In the tech industry, where innovation never sleeps, continuous skill building is indispensable for climbing the career ladder. However, for many women like myself, the path to advancing these skills is often overshadowed by a relentless juggle of professional responsibilities and personal commitments. As the first college graduate in my family to dive into the tech world, I noticed a stark contrast in how my male colleagues and I were evaluated. They were often praised for their potential, while I found myself having to prove my skills and achievements time and again.

This disparity not only fueled my determination to enhance my own abilities but also sparked a passion for mentoring other women. I vividly recall the moments during team meetings when we would exchange stories about our weekends. My male colleagues would enthusiastically discuss the latest tech podcasts, Twitch streams, or industry books they had explored, while my updates often revolved around managing household duties or helping my children with their projects. This recurring theme in our conversations eventually led me to withdraw from sharing unless directly asked. It highlighted a common scenario many women face: while we manage the balancing act, we must also find ways to engage in and prioritize our professional development to not fall behind in the fast-paced tech environment.

Challenges Faced by Women in Tech

• Judgment on Experience vs. Potential: Throughout my career in technology, a stark contrast in how men and women are evaluated has been evident. Men are often judged based on their potential—what they might achieve or contribute in the future. Meanwhile, women, like myself, are assessed on what we have definitively accomplished and the skills we have tangibly demonstrated. This means that we often need to perform a role for years, proving ourselves over and over, before being deemed qualified to officially take on the position. This disparity not only affects promotions but also influences the day-to-day confidence and dynamics within the team.
• Caregiver Responsibilities: The role of women extends beyond the professional sphere. We frequently find ourselves balancing intense work demands with significant caregiving responsibilities—not to mention community involvement. Integrating personal development into this mix can appear not only daunting but somewhat selfish. Society often expects us to prioritize the needs of others, making it challenging to justify the time and energy spent on self-improvement and career advancement.
• Work-Life Imbalance: One vivid memory that highlights the work-life imbalance occurred during an early evening incident. As the incident spanned several hours, my male colleagues were seamlessly supported with meals brought directly to their desks by family members, while I fielded repeated inquiries about dinner plans and household responsibilities from my own family. This incident was not isolated but a reflection of the broader, uneven playing field that still exists. It underscored the disparate expectations placed on men and women, not only in managing workloads but also in balancing domestic life, which can significantly impact one’s ability to focus and excel professionally.

Strategies for Skill Building

1. Time Management Techniques:
   • Prioritization: I’m not going to touch on the usual prioritization techniques. If time were abundant, staying updated wouldn’t be an issue. The real trick is to identify what genuinely works for you and make those activities a priority. Sure, some days it feels impossible to find a moment for yourself, but aim to carve out at least 10 minutes each week. Consider setting this time as your first ‘meeting’ of the day at work.
   • Scheduling: Use moments spent at your kids’ practice to listen to a podcast, or a brief pause in your day to meditate. It’s about finding those small opportunities. Why not swap out lunchtime solitaire for an intriguing article on Medium or crack open that O’Reilly book you’ve been meaning to read?
2. Leveraging Existing Resources:
   • Online Courses and Webinars: Learning platforms like O’Reilly, Udemy, and YouTube make accessing educational content straightforward. Finding courses that appeal to you or have skill building value on these platforms is usually easy. If you’re not sure just check the newest content to see if anything stands out to you. Additionally, check if your employer offers reimbursements for courses, or if you’re connected to the US military, you might have free access to certain educational resources, making it even more cost-effective.
   • Microlearning: Incorporate small learning segments into your daily routine and apply this new knowledge to deepen your understanding. Podcasts like Developer Tea offer brief, digestible insights that fit into your schedule effortlessly.
   • Use Work Resources: Many companies provide access to platforms like LinkedIn Learning to encourage ongoing professional development. In my previous roles, I curated leadership learning collections tailored to different stages of a leader’s journey. Take advantage of these resources if they’re available to you.  
3. Integration with Daily Work:
   • On-the-Job Learning: Balancing skill maintenance without encroaching on your team’s productivity can be challenging. Engaging in side projects can be an effective way to keep your skills sharp.  Whether you contribute to an open source repo, hackathon project or just occasionally fix a low priority bug, it’s crucial to find the time for these activities. 
   • Setup Your Development Environment: For those in leadership who aren’t hands-on daily, configuring your local development or troubleshooting environment can help maintain your technical prowess.
4. Spend on yourself
   • Attend Conferences: Although it may seem daunting, attending industry conferences as a participant or speaker can be incredibly enriching. Seek support from your employer and family to invest in this opportunity for personal growth. This could also double as a much needed break from family responsibilities.
   • Allocate Family Funds for Personal Development: It’s often tough for women to justify personal expenses. Deciding to purchase a book for yourself instead of for your children can feel selfish, but it’s crucial for your personal development. Over time, prioritizing your learning needs can significantly impact your growth.
   • Let ChatGPT be Your Guide: ChatGPT can do more than streamline tasks; it’s also a fantastic tool for skill development. Engage in tailored conversations about new technologies or skills, and take your learning anywhere with the mobile app.  This is an inexpensive and tailored approach to learning anywhere. 

As women in tech, we constantly face the challenge of balancing a demanding career with personal commitments. Yet, amidst the daily grind and the unique hurdles we encounter, building and refining our skills should never take a back seat. Here, I’ve shared both personal struggles and actionable strategies to help you navigate these waters. Remember, investing in your personal development isn’t just a career move; it’s a form of self-respect and empowerment.

So, let’s embrace these strategies as tools to not just survive, but thrive in the tech industry. Prioritize those 10 minutes of learning, leverage every resource available, and remember that every small step is a leap towards your growth. You’re not just enhancing your skills; you’re setting the stage for future women in tech to step up with confidence. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries, one skill at a time.

Resources

Podcast that I listen to:

This Week in Tech: https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech
The Changelog: https://changelog.com/podcast
Developer Tea: https://developertea.com/
My First Million: https://www.mfmpod.com/
The Knowledge Project: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-knowledge-project-with-shane-parrish/id990149481

Conference

DevWeek: https://www.developerweek.com/
We Are Developers: https://www.wearedevelopers.com/

Invest in your leadership skills

Leadership Training: https://worklifechaos.com/2024/07/07/self-development-and-leadership-skills-for-software-managers/