access healthcare services from almost anywhere. Since health records are now digital, your healthcare professional will have the most up-to-date information in real time. Education Technology has also transformed the education industry, making it easier for us to learn and connect with others. With the rise of online learning platforms and educational apps, we can access education from anywhere, at any time. Limited access to traditional educational opportunities or expensive college price tags present less of a barrier when you can learn about a new topic or develop a new skill online. With the rise of VR and AR technology, immersive learning experiences allow you to explore complex concepts in a more engaging and memorable way. With VR platforms, you can connect different parts of the world and people from different cultures to experience different cultures and lifestyles without ever leaving your home. Do you have a child looking to explore the world in a new way? Using educational games and mobile apps, you can allow them to learn about the natural world. You can encourage your child to spend time outside, exploring and learning about the world around them while providing your child with valuable information about the environment. Retail Even our shopping and retail experiences have evolved, with technology transforming the way we shop and making it easier for us to access products and services from all around the world. Online shopping has exploded in popularity over the last decade, but technology is also being used to enhance the in-store shopping experience. Nowadays, retailers use everything from augmented reality to facial recognition technology to create a more personalized and seamless shopping experience. As soon as you enter a store, facial recognition technology can identify you and provide personalized recommendations based on your shopping history. You can even try on clothing virtually with AR technology to see how clothes look without having to try them on physically. With the rise of e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces, you can purchase products from the comfort of our own homes without the need to physically visit a store. Using click and collect services, you can buy products online and pick them up in-store, getting the best of both worlds, the convenience of online shopping, and the immediacy of in-store purchasing. Global online marketplaces, like Amazon and eBay, can connect you with sellers from all over the world. If you’re building a new brand, social media has expanded your opportunities to connect with new customers in new and innovative ways to build strong brand communities as well as personal relationships to drive sales. Creating Digital Experiences As technology continues to advance, we must ensure that we’re prioritizing equity and accessibility. While it's true that technology can bring us together, it can also create new barriers for those who don't have access to the latest tools and devices or have other limitations. Assistive technologies help individuals with disabilities navigate the physical world, improving accessibility and promoting inclusivity. These technologies can include things like mobility aids, hearing aids, and assistive communication devices. Using technology, we can create a more accessible, inclusive, and cooperative world for everyone. How can you create digital experiences while incorporating best design practices? Study people's needs, wants, values, and behavior patterns using human-centered research methods and tools. Find groups of related information, products, and services that help people reach a goal. Describe, analyze, and suggest the technologies and environments needed to support various activities related to achieving a goal. Record and map people's experiences as they interact with people, places, things, or services. Design for important points of contact or situations where people may lose support for continuous experiences. Technology has the power to connect the physical and digital worlds, making our lives more fulfilling and enjoyable. From healthcare to education to retail, technology has transformed every aspect of our lives, making it easier for us to connect with others and access the resources we need. However, it's essential to use technology responsibly, ensuring that equity and accessibility are prioritized. By doing so, we can create a world where technology brings us together rather than driving us apart. Want to learn how to create the best digital experiences? Check out our bootcamps here . Take the first step in becoming an expert in designing for accessibility and make a difference in people's lives. Start your journey today and create designs that bridge the gap between the digital and physical world!

