Different countries, same challenges everywhere

In my 16 years of experience in the tech industry, in several countries across both Europe and Asia Pacific I have realized that irrespective of the country where they are located women face similar challenges when it comes to working in the tech industry.

Some of these challenges which I have observed across Romania, UK, France, Poland, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, etc include:

• Personal and institutional barriers.
• Not enough confidence to apply for roles where they are already qualified.
• No specific learning & development programs or trainings designed for issues that women are facing in the tech industry.
• Lack of structure for women mentoring and sponsorship opportunities.
• Lack or no internal career path of career direction from senior leadership.
• Feelings of isolation.
• Disparity when it comes for same roles, same responsibilities, financial benefits vs men.

Luckily, during my journey with UiPath, we have implemented several Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, as well as women empowerment initiatives, which have really fueled my passion and drive to make an impact for women working in tech or aspiring to enter the tech industry.

One of these initiatives which I have championed for the Asia Pacific region, during 2019-2020 was the UiConnecting Circles program. This was an initiative adapted based on the Stanford Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab where 8 women leaders from India and APAC (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India) with different roles, professional, cultural and social backgrounds were meeting monthly for a period of 6 months, with the common goal of exploring professional development topics and exchange personal experiences in an atmosphere of confidentiality and trust. This was a fantastic initiative designed for women professionals to learn and grow together by utilizing the power of peer support, mentoring, shared experiences and stories.

This initiative as well as other programs which UiPath has been running for women empowerment, have led me to reflect more on the importance of mentoring and sponsorship in the tech industry.

Also, I have realized that tech industry is far from a situation where there are similar opportunities and benefits for women and men.
I have been frequently asked why volunteering for women in tech. And…

Why do I care? & What is my personal motivation for supporting & volunteering for women in tech?

I have started my career in tech when I was 20 years, working for a BPO (Business Process Operations) company, as a customer representative agent, but my first real tech job was when I have joined Intel (the global chip manufacturing company). The team that I was part of was the Sales & Marketing Group, responsible for Central and Eastern Europe.

My job involved working with vendors like Asus, Lenovo, Fujitsu, Dell, HP and their distributors, and resellers from Romania and Bulgaria. It was a fascinating job. But at the same time, my job responsibilities felt huge for my age. I had similar targets and responsibilities as my colleagues who had double my age and double my experience. I felt excited but very often overwhelmed by the magnitude of the tasks which I had to accomplish. I always had a fantastic support from my colleagues, my managers who continuously encouraged me to see myself as their peer, and take ownership of my work, guiding me to be independent and self-reliant.

The Intel culture is by far one of the most amazing company cultures I had the privilege to work in. There is a very strong foundation of respect, professionalism, drive for innovation and excellence at all levels, in all teams. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work in such environment which has profoundly shaped my global leadership style and the way I have conducted business worldwide.

Although my colleagues and managers at Intel were always extremely supportive, the partners I worked with did not always show the same level of trust, especially due to my young age and limited experience at that stage of my career. I particularly remember an episode during a channel event when one of the partners sarcastically asked, “Why is Intel hiring college graduates?” implying that my young age made me unsuitable for the job I was performing and continuing to joke about it.

Some people might laugh at this incident, immediately forget it, or not even notice it. I reacted differently. I remember feeling extremely frustrated at that moment because a business partner, who should have shown respect, was questioning my professional capabilities and disrespecting me not only as a professional but also as a young woman in the tech industry. At that point I did not share this experience with my colleagues or my manager, I was not sure if I should ask advice, where should I ask advice, if it was appropriate or not to discuss about this incident, and if people to whom I would share it would consider it important or insignificant. But I have spent many days and months after reflecting about the impact of those words into my own professional journey.

I realized that, at that time in Romania, there were not many women in tech organizations, and the topic was not as relevant as it is today. In that moment, I felt the need to change that reality. I wanted to create an environment where women in the tech industry, regardless of their age or career stage, would feel safe, seen, heard, understood, and appreciated. I aimed to ensure they had the right support mechanisms to advance in their careers, take risks, and benefit from the same opportunities as men.
Looking back, that experience might seem like a small incident, but for me, it was the spark that ignited my passion for advocating for girls and women in tech. This passion has only grown stronger over the years.

