Do women need to be tech-savvy to thrive in the tech industry? Is it impossible for a woman to be a founder?
The answer is no for Ms. Leanne Robers, co-founder of She Loves Tech and one of the guest speakers during the IWD Celebration. She Loves Tech is the world’s largest acceleration platform for women and technology targeted at building a global ecosystem to facilitate greater visibility, funding opportunities, and community among women in technology to catalyze US$1 billion in funding for women by 2030.
“You don’t have to be a techie to be in tech. You just have to be willing to learn and to grow. Tech is gonna keep evolving, is gonna keep changing. With technology changing as quickly as it is, the truth is no one is truly a specialist. But this gives us a great opportunity to level up: by being willing to learn,” she emphasized.
Ms. Robers shared that while her career is in technology, her background is in psychology. Nonetheless, her curiosity and willingness to learn became her key to success as she quickly became the youngest female manager in her first job at a large engineering conglomerate in the United Kingdom, leading a team of older Caucasian male engineers. She recalled that it was her initiative to build a project requiring coding skills, despite having zero knowledge of coding, that propelled her into a leadership role.
“And don’t get me wrong, I’m not a coder. I’m still not a coder. But it started me on a path to become a leader in tech because I wasn’t afraid to learn and familiarize myself with code. And I now understand when my teams build tech products. I understand what the engineers are even talking about,” she said.
Now that she is finally seeing the bigger picture for women and technology, the She Loves Tech co-founder has identified and simplified the two main reasons why women remain underrepresented in the tech workforce, tech leadership, and tech investing: structural barriers and mindset challenges. She also pointed out that startups founded by women receive a meager 2% of total venture capital funding, while startups with both men and women founders receive between 12 to 15%.
“So, what does that mean? That means that more than 80%, 80% of total venture capital money is going to all-male founded teams. This system is not serving women. Women risk being left behind in a world where everything is increasingly about technology. And it’s not serving the world, which risks losing our incredible contributions from half of the population,” she declared.
Ms. Robers further explained that the structure and inertia of corporate and financial systems work against women. The lack of representation and role models discourages younger women from pursuing a career in technology. She added that being the only woman in the team can be extremely isolating. Workplace cultures and hiring practices can also harbor unconscious biases that create obstacles for women.
Another issue that holds women back is the internal barriers they place on themselves. Ms. Robers revealed that as she met more and more founders, she observed widespread self-limiting mindsets and behaviors stemming from imposter syndrome, which she calls ANTS or automatic negative thoughts. These are the negative self-talk that can play on a loop in women’s minds, undermining their confidence and potential.
“When we experience these ANTS (automatic negative thoughts), we may begin to doubt our abilities and question our decisions. We become risk-averse, avoiding challenges or opportunities that could lead to growth and success. We feel like we don’t belong or we don’t have the skills or the knowledge to contribute to a project or discussion. We, then, are always in a small mindset,” she explained.
Recognizing that this limited mindset can cause both women and men to miss out on valuable opportunities to learn, grow, and advance in their careers, She Loves Tech supports entrepreneurs through psychology of founder courses, coaching, and mentorship. These programs enable founders to make significant strides in their growth by cultivating the right mindset. However, Ms. Robers encouraged the IWD audience that changing mindsets is something that Women and Everyone can do for themselves.
“The good thing is that this is not something that we need governments or corporates to solve. Although there are very meaningful ways that they can support us, we need to start and address this ourselves. We can start today. We can even start right now in this room. It starts with a gradual mindset shift. We need to learn to celebrate our achievements, to own our successes, and to embrace our unique strengths and talents. Because everything that makes us a woman makes us powerful. And we should celebrate our differences and use them as our strengths and not our weakness,” she said.
But despite the differences that make each woman unique, Ms. Robers pointed out an undeniable similarity: most women find themselves juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, both in their personal and professional lives. They are expected to be the nurturers, caregivers, and emotional support systems to their families and their loved ones. At the same time, women are also expected to excel in their career, be the goal getters, problem solvers, and leaders in their respective fields.
“Wow, that’s a lot,” she exclaimed. “While this ability to multitask and wear many hats can be seen as a strength, it really takes a toll on us, both mentally and physically. We are so used to being everything to everyone by pushing ourselves to the limit that we often forget to take a step back and prioritize our self needs. This constant pressure to perform and excel can lead to burnout, a state of emotional, mental, physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. When we are burned out, we feel depleted, empty, unmotivated, and unable to cope with the demands of our daily lives.”
Hence, Ms. Robers reminded women to recognize the signs of burnout and to take steps to prevent it. This entails learning to set boundaries, say no when necessary, and prioritizing self-care. It also involves surrounding themselves with a supportive network of both women and of men who understand the unique challenges they face and can offer guidance, encouragement, and support.
“Take care of yourself. Lean on your support system. And remember, self-care is not an indulgence. It’s essential for our productivity. If we can be kinder to ourselves, if we can shift from a small mindset to a growth mindset, if we can allow ourselves to celebrate what makes us special, and if we can harness our power and skill in technology, we can change the world and create a future where women are not just participants. We’re leaders, innovators in the tech industry and beyond,” she said.
Believing that women have fundamentally different experiences and perspectives than your typical tech bro, Ms. Robers encouraged women in tech to join their community, participate in She Loves Tech program and start-up competition, share their stories to inspire others, and mentor an upcoming woman founder.
“Technology is creating massive opportunities to change how we do business and how we live. Women have the chance to tap into their unique perspectives, to help investors, corporates, and governments. And if we include them, we all will benefit socially, financially from the world it will produce. We cannot understate the benefits of a world where women are involved in shaping our future through technology. The beauty of technology is that it doesn’t discriminate based on gender. It offers a level playing field where any driven person with a great idea can succeed,” she declared.
As a wrap-up, Ms. Robers urged investors to commit to funding more women to address the gender funding gap.She also advised corporate leaders to examine their hiring practices, find small ways to make their culture more inclusive, and create an environment where more women can thrive.
“If you’re none of the above, be an ally. Sponsor woman for leadership role. Refuse to speak on yet another all-male panel. Call out bias when you see it. Let us commit to being the change that we want to see in this world,” she concluded.