We have a shocking statistic for you: 91.5% web developers are male, according to a 2020 global software development survey . And as of 2022, women claim only 26.7% of jobs across all tech fields. PwC discovered that only 27% of female students said they’d consider a career in tech - and only 3% would make tech their first choice. But 61% of male students said they’d consider the same tech career, so what’s going on? It’s proven that women in tech are quite beneficial and here’s why: Different voices : a huge part of tech roles are anticipating and solving problems that people have and women can provide unique experiences that can help make tech solutions more accessible and effective for everyone. Mentors : a huge barrier to women entering the tech industry is that they don’t see women in leadership roles and don’t have too many female mentors available to them. It is difficult to implement, but more female tech leaders would encourage younger women to also join the industry. Workplace culture : studies show that workplaces with equitable gender distribution have safe environments, boast better workplace satisfaction, and increase safety. Better products : it’s natural that we use our personal experiences when we’re creating something and a product designed by men will center male experiences. When women are involved in the design process, it can incorporate different and women-specific experiences. Before we dive into the specifics of women in web development, let’s discuss women in tech in general. Women in Tech Women are underrepresented in technology: it’s a simple fact. Only 5% of US startups are owned by women and just 5% of UK tech leaders are women . And why is this? The reasons are numerous, but we’ll focus on three: Societal bias : gender bias is a huge factor in how certain jobs are perceived and what girls think they can achieve; female tech leaders are rarely mentioned and the vast majority of tech jobs (especially c-suite roles) are held by men. If you’re a ten year old girl and see companies made up almost entirely by men, the natural assumption is that it’s not for you. And if girls aren’t seeing tech as an option from a young age, it’s hard to change that mindset later on. Education : societal bias has permeated school systems and as young girls don’t see STEM classes with a female majority, they think that it’s not for them. And the lack of tech-focused classes early on makes it less likely that girls will choose to pursue tech careers later in life. Workplace systems: in addition to largely lopsided workforces with a clear majority of men, company leadership in tech is mainly men; we haven’t even mentioned the fact that women earn lower salaries, have limited growth opportunities, and face discrimination daily. When surveyed, women named these five reasons as the main barriers facing them in tech: lack of mentors, lack of role models, gender bias at work, unequal growth opportunities, and unequal pay. Women in Web Development When we try to answer the question “why aren’t more women choosing web development?”, we face a lot of harsh realities. Naomi Timperley , Director of Tech North Advocates at Entrepreneurial Spark says: “Girls are being left out of the conversation when it comes to technology. They’re led to think tech is insular and antisocial. And they’re never given a chance to correct those perceptions. This pattern might start in our homes, but it has serious implications for our economy and for women at large. If women don’t participate in tech, they are losing the chance to influence the largest economic and social change of this century. Girls need to seek tech in their surroundings and understand that people have created that tech.” The root of the lack of women in web development is two-part; on one side, it’s ingrained in what young girls hear at home and on the other hand, the webdev work environment itself can be toxic towards women and uninviting. To fight these two problems, there are a number of actions to take: Create a safe environment for women : the statistics on sexual harassment in the tech workplace are shocking. 60% of women with ten or more years in tech report unwanted sexual advances and 50% of senior women in tech have experienced or witnessed sexual assault within the last five years. And let’s not even get into reporting sexual harassment: 4 out of 10 women who experience sexual harassment won’t report it out of fear of repercussions on their career. Encourage tech education in young girls: coding is for everyone and organizations like Women in Tech are working to empower girls and women across the world to get into tech and make a difference. Focus on diversity and inclusion : having women in tech roles is one thing, but ensuring their voices are heard and that they’re treated like equals is another thing entirely. A lot of business deals happen outside the workplace and 66% of women reported they felt excluded from social networking opportunities because of their gender. Work to eliminate double standards and biases (both conscious and unconscious): the current setup of leadership boards and companies in general was designed for men and to see real change, these systems need to be redesigned to eliminate biases; although there are certainly cases where individuals within the company discriminate against women, the system itself is faulty. Some main topics here would be: No longer asking women about their plans to have a family and/or how that will affect their career. Addressing biases regarding women who negotiate and have strong opinions; they’re frequently called aggressive or bossy - something not attributed to male coworkers who act the same. Making promotions based on skills and hard results instead of perception or connections. Female leaders in web development Despite the myriad of problems facing women in web development, a number of today’s top leaders are female . Learning from their experiences can help not only encourage young girls to dive into tech, but also highlight areas for improvement within the industry. And don’t forget: women have been major players in tech throughout history: Ada Lovelace was the world’s first computer programmer in 1840. The team to create the first computer ENIAC was 100% female . The first high-level programming language was created by Grace Hopper in 1959. American computer scientist Margaret Hamilton introduced the term “ software engineering .” Let’s check out some of web development’s leading female voices: Beata Zalewa Located in Poland, Beata is an IT coach, consultant, and full stack developer. In addition to her wide range of skills in programming, she’s an active mentor at Learn IT, Girl! and Tech Leaders Poland , writing articles for the IT Professional and Lubelski Programista magazines. She owns her own company and offers free expert consultations. Sara J. Chipps A JavaScript developer, Sara boasts more than 20 years in the tech industry and is the co-founder of Jewellbots, a company that focuses on increasing the number of girls entering STEM fields using hardware. She also co-founded Girl Develop It, a non-profit organization that has taught more than 100,000 women and non-binary people how to build software. Jenny Chen Jenny founded the Women in Web Dev Facebook group which now boasts more than 5,000 members across all levels of expertise. She works as a freelance developer and remains focused on growing her online community to help women enter the field. There are tons of women that are excelling daily in web development, but it’s on us to continue growing that number, supporting young girls interested in the field, and creating safe and supportive work environments for women in tech.

