Beyond labels: backing yourself as a woman in tech

International Women's Day is a great thing. Let's hear it for the girls and all that.

But if you're going to listen to me, don't listen because I'm a woman. Listen because I'm an individual. Someone with a different life experience, a different lens, and perhaps a different viewpoint to your own.

That's what really matters.

My path into tech wasn't linear. I stepped from retail management and team leadership into corporate B2B sales and cloud technology. From the cash register to the office desk. From in-store product pitches to strategic Google Meets and solution-led phone calls.

It was a transition that combined my love of problem-solving and helping people with my affinity for technology and my fundamental interest in the way things work. I've always been interested in systems, structures and the mechanics behind the scenes. Moving into cloud and infrastructure felt less like a leap and more like a natural evolution.

Looking back, what has actually mattered in my career so far hasn't been labels.

It's been:

• The willingness to step outside my comfort zone.

• Backing myself when I've felt out of my depth.

• Having the confidence to rise alongside my peers, not behind them.

• Knowing when to stand firm in my convictions and when to let new information in and adjust my thinking.

Growth rarely feels comfortable. Some of the biggest shifts in my career have come from moments where I could have stayed safe but chose not to.

Along the way, I've learned a few things.

Don't pigeonhole yourself. When things get tough, pause and ask: is there a more objective way to look at this? Is there something I can learn here? Is there another angle?

Own your development. Build your competence. Ask better questions. Understand the business, not just the task. Confidence grows from capability, and capability grows from hard work and the desire to succeed.

For young women entering tech, my encouragement is simple: back yourself.

There is no role in this industry that you are not capable of doing. Powerful women exist everywhere, and they are just as impactful as any man. But most importantly, you are not defined by comparison. You are more than a category.

Keep kicking goals. Strive to be that "girl boss" if that's what motivates you. But remember, get your wins on your own merit. Build your skill. Earn your seat at the table. Be proud. Be loud when it matters. Be smart always.

International Women's Day is worth celebrating. Not because women need special treatment, but because celebrating contribution, resilience and growth is always worthwhile.