It's simple. Both now and in the future, we need more women working in technology and digital.
To deal with this problem, there is Digital Her. The goal is to eliminate inequality in the tech and digital industries.
A programme called Digital Her from Manchester Digital aims to encourage and inspire more young women in Greater Manchester to think about pursuing jobs in technology and digital..
By utilising the influence of real role models and industry mentors, Digital Her offers the help, opportunities, and direction required to empower a new generation of women in the tech industry and equip those important influencers in their lives (teachers, career counsellors, and parents) to assist them in making decisions about their digital futures.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
I'm Rebecca, Founder and CEO of a fast growing Shopify Plus agency, Rainy City. We're a Shopify Plus Partner that works solely on the Shopify platform to help merchants from Health & Beauty to Fashion & Accessories design and build their websites, through innovative design and forward thinking engineering.
WHAT SKILLS DO YOU USE MOST IN YOUR JOB?
- Sales - Responsible for signing on all new business for the agency
- People Management - Learnt how to build a solid team to aid with growth
- Visionary - For the company to plan for the future and where we're going to take it
- Communication - Internally & externally - building relationships and partnerships is the most effective way to scale
WHAT'S THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU'VE WORKED ON IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Building the agency has to be the most interesting, it's quite broad but the amount of challenges and wins have been crazy. No two days are the same and i've learnt so much from people management, training, sales, processes, finance and building relationships across the ecosystem.
WHAT'S YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND?
I studied International Fashion Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University, I graduated with a first class honours degree, my degree is totally different to what I do now, I think the best way to develop skills is to put yourself in the real world and learn from your mistakes and others.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO DIGITAL & TECH?
I started out in eCommerce as a merchant myself - I quickly learnt the pains of working with agency partners and wanted to develop an agency that delivered great work, had communication at the forefront of everything and a team that is creative and passionate.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO GIRLS THINKING ABOUT A CAREER IN DIGITAL AND TECH?
Our industry is very male dominated - I've often been to events and been the only female there and i'd like to change that! The tech industry is fun, exciting and so fast paced, if you want to feel challenged and break barriers, then this is the career for you.