With the rise of tools like ChatGPT, we’re sure you’ve heard of artificial intelligence (AI). But just in case you aren’t sure exactly what it is, we’ll break it down: it’s the process of using computers for actions that normally require human intelligence. But that’s not all. It also can do more than what humans can, such as processing immense amounts of data. There’s a lot of room for improvement with AI, but the goal is for it to be able to recognize patterns, make decisions, and judge like humans can. The history of artificial intelligence You might think of artificial intelligence as a new trend and something that’s only come up in recent years, but that’s not true: intelligent machines were introduced as early as the 1950s. But advancement was slow due to the fact that computers were extremely expensive and not widespread; however, in the late 1950s, scientists began to dive into the possibility of artificial intelligence. It took time as people familiarized themselves with a machine with such incredible capabilities, but AI as we know it today slowly came to be. Research slowed in the ‘70s due to a lack of funding, but the 1980s bore witness to new funds and newfound interest in the topic and deep learning came to be, impersonating for the first time the decision making process of a human . Despite this great advancement, funding decreased yet again but the possibilities of AI had grabbed the attention of the next generation of engineers and scientists: by the early 2000s, many of the goals of AI were met. Now that we know what artificial intelligence can achieve, entire organizations are dedicated to capturing its abilities and facilitating as many of our tasks as possible - even driving! It’s constantly changing and evolving, but we can sort artificial intelligence into four different types: reactive, limited memory, theory of mind, and self-awareness . The future of AI is so wide and full of possibilities; it’s impossible to predict what’s coming next. Artificial Intelligence: a Breakdown Reactive AI Reactive artificial intelligence is the most basic and fundamental of all; it’s designed to provide a predictable answer to the input it receives and respond the same way every time ; it cannot learn from past answers. This was the first iteration of AI and is therefore quite basic, but is limited in terms of what it can do. However, it has been useful in the following forms: Spam filters to keep unwanted emails out of inboxes Online game opponents Recommendations on websites or streaming sites Limited Memory AI This next and more advanced type of AI can learn from the past, building data that evolves based on the information it receives and is the most common kind of AI found today. It’s able to understand and interpret data better than reactive AI, but still experiences limitations when it comes to storing data and using it in the future. Examples of limited memory AI are: Self-driving vehicles Predictions for the next model in a sequence Theory of Mind AI You might think your Alexa is able to portray emotion or that your Siri can provide you with everything you need to know, but the complexity of human beliefs and emotions means that an AI that can truly understand your emotions and provide an appropriate response is still far off. Next time Google Maps sends you in the wrong direction and you swear at it, note that it doesn't respond to your emotion. Future iterations of theory of mind AI would be able to both read and respond to human emotions . Self-awareness AI This is the ideal level of artificial intelligence that we are still looking to achieve; a self-aware AI would be able to not only have their own emotions, but also respond to and understand the emotions of others . It will be able to make connections through emotions, such as comprehending that it is annoyed because a website won’t load. Common uses of AI in our daily lives AI still has a long way to go to achieve the self-aware level, but that doesn’t mean it’s not already significantly impacting our daily lives. Some of the most common uses of AI are so ingrained in our day-to-day lives that we might not even realize it’s there. Let’s take a look: Text assistance: have you ever been drafting a text or writing on Google Docs when what you wanted to say magically appears?! It might seem like magic, but it’s just AI: here, the tool can anticipate what you want to say based on past information and make suggestions. It’s not limited to just that, however; it can also correct grammar and misspellings, grade the readability of your text, and check for plagiarism. Social media : Instagram and TikTok are just a few of the many social media platforms that offer a page that’s personalized just for you, curated to your taste based on the pages you