By Nmesoma Nnetu, founder of Women’s Weekly
Can I be called a woman in tech? Every day, I ask myself this question. What are the qualifications to become a woman in tech? The tech space is highly intimidating; without proper care and guidance, you could be floating. How did I get my start in tech?
Now, I had heard about "tech money" before I heard about tech, and who doesn’t want money? A friend of mine who currently works as a developer introduced me to the tech space. Given that he appeared to be doing well for someone his age, I was curious to learn more. I eventually learned what tech was after conducting some research.
Finding your niche
This was where the problem stemmed from. It is so much easier to desire to work in tech, but figuring out what works for you becomes the ultimate search. For me, it was no different. I already ruled out “coding” from my potential options because a professor taught C++ on a whiteboard, and let's just say that the experience was beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
I also have this advice for anyone considering a tech career: build a strong foundation in the area of study you're interested in, and you'll succeed.
I already had confidence in my writing abilities, so when I sought technical skills that complemented my enthusiasm for writing, I discovered technical writing and copywriting.
Journey as a technical writer
I turned to the internet and used YouTube and Google. To make the transition smoother, I looked for technical writing tutorials and courses online. Let me just say that the majority of YouTube content marked "for beginners" isn't intended for beginners. The funny thing was that, after seeing those "beginner-friendly" videos, I was even more confused about technical writing than I was before. I was done, I told myself honestly; I didn't need this tech money. A post regarding an upcoming Google meet starring Shedrack @coder_black was sent to me from OSCA IFE. I'm not going to lie; I thoroughly loved the training.
That provided me with the inspiration I needed. Shedrack once stated, "A technical writer without a technical skill is a copywriter," and that was one thing that resonated with me. At this time, my goal to become a technical writer superseded the need to earn "tech money". This was a self-fulfillment issue.
I felt the need to diversify, so I tried WordPress, which seemed simple to me. I attempted to use WordPress to create a website after watching a "how-to" video on YouTube. As I realized I couldn't go from word to word or second to second, I made the last-minute decision to wing it and came up with Cookieland. I had already formed my brand, Women’s Weekly, at this point and felt confident in my abilities thanks to my HubSpot content marketing training. Working with WordPress piqued my interest in web development. I wanted to delve into the world of web development, and Python sprang to mind.
Trying Python
I searched for a Python tutorial on YouTube. I got one from freecodecamp.org. Learning Python was the absolute best. It just flowed. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. Now that I have a technical skill under my belt, I’m headed toward becoming a great technical writer.
So, based on my experience, do I qualify to be a woman in tech? Without a doubt, I do. I discovered that I do not need to be a big name in the tech space or on social media to be known as a woman in tech. The key is self-confidence and consistency. It is completely okay to bounce around and discover your interests before settling in fully. There is no obligation to go into tech; it is completely okay to not want to go into tech no pressure. Is the tech space an intimidating one? Sure, it is, but it is one you deserve to be in too. Moreover, identifying your niche makes you feel more secure and less intimidated.
My life as a woman in tech right now?
It has been beautiful. My confidence increased, and I could see it soar higher. I feel like I have found my purpose, and this goes beyond the “tech money”. This is coming from an official tech sis. Yes, I am a woman in tech.