- Written by Oasis Studio
- March 6th, 2020
- About | Read all about the women who make Oasis Studio
Honest discussions with women working in technology
A challenge that women face who wish to pursue a career in technology, is that there are’t many women currently working in the field.
With technology forever changing and adapting, the career of someone working in the field will also change and adapt as time goes on. With society gradually shifting towards greater gender equality, women are gaining a larger presence in the currently male-dominated tech industry.
Women now lead some of the most vital technology companies in the world, and their presence throughout organisations across the world is forever growing.
We sat down with some of the incredible women who are part of the Oasis Studio team to celebrate International Women’s Day, and find out about their career in the technology industry.
Alicia Bottomley, Creative Visualiser
Firstly, we spoke to Alicia about her journey to working with technology, and her thoughts on the industry.
Alicia Bottomley, Oasis Studio Creative Visualiser
Can you tell me about yourself and what you do?
I’m Alicia, a CGI artist specialising in architectural visualisation.
What was your influence for pursuing a career in technology?
I enjoy exploring new creative adventures, and as creativity & tech were quickly evolving side by side I wanted to be a part of it. It’s opened my skill set up to a larger range of media options for me to use outside of traditional drawing / painting techniques.
What’s it like to be a woman working in technology?
Sometimes I’d like the male-to-female ratio to be a little more even, but for the most part I don’t even think about it. I don’t see my colleague’s genders as something that has an effect on me personally.
What do you think could be done to encourage more women to think about a career in technology?
I think increasing the accessibility and teaching of different kinds of tech will help get people more involved in the tech industry. Options are there, but most aren’t currently available until college level and above. Teach children about the benefits of tech and how to be creative with it earlier on, and they will naturally develop an interest.
Did you face any challenges when entering the world of technology?
Not really, I think people are expecting more and more women to be coming into the tech business as the numbers are ever growing. I’ve only ever received positivity about the nature of my job, and I’d like to think that’s all I ever will get in the future.
Do you have any role models of women in tech?
No, because I honestly couldn’t tell you any.
What traits do you think are useful to have when considering a career in tech?
Adaptability, patience and creativity.
What advice would you give to a woman wanting to have a career in technology?
Don’t be put off by a classroom full of boys, do what you enjoy and don’t feel like you have to prove yourself to everyone. Go against the grain!
What do you think the future holds for women in the technology sector?
I think there’s going to be more and more women in tech, and more and more influential women up and coming in the next few years. People are much more accepting these days, and it shows.
Paige Howard, Creative Visualiser
Next, we sat down with Paige who recently joined the studio in 2019, and listened to her thoughts about working in the tech sector.
Paige Howard, Oasis Studio Creative Visualiser
Can you tell me about yourself and what you do?
My name is Paige Howard, and I studied Architecture at the University of Sheffield. I’m currently a Creative Visualiser at Oasis Studio, and along with my colleagues we create virtual tours and interactive CGI for housing developers. We allow potential house buyers to explore future housing developments before they’re even built.
What made you get into technology?
From a very young age, I’ve always been curious about new gadgets and technologies; whether that be in architecture or in everyday life with mobile phones, computers, consoles etc. I knew that I would always end up doing something creative and innovative.
What does it feel like to be a woman working in technology?
Personally, I’ve always felt comfortable and got along better with the male population. Whether that’s due to similar interests I’m not sure, but there is a distinctive difference between the amount of females and males working in technology. This could be due to the misunderstanding that ’women aren’t logical enough’ or ’they don’t have the same drive or passion’. I think this is an underlying issue that does stretch across education.
Do you think something could be done to encourage more women to think about a career in technology?
More female mentors and role models are needed from an early age (primary school) that are already in the field, so barriers are broken down earlier and discrimination between the genders. However, I do think that gap is closing and isn’t half as bad as it probably was 10 or 20 years ago.
What challenges did you come across when entering the world of technology?
I probably got called geek or nerd a few times whilst at school, but who doesn’t? I remember I was once asked if I wanted to be a boy, just because I was a girl playing Call of Duty and FIFA, but that was mainly at primary and secondary school. I didn’t come across any problems at college and university.
What traits do you think are useful to have when considering a career in tech?
Passion, determination and curiosity.
Have you ever had any role models of women working in the tech industry?
I wouldn’t say I had a role model in tech, but I definitely have one for architecture in Zaha Hadid. Architecture is another field where it’s predominately male dominated, and she was one of the most influential architectural designers of the 21st century.
What do you expect the future to hold for women in the technology sector?
I hope to see the gender pay gap decrease even further, and I would like to see more females in leadership roles in the tech industry.
What advice would you give to a woman wanting to have a career in technology?
Never give up, no matter how intimidating it may seem when walking into a room full of men. You have the right to be there and follow your passion and dream, so why should gender stop or change that?
Find out more about Oasis Studio.