visit, the posts you “like,” and the accounts you follow. Face recognition and detection technology : these two technologies are somewhat similar, recognizing a face ( detection ) and a specific face ( recognition ) to provide an enhanced user experience. Whether it’s used for unlocking your iPhone or putting a funny dog filter on your face, this technology uses previously gathered facial data to make your user experience easier. Chatbots : recently popularized with the launch of ChatGPT, the use of chatbots for a wide range of applications is one of the most common forms of AI. Companies can train chatbots to answer FAQs, take orders, or imitate customer service representatives through natural language processing. Search options : Google, for example, uses quality control AI software to both filter for high-quality content and what the users want, based on previous searches. Like chatbots, this uses natural language processing to properly understand user queries. Concerns with AI Just like with anything, there are certain aspects to keep in mind when working with AI. Even as it advances and seems to be able to create human-like responses, it will never be human and any emotions or responses will be computer-generated. And tools like facial recognition need to be limited; a misuse of such technology could mean that user privacy is violated. It’s also essential to keep in mind that an AI’s knowledge is limited to what it’s provided with and given that tech is a rather homogeneous industry at the moment boasting primarily white, well-off, and cis-het men, it may be programmed with certain biases. This could mean AI has trouble understanding social consequences of certain things or difficulty recognizing accents or different races. The Future of AI Artificial intelligence has grown significantly over recent years and continues to do so, absolutely transforming the way in which we function and work. But there are things to keep in mind and the c omplexity of the human mind and our wide range of emotions is something that will never truly be harnessed by technology. In the meantime, however, we’re eager to see new iterations and keep learning from it.

We’re sure you’ve heard of ChatGPT, a revolutionary tool that has taken the internet by storm since its release in late November 2022. It’s a natural language processing tool that’s powered by artificial intelligence technology ; it was introduced by OpenAI, the same company that created DALLE2 and Whisper. Currently available to the public for free, it’s the fastest growing app of all time, reaching 100 million active users in just 2 months. Here’s what you can do with ChatGPT: Thanks to its absolutely extensive knowledge, you can ask it to write code, write stories in the voice of a specific author, tell you jokes, come up with ideas, and much more. You can ask it about historical events and it will give you the answer - with current societal implications included! You can have an ongoing conversation as the tool is able to remember what’s been entered previously in the same session. You can ask for recommendations and tips on common issues. Even though ChatGPT is much more advanced than previous iterations of similar tools, there are still some things to keep in mind. It’s in its testing phase and simply not perfect ; users need to take its abilities with a grain of salt. Currently, it has limitations on toxic responses and will not engage with harmful responses and just like with any AI tool, the quality of the answer depends on the quality of the question. While just anyone could log in and play around with it, its true power and ability will be unleashed with a ChatGPT expert who can make the most of it. Another important aspect to keep in mind is that its answers are not always correct. Trained to provide answers that feel right to humans , ChatGPT has been found to give incorrect answers from time to time. The tool can be extremely useful in a number of applications, but should be used cautiously. ChatGPT for Cybersecurity ChatGPT poses an interesting threat to cybersecurity ; one of the aspects included in the tool’s terms of service is a ban against creating malware, which could include ransomware, viruses, keyloggers, spam, and any other attempts to cause harm. However, shortly after its launch, cybercriminals were using it for these exact reasons ; ChatGPT isn’t expected to create new cyberattack trends or launch widespread attacks, but it will facilitate the day-to-day creation of spam. Possibly the most dire effect that ChatGPT could have on cyberattacks is its ability to simulate human-like responses and behavior; right now, the vast majority of spam emails and phishing attempts are clearly spam and easy to ignore. But if ChatGPT can simulate realistic