5 Important Women in Tech and How To Take Your Place Beside Them

Ada Lovelace

We’re starting with the best and brightest. Ada Lovelace is known as the world’s first computer programmer. Born in 1815, she was a young girl with an affinity for solving problems. Growing up, it became clear she was the best of her parents, her father being a poet (Lord Byron) and her mother having a keen interest in maths. She brought together her creativity and her keen mind, and quickly became known as a bright young visionary in tech. Ada achieved much in her lifetime, not only in technological advancement, but also in pushing forward her place as a woman in a male-dominated field. Notably, she is known for her work with Charles Babbage on their invention, the mechanical general-purpose computer known as The Analytical Engine.

Hedy Lammar

You might recognise this Hollywood starlet from the old black and white movies of the 1930s and 40s, but she wasn’t just a talented actress, she was actually a self-taught inventor who developed the technology that later became the basis for WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. She was a scrappy technologist with a vision. In every innovation and advancement, we experience in this great industry, Hedy’s footprint is at the heart of it. The world wouldn’t look the same if it wasn’t for Hedy.

That’s just two incredible women from history, but let’s turn our attention to the present day. There are some brilliant minds at work. Let’s take a look.

Reshma Saunjani

Reshma has had an impressive career working in tech, but has since gone on to found Girls Who Code, an organisation working towards closing the pay gap between male and female employees. GWC also devotes much of its resources to facilitating workshops and sessions on coding for young girls to help them “gain confidence and bravery through coding”. Throughout her career, she has dedicated much of her time to empowering women-identifying people in tech. Simply put, her impact has been huge.

Niamh Connolly

A Junior Product Owner, has been with CloudM for just over three years, progressing through various roles. She imparted some empowering advice for women-identifying people out there trying to break into the industry. “The key to existing in the tech industry as a woman, is having a strong sense of self and a solid belief in your talents and abilities. No one can deter the determined woman from the room she knows she should be in.”

One of our newer recruits, Erin O'Donnell

Erin, Junior QA Analyst, wanted to share her story and impart some important advice. “My story started when I was placed by default into an IT class for one of my A-Level subjects, due to my original subject choice being full capacity. From that point on my entire career was shaped around the passion I found for Tech and the vast opportunities which come with the Tech industry. Fast forward to completing a degree in Software Engineering and beginning my professional career as a Junior QA Analyst, all stemming from my original A-Level choice being full! My advice to anyone looking to get into this industry is: Be open to any opportunities, even if they were not in your original plan and be willing to try new things. Be confident in yourself and your abilities. When one door closes another one opens – Who knows where that door could lead. And last, you won’t know unless you try!”