What do you do?
I’m the Office Manager at Fat Beehive
Why did you start in digital/tech?
It wasn’t an aimed choice to move into working in this sector, I was just looking for a job. However I knew I liked the charity and ethical stance of Fat Beehive. Whilst I’ve been here, I’ve put myself forward to learn more of the technical and digital stuff which normally wouldn’t cross into my job role. As a result, I’ve taken on more responsibilities about servers and hosting which really interest me.
How have you got to where you are?
I’m only 22 so I don’t feel like I am ‘anywhere’ solidly yet, but in terms of my current role, I try to be as on-the-ball and helpful as possible. I had no prior job experience as Office Manager, so I feel that starting out in this role with a can-do attitude and willingness to learn has gained me the trust and respect of my colleagues and employer.
What advice would you give your younger self or other young women starting out?
It’s so easy to step into the background and trundle along, but DON’T do that though!
Assert yourself, assert your thoughts and ideas, take ownership of what you are good at, make sure to compliment yourself AND others.
Also be honest with yourself and your employer… if something is not working, open up an honest dialogue with your line manager and come up with solutions for positive change.
How do you think tech should change to encourage more women to start out?
I think it’s got to be starting out in schools – for boys AND girls, equally. Both need to know that the industry is accessible to them in whatever way they desire; whether it’s development and coding, design, UX, or content management. None of those jobs should be gendered – both are definitely do-able for whoever wants to do them.