copywriting using correct and natural sounding English grammar and hackers take advantage of this to capture more victims, the success rate of cyberattacks could absolutely skyrocket. And while ChatGPT has some tools in place to prevent such actions, such as requiring an email and phone number for registration and refusing to create phishing emails specifically, it can and will create templates for other kinds of emails that can be used by cybercriminals, like emails informing people they’ve won a contest, pushing them to open an attachment or click a link. Although ChatGPT does pose a threat to cybersecurity, it can also be used effectively to prevent cyberattacks and help cybersecurity professionals with their jobs. For example, it can write decent risk management framework policies and give recommendations for tools to use. As the tool gains experience on the market and learns more and more about cybersecurity, it will be able to provide more accurate and detailed information regarding cybersecurity problems and tips. It also has lots of potential in terms of efficiency and streamlining some of the more tedious parts of cybersecurity. For example, it could significantly reduce the time spent on writing a security incident report or detecting malware. ChatGPT Prompts for Cybersecurity If you’re a cybersecurity professional looking to harness the power of ChatGPT in your role, look no further: Requests for ChatGPT I want you to tell me how this set of data is stored and shared and give me effective solutions to protecting the data. I want you to tell me if this data is suspicious or susceptible to data breaches. Advice from ChatGPT What’s the best cybersecurity strategy for my company? How would you protect this data from malicious users? Questions for ChatGPT What is the best way to create firewalls? Can you write me a risk management framework for my company? The future of cybersecurity with ChatGPT Cybersecurity’s future could be changed immensely as ChatGPT both gains experience and more and more people start using it. The sector can benefit from tips and tricks and help with basic code writing or malware detection, but cybersecurity also has lots to think about. Here’s what to keep an eye out for: Even if ChatGPT is helping you write frameworks or code, it should be reviewed and tested before put into action: the tool isn’t perfect. Lots of people are having fun entering random requests into the tool, asking for jokes and sample bios from The Bachelor, but the tool does have a significant ability to create cyberattacks and should be treated with caution. Despite its seemingly massive bandwidth, ChatGPT has limitations: it is unable to actually think like a human, despite its human-like responses. And it cannot take emotion or judgment into account. Many professionals are concerned with ChatGPT’s potential to replace them at their job but in cybersecurity, that couldn’t be further from the truth. It certainly can help the efficiency of cybersecurity professionals, freeing up their time to focus on more pressing matters and helping them detect problems faster, but it is also able to create as many problems as it solves. As ChatGPT gains both knowledge and popularity and it becomes the preferred tool of cybercriminals to create realistic scams, more and more cybersecurity professionals will be needed to combat it. What are you waiting for?

“How do you begin writing a blogpost?” Ask this or any other question to ChatGPT and you will receive an answer generated by the artificial intelligence tool within a matter of seconds. Many of us have had conversations with chatbots before but this one is different: ChatGPT relies on the Generative Pre-trained Transformer, which is a family of language models, as well as deep learning in order to generate human-like responses to your questions. Your queries can range from “What does a UI designer do? ” to “What are important onboarding questions for a UX designer?” and you can even ask ChatGPT to create anything you want. Your imagination is the only limit. With the ability to answer any complex question or prompt by using a vast amount of information found on the internet, ChatGPT is a tool that can be extremely helpful with a variety of tasks. Some of these uses include: Research Coding Writing Inspiration Brainstorming ChatGPT may have only been released in November 2022, but given its limitless possibilities and potential, 100 million people took the plunge and signed up for the free service in the first two months alone. Despite assisting its users in completing work more efficiently, ChatGPT has some flaws and limitations of which its developing company, OpenAI, is well aware. One of the most common bugs is that sometimes ChatGPT doesn’t provide their users