BAE Systems Digital Intelligence has worked with WeAreTechWomen for more than five years, sponsoring numerous events that showcase and support women in the technology industry. The annual TechWomen100 Awards is one of these proud sponsorships and recognises the achievements of women working in tech.
With the industry still short on female representation at all levels, grasping opportunities to celebrate the women thriving in their careers is hugely important. Our winners will leave their evening of celebration not just with an award for their contributions, but with a network of women across the industry to connect and collaborate with as their careers continue to evolve and inspire.
This is what will help us build role models for future generations of talent. By giving young girls and women from different backgrounds people to look up to and take inspiration from, we can encourage others to start forging their own paths in an industry that we know benefits from diversity of thought – particularly when it comes to the world of cyber.
Following on from our success in last year’s TechWomen100 Awards, we’re extremely proud to be able to add another four talented colleagues to our growing winners list. I caught up with Hannah, Harriet, Marianna and Paula to get their reactions.
“It’s an incredible achievement for me personally. Winning an award just three days after an ADHD diagnosis has provided me with positive affirmation that my unique way of thinking and navigating the world has value."Hannah MacFarlane, Project Manager
What does it mean to you to win a TechWomen100 Award?
“It’s an incredible achievement for me personally. Winning an award just three days after an ADHD diagnosis has provided me with positive affirmation that my unique way of thinking and navigating the world has value. It marks the beginning of a whole new journey for me, and I am grateful to my colleagues who have supported and nominated me.”
Why do you think it’s important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women working in technology?
“Although there are women who work within technical roles, we are not always the most visible. Showcasing and celebrating women in technology is crucial to the continuation of innovation, diversity and equality in the tech industry.”
What advice would you give to someone considering a digital/cyber career?
“If you are interested in cyber, digital and data, it is a greatly rewarding field to work in. The job varies every day – from embedding cybersecurity guardrails that protect the general public, to digitally transforming infrastructure and supporting the delivery of new technologies and software. It is an environment where you can continue to learn on the job, integrating and working alongside clients and customers to hone your skills and develop your portfolio.”
What’s the most important skill you’ve learned while at BAE Systems?
“The most important skill I have learned is adaptability. Working and collaborating with a wide breadth of clients with differing levels of cybersecurity and IT awareness has allowed me to adapt quickly, supporting and driving technical projects to fit their needs while ensuring successful delivery.”
“This event is about breaking the stereotype about what someone working in technology should be. There is a cliché that ‘if you can see it, you can be it’. By celebrating the huge diversity of backgrounds in technology and roles like this, I hope it will give other women out there the confidence to pursue a career in technology.”Harriet Rogers, Strategic Threat Intelligence Specialist
What does it mean to you to win a TechWomen100 Award?
“Winning a TechWomen100 Award is a huge deal for me. I moved into cybersecurity following a career in the military and a period out of the workforce studying and raising young children. On my first day, I was so nervous and overwhelmed by the change that I nearly bottled out. But I jumped in headfirst and was amazed at the energy levels and enthusiasm within the team. When I look back at how much I have achieved in less than a year, I can scarcely believe it. I care deeply about helping other women who are looking to change careers or return to work after time out and see this as amazing opportunity to start paying back all the fantastic support I had on my journey.”
Why do you think it’s important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women working in technology?
“If you look at the stats about women working in technology in general and cybersecurity in particular, it paints a pretty dispiriting picture with women making up only 25-30% of the workforce – a number which drops off at senior levels. But actually that’s not the full story and doesn’t accurately reflect what I have seen. As I explored a career in cybersecurity, I found a really energetic community of inspiring women who were happy to share their learning and networks, which gave me confidence to continue on my journey. Yes, the proportion of women in technology is still relatively small, but they are making a huge impact.
“This event is about breaking the stereotype about what someone working in technology should be. There is a cliché that ‘if you can see it, you can be it’. By celebrating the huge diversity of backgrounds in technology and roles like this, I hope it will give other women out there the confidence to pursue a career in technology.”
What advice would you give to someone considering a digital/cyber career?
“Be open minded and curious. There are many assumptions about what skills and personality traits are needed for a career in cybersecurity, which are largely based on outdated stereotypes. Whatever your background and experience, there is a role to suit you and it’s an extremely welcoming environment. People tend to be passionate about what they do, so if they are putting themselves out there at events or on social media don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for advice.”
What’s the most important skill you’ve learned while at BAE Systems?
“Technology and cybersecurity are fundamentally about people; what they need and how they behave. Cybersecurity is a whole society challenge that needs everyone to be involved and this applies to people working within the industry too. I’ve learned that embracing diversity of thought, skills and approach is key to getting a rounded solution to any challenge.”
