I’ve been a woman in tech for over 20 years
_{Here’s the story of my unconventional journey into the sector.}

The career I have now was not even imaginable when I left school at 16. Technology was only just emerging. I started my family young, and it wasn’t until my mid 20s that I felt I wanted to explore further education for myself. Even at that time, I wasn’t looking at a career in data and technology, I was more focused on becoming a science teacher.

With that in mind, I embarked on a degree with this as my goal. It was whilst studying for my degree that I took some IT modules and ended up with a 1^st class honours degree in IT and Biological Science. It was not easy, having 3 young children and studying, and was without doubt the most challenging period of my life, but I knew it was going to be a worthwhile venture in the long run.

Following my graduation, I worked at a Software house as a database administrator for many years, thoroughly enjoying this period of my career. I then moved to the NHS for 4 years to be an Information System Manager – responsible for the platform and reporting behind an NHS Acute Hospital. This was a very rewarding phase of my career.

After a while, I decided to try my hand at contracting and ended up leaving the permanent job world behind me for 10 years as a self-employed contractor.

My last contract saw me working alongside Capgemini employees and after a while, it was clear to me that Capgemini was an amazing company. It was just what I had been waiting for to give me the incentive to move back into the permanent workspace. So here I am, 3 months in, and I can tell that it was a great decision. I get to work with such a diverse group of people.

I have worked in the IT industry for over 20 years, and I can really see the change for women in this space. In the early days, I would often be the sole female developer in a project team. This has slowly changed over the years, and joining Capgemini has opened my eyes to a culture where women are really valued and represented, whatever their background or stage of their careers. Having joined the Women@Capgemini Employee network is like the cherry on top of the cake!

From the very beginning, my experience at Capgemini has been incredibly positive. The induction program provides an excellent start, and everyone has been extremely welcoming. There are numerous initiatives to participate in, along with abundant opportunities for learning and career growth. I look forward to many happy years working with such a supportive and dynamic team! We’re currently hiring for several roles across the business.