with an accurate answer to their questions, which can cause potential problems if not carefully reviewed afterwards. In addition to that issue, there are limitations, which include a maximum capacity of users at one time and it is trained to avoid language that may be harmful to the user. It’s important to keep these in mind when using ChatGPT. ChatGPT for UX/UI Design UX/UI designers rely on many skills in order to create the simplest and most aesthetically pleasing user experiences and by using ChatGPT, they can leverage the creative and investigative abilities of the AI tool. When creating the layout of a page or application, a UX/UI designer has to keep in mind a range of information that supports the ease of use for the user while juggling the aesthetic elements at the same time. Luckily, ChatGPT can be used to support the UX/UI designer at any point of the process. For example, it can provide details about something as simple as which color combinations would work together or what a gamification is; however, it’s important to remember that it does not always provide factual answers. ChatGPT also has the capacity to write code and draw web elements, which can be quite efficient for an UX/UI designer. Another great way to use ChatGPT is to assist the UX/UI designer by writing up user personas, roleplays, and customization. Since ChatGPT responds in a human-like manner and is only limited by the parameters given, it can create a user persona or act as if it were a user itself, which gives the UX/UI designer new, out-of-the-box ways to see the situation. If the UX/UI designer wants to modify information for a different profile or personality, ChatGPT can easily change the details and wording to fit the needs of the designer. In addition, ChatGPT can provide responses as if it were anyone, which means that user personas, clients, or even bosses can be recreated and leveraged for seeing different perspectives. Writing is also an important part of the job, whether it be short messages on websites or user surveys, and ChatGPT can be helpful in the creation of smaller written responses or even inspiration and brainstorming for other written projects. ChatGPT Prompts for UX/UI Design In order to help ChatGPT provide the desired responses, you need to give it the right prompt. Here you have some examples of requests, advice, and questions that may guide you when asking ChatGPT about UX/UI design-related tasks: Requests for ChatGPT Write a short message that explains to users that the document cannot be uploaded since .DOC is the only acceptable format. Make a wireframe for a cooking app. Create a questionnaire regarding the user’s experience using this URL. Sam is an introverted 22-year-old man from San Diego. He loves cars and photography and wants to become a film director. Create his user persona bio. Advice from ChatGPT Brainstorm ideas for different ways to design a weight tracking app. How would you redesign this journaling app for 18-25 year olds? Tell me what you need to create a high quality survey. Questions for ChatGPT What are the most problematic issues for a user on dating apps? How do you determine the needs of an older user? What are the best UX methods to design an app for children? How do you write a button copy? The future of UX/UI design with ChatGPT Although ChatGPT is quite the powerhouse and facilitates the design process in many ways, it is simply a tool and has its limitations . As with other new technologies, people are afraid of the magnitude of what it could mean for themselves and the world and in the case of ChatGPT, there are some considerations to make moving forward: Designers can input parameters for their inquiries and although the generated response may seem human-like, they must be wary and remember that it resembles a human, but is no more than a collection of data . ChatGPT cannot input emotions or take human complexities into account when generating its responses which is a huge part of the user experience. Creating an easy-to-use design is a complex mixture of elements that requires more than just the information that ChatGPT gathers to generate its response; UX/UI design produces works of art . ChatGPT is great for the simple things, but combining all its variables requires a fully-fledged designer with all the intricacies of a human. ChatGPT is both useful and powerful and yet, there’s no reason to fear the future. There is a significant need for people to continue improving the user experience all over the internet and on our devices; ChatGPT won’t be eliminating the human factor anytime soon . If you have an eye for art and design or love to conduct research and analysis, UX/UI design could be the next step in your career. Take the leap by continuing to read on here .