Volunteering for girls and women in tech in Singapore

After leaving UiPath in 2022 and launching my own consulting company, I began deeply engaging in volunteer work in Singapore, being focused on supporting girls and women in tech.
I have realized that in Singapore, we are fortunate to be in an environment that upholds values such as diversity, inclusion, and equity for women in all walks of life and across various industries.

Numerous associations and organizations support girls and women who aspire to pursue a career in tech:

• Girls in Tech Singapore: part of global Girls in Tech organization, aiming to empower, educate, and mentor women in technology.
• Women Who Code Singapore: A community that inspires women to excel in technology careers through events, coding workshops, and networking opportunities. This organization has closed its global operations as well in April 2024.
• TechLadies: An initiative that aims to increase the number of women in the tech industry by providing free coding bootcamps, mentorship, and job placement services.
• She Loves Data: A global community that promotes data literacy among women through workshops, meetups, and networking events.
• SG Women in Tech: A government-led initiative by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) that aims to attract, retain, and develop women tech professionals.
• Lean In Singapore: Part of the global Lean In community, focused on helping women achieve their ambitions and work towards gender equality in the workplace, including the tech industry.
• Women in Tech Singapore: A network that provides a platform for women in tech to connect, share experiences, and support each other through various programs and events.
• CodingGirls: An organization dedicated to nurturing the next generation of female tech leaders through coding workshops and mentorship programs.
• Women’s Career Network: This network offers support and resources for women looking to advance their careers, including those in tech fields.
• LadyBoss Asia: An online community and platform that supports female entrepreneurs, including those in the tech industry, by providing resources, and networking opportunities.

Girls in Tech Singapore experience

After reviewing the vision and goals of various organizations, I decided that the most suitable community for me to join was Girls in Tech Singapore. The local chapter was part of a global network with chapters in over 30 countries, all dedicated to eliminating the gender gap for girls and women in tech. As such I have joined Girls in Tech Singapore in February 2022 first as a Board Member, and soon after in May as one of the local Co-Managing Directors.

Over the past two years, we have collaborated with numerous corporate partners, including AWS, Foodpanda, Le Wagon, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PayPal, ServiceNow, Singapore Fintech Festival, Team LEWIS, and W Hotel. Together, we have developed a range of programs and initiatives to support girls and women in tech at all stages of their career journeys, from university students and first-time job seekers to mid-career transitions, senior roles, and moms returning to work after a career break. Some of these initiatives included: mentorship programs, hackatons, panel and networking events, trainings, coding workshops, CV Labs, recruiting events, wellness in tech events, just to name a few.

Transition to Sponsors in Tech: Empowering Her Journey

In July 2024, the Girls in Tech HQ decided to close the global operations. Consequently, to this, myself together with the previous Girls in Tech team, have decided to rebrand our local operations as “Sponsors of Tech – Empowering Her Journey.” This new identity marked a significant milestone for our team and our community, reflecting our ongoing commitment to supporting girls and women in tech throughout their careers.

Our vision is to create an inclusive and thriving tech community where women can network, upskill, and build meaningful connections. We will be offering resources and opportunities for professional growth, networking, and skill development, designed to foster advancement and development.

As a non-profit organization, Sponsors in Tech – Empowering Her Journey will continue to be a leading platform for networking, upskilling, and connecting within the tech community.

Our mission is to reduce gender inequality by delivering experiences and educational opportunities and enhance digital literacy and skills development for women and girls through targeted training programs, workshops, and mentorship initiatives, focusing on emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity, and data science, which are extremely relevant for the tech ecosystem in Singapore.
If you would like to partner, collaborate with us at Sponsors in Tech Singapore, or if you have an idea, a project that you would like to bring to life in your organisation, make a donation or volunteer with us you can reach to: connect@sponsorsintech.com or to my Contact Page directly.

You can also support us by following our Linkedin page for updates about our upcoming events:

Moreover, if you are as passionate as I am for supporting girls and women in tech, in Singapore or in any other part of the world, do reach out.
I would love to hear your stories, ideas and suggestions of collaboration!