"Growth happens when you start doing things you are not qualified to do. Continually doing things that scare you is the quickest way to overcome your fears.”Marianna Martin, Agile Coach
What does it mean to you to win a TechWomen100 Award?
“I believe we should only ever be in competition with ourselves, and that taking steps to continually grow and develop makes us all individual winners. While this is the philosophy I follow, and while we get recognised for our contributions at BAE Systems, having an external organisation and independent set of judges acknowledge your achievements does provide reassurance. To win a cross-industry award fills me with pride, fuels me to want to achieve more, and helps to suppress those pesky thoughts of imposter syndrome when they creep in.”
Why do you think it’s important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women working in technology?
“Women have been present throughout the history of technology, but aren’t always recognised and have consistently been the minority gender. It is important to celebrate their achievements now, and in the future, to correct this institutional imbalance. A diverse workforce is paramount to success, so we need to publicise the great contributions of women to ensure that future generations of females have an abundance of role models to aspire too and never question their belonging in the tech industry.”
What advice would you give to someone considering a digital/cyber career?
“Throughout my career at BAE Systems, managers and colleagues have encouraged me to take on certain opportunities or asked me to do things that I wasn’t sure I could do. Although these things scared me, I didn’t want to let down a colleague who believed I was capable, so I used whatever fear or limited self-belief I had as fuel to rise to each of those challenges. By pushing out of my comfort zone, I increased my abilities and grew in confidence.
“So to anyone considering a career in digital/cyber, I would recommend taking whatever opportunities align with your goals. If it sounds hard or scary but is something you want to be good at one day, then just say yes and figure out how to do it later! Growth happens when you start doing things you are not qualified to do. Continually doing things that scare you is the quickest way to overcome your fears.”
What’s the most important skill you’ve learned while at BAE Systems?
“Since I first joined BAE Systems 11 years ago, we have always been required to set annual objectives for ourselves. While at first it felt like a bit of a chore and an extra tick-box exercise, I soon realised the real value to be gained from goal setting. I don’t believe I would have achieved as much as I have in my career so far, or been promoted as regularly as I have, had it not been for mindfully selecting my goals and regularly reflecting back on my progress towards them.
“Goal setting has helped me to set my priorities and maintain focus on what I care most about. It is something I now practice continually, not only in my career but across all aspects of my life, with quarterly, monthly and weekly reflection points. And yes, winning a TechWomen100 Award was on my list of goals for this year.”
“A successful, high-performing team is made up of diverse thinkers. Your background, experience and the way you solve problems is the most valuable asset when working in a digital/cyber career. Take opportunities, find what you enjoy and be brave.”Paula Clerkin, Business Analyst
What does it mean to you to win a TechWomen100 Award?
“It is an honour to win a TechWomen100 Award. I love working in tech and it’s hugely rewarding and motivating to be recognised for what I care so much about. This award brings the talent and achievements of women working in tech to the forefront; TechWomen100 is a great opportunity to inspire women and future talent to break barriers and achieve their own success in the industry.”
Why do you think it’s important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women working in technology?
“There are a lot of women working in the technology industry who are absolutely smashing it, yet don’t want to put themselves forward for awards, promotions or pay increases because they either don’t feel supported to do so or simply don’t have the capacity. It is on all of us to be allies for those who have the potential to do exceptional work, because feeding the under-representation in this industry inhibits role models and the future talent pipeline. Recognising and celebrating the achievements of women working in technology has long-term benefits; it should have been done more historically, but the second best time is now.”
What advice would you give to someone considering a digital/cyber career?
“A successful, high-performing team is made up of diverse thinkers. Your background, experience and the way you solve problems is the most valuable asset when working in a digital/cyber career. Take opportunities, find what you enjoy and be brave.”
What’s the most important skill you’ve learned while at BAE Systems?
“Communication and stakeholder management skills. 80% of any job is stakeholder management; reaching out, listening to the people around me, getting to the root cause of every problem, taking on feedback, growing and sharing my vision are the most important skills I’ve learned while at the company.”
If you feel inspired by the stories of our talented employees and are looking for a supportive and inclusive organisation to join, we’re currently recruiting diverse teams of driven individuals who share our passion for technology and mission to protect the connected world.
We’ve built a place that supports the ever changing needs of our multi-cultural, diverse and global workforce. Take a look at our open roles and apply online. Search and apply today
Embracing difference - the best people for our business come from all sorts of backgrounds. Our focus on diversity and inclusion helps us to find and engage the best people; embracing talent from all walks of life