Isn't being happy at work what everyone wants? It's the key to stop feeling like you're working: you’ll get up in the morning with a smile on your face. You may even be wondering right now if changing careers would enhance your fulfillment in your work. And maybe you’re right! Life is much too short to spend 8 hours a day (or more!) in a job you dislike. But is this the only way to enjoy going to work every day? Of course not. Here’s an overview of what can make a job fulfilling. What is Job Satisfaction? Job satisfaction is the balance between what you want from your job and what you get from it . It is something extremely personal and can change throughout one's life. Some people get more satisfaction from a good salary, others from more free time, and others from good relationships with their colleagues or their boss. How can we increase this satisfaction? Here is a step-by-step guide that will teach you: how to get to know your desires at work how to know if your job is what you want it to be how to align your desires with the reality of your job Find Out What Satisfaction at Work Means to You It's hard to work on what you professionally like if you haven't done the introspective work to understand what that is exactly. So, here's a simple exercise that will help you see things more clearly. Below you’ll find some criteria that can increase job satisfaction. Rate them from 1 to 10 and then rank them in order of importance . For example, I would rank salary at 8/10. So, that's my first point: Salary and perks The company’s sector and mission Day-to-day tasks The job’s usefulness Workload Work environment Evolution perspectives Relationship to my boss Relationship to my colleagues Learning opportunities Then rate where your current job stands on the same scale. For example, you may rate your satisfaction with your current salary on a 5/10 scale. This simple method will show you both what is important to you and where your current job sits. From there, you can focus on the important things where you rank lower. 10 Things That Generally Make People Happy at Work Finding your assignments exciting We all have that developer buddy who could spend his days and nights coding. Coding until he forgets to eat or to do his weekly shopping. Are you smiling? Is it because you know this friend too, or is it because you’re the kind of person who would stay in front of your code too? Joking aside, finding the work activity that makes us lose track of time is a great way to be permanently happy at work. Maybe it's computer development , something very creative like design or painting, or a job that requires a lot of contact with others ( product manager? Customer care representative? Teacher?). Do you want to learn how to code in order to have the pleasure to dive into your computer screen? Ironhack's bootcamps will help you to be fulfilled in a web developer position. Good opportunities Pride is not far from happiness so carefully choose the projects on which you spend your time. Have you been working on the release of your company's new website or on a visual identity for a client that you particularly like? Being able to say that it is your team and your work that achieved this masterpiece should make you feel good. It's real: you shouldn't deprive yourself of these small victories. Being useful More and more professionals are measuring their job satisfaction by the usefulness of their work. Think about this the next time you have to choose between a social or environmentally beneficial business and a neutral or harmful one. Learning everyday A human is a cerebral animal: learning is at the heart of his humanity and it's something everyone loves to do. At your job, opportunities to grow your skills are therefore important. These could be: Training paid for by your employer, either in person or online A free online course that you take on the subway or train on your way home A podcast you listen to on a work-related or soft-skills topic A lunch where you ask your colleague questions to learn from them Watching how your brilliant boss handles a situation at work or manages you Social interactions What could be more fulfilling than having good relationships with your colleagues, especially for extroverts who recharge their batteries by interacting with others? Indeed, job satisfaction can come from the smallest things: A coffee in the sun on the terrace at work with your boss A video call with a colleague who works from a different office An afterwork to simply spend time with those nice people from your team or from other departments A lunch with someone from your company or a client with whom you get along well This works for both in-house employees and freelancers; many workers cultivate social relationships in entrepreneurial clubs, women's clubs, or around common interests. Giving compliments - accepting some too Compliments are an amazing way to strengthen your relationship with your colleagues, but also to receive small shots of serotonin (also called the happiness hormone). You can practice them every day by working on the reflex to give them. Be careful, they must be sincere and free of any secret agenda. You will receive more and more of them and learn to receive and remember them. Variety or, on the contrary, stability Depending on your profile and your current needs but also on the period of life you are currently in, you may be down for very varied tasks or a stable, even repetitive job. There is no judgment in either; it’s up to you to decide. Autonomy and trust Few professionals enjoy being micromanaged. Gaining the trust of your boss and the space to work independently can bring a lot of satisfaction. Remote work The flexibility provided by telecommuting can be very nice too: Having the right to organize your time as you wish Loading your laundry machine between meetings so you don't have to do it on the weekend Working from the comfort of your couch All of these bring satisfaction to many people. A good salary Let's not lie to ourselves, the salary, even if it is not always the first point, remains important. A raise, a bonus, and financial security can be powerful factors of satisfaction. Being underpaid is also a very common reason for dissatisfaction. So, think about negotiating your salary well before joining your next adventure. That's it! You now know the method to better understand your needs at work. Now, it's up to you to see which elements inspire you the most and to make sure you find them at work... Being dissatisfied at work is not a necessity!