You're a woman joining the Tech Industry

There’s an issue in the tech industry, and it’s one we’ve known about for quite some time. While many tech companies are trying to increase their female workforce, a majority of them still have a shockingly low number of women among their ranks.

We spoke with Kelly Sheng, Associate Director of Technology at AT&T, about how women can excel in this male-dominated field and what they should look for in a job in tech.

Timing Is Everything, But So Is Hard Work

Success is dependent upon talent and hard work, but as Malcolm Gladwell said in Outliers, timing definitely helps. And that’s certainly true for Kelly—growing up in Shanghai throughout the 1980s and 90s, she had access to a computer. Today, this might not sound like a big deal, but 25 years ago, it was.

“I was fortunate enough to get access to an afterschool program that teaches young kids in elementary school computer programming,” Kelly says. This was a luxury and a privilege, as none of her friends had PCs, nor did her family have a home computer. “At that time, it was rare. There were maybe just one or two programs in a few cities in China.” It was an eye-opening experience for Kelly, and she continued working with computers throughout elementary and high school.

In addition to fortunate timing, Kelly also put in the time, and it led her to UCLA where she got her Masters in Computer Science.

Curiosity and Confidence Are Key

Kelly started as a developer in software engineering, but she’s changed roles multiple times throughout her 5 years at AT&T.

But there’s a good reason she's stayed in a STEM-related field. She loves math, but more importantly, she loves a good challenge. Kelly could have remained a developer and worked on one product at the start of her career, but she was curious how other systems worked. And luckily, AT&T not only offers opportunities to reach your potential, but they help you develop and grow your career.

The Right Company Goes a Long Way

So what should you look for in a company? According to Kelly, as soon as you walk through the door, really take in your surroundings.

“When you go in for interviews,” Kelly says, “do you see other women engineers in the company?” Are those women in leadership or executive-level positions? And, more importantly, what’s the company's attitude toward promoting and supporting women in this industry? You want to find a company that promotes a culture of inclusion and asks hard questions about unconscious bias and gender stereotyping.

Persistence Is Important

While Kelly admits she has faced her fair share of professional challenges, she’s always pushed forward.

“Over time I thought, 'if I get through this I can do anything,'” Kelly says. “I just kept going. There are definitely times when I’ve had doubts, in childhood or even in my work today. There are times you can’t help feeling like, 'Oh, am I doing this right? Do I fit?' But, I think you just keep going as long as you are learning things. As long as you are moving forward, you shouldn’t quit.” And most importantly, don’t let what other people may think to affect your path.