Should you work in tech? If you’ve asked yourself this question, then you’re among the hundreds of thousands of other women who’ve explored STEM jobs or changed careers to be in this lucrative, in-demand industry. In fact, currently, 30.9 percent of all new tech roles are filled by women candidates—up from 29 percent a year ago. “Women in tech” isn’t a fad, it’s the future, and one worth being a part of.
Still, entering any field can be intimidating. There are so many new paths to discover, and the responsibilities among tech roles can vary significantly, which is why it’s important to read up on different jobs to find your fit.
You start that exploration here. In partnership with Publicis Sapient (PS), we asked three women in different tech jobs—quality engineering, data analytics, and frontend development—to expand on their roles, their careers, and different projects they’ve tackled. Their insights illustrate just how rewarding a tech career can be, especially at a company that supports your growth.
What’s your role in tech?
Roz Shoko, quality engineering: “I ensure that any new software or software updates that we release to clients and their end customers look and behave the way they are expected to. We use processes, technology, and tools to prevent software defects, or find and fix them early so that the end-product we deliver to the customer just works, seamlessly.”
Jenny Barr, data analytics: “At Publicis Sapient, I analyze customer behavior and interactions with a company across various touchpoints of a customer journey. To do this, my team sets up platforms for collecting, measuring, managing, analyzing, and optimizing data in order to personalize and target audiences to improve business outcomes. I am currently allocated to the McDonald's account. I work with the Analytics and Insights team, where we focus on digital app experiences. We use data to gain insights into McDonald’s audiences and develop strategies for targeting them more effectively.”
Eliza Paradise, frontend developer: “I develop user interfaces. My day-to-day work varies. Some days I am developing new components, other days I am working on fixing features that are not working as expected or working on technical tasks, such as writing test cases for our code. I am also passionate about developing accessible code, and I work hard to ensure that our code adheres to accessibility guidelines.”
How did you get into tech?
Roz: “In my favorite e-Commerce class for my master’s in computer information systems, I was constantly sparring with a classmate who turned out to be a client partner in a consulting firm. His referral got me my first job out of grad school as a business analyst, which involved talking to clients about their technology and business needs, and documenting these business requirements in a way that our software developers could understand and then implement. On one such project for a big bank, I not only wrote the requirements, but I was also asked to validate that the software the development team had built satisfied those requirements. That is how I got into software testing and quality engineering.”
Jenny: “I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have embarked on my professional journey at Publicis Sapient and to have remained with the company throughout my entire career. Five years ago, I joined Publicis Sapient as a new graduate from Miami University, where I majored in marketing and information systems and analytics. The allure of engaging in a diverse range of projects across various industries, the renowned reputation and expertise of Publicis Sapient, and the opportunity to contribute to impactful work for distinguished companies were the primary driving forces that compelled me to pursue a career at PS.”
Eliza: “I first gained interest in computer science (CS) when I took a college course on the subject the summer before my senior year of high school. I had read an article about the lack of women in CS, which made me interested in exploring the field. I absolutely loved that class, and I became pretty confident that I wanted to pursue studies in CS. However, I didn’t want to jump right into it, so during the fall of my freshman year, I took a variety of classes. I took my first CS class in my freshman spring, and after that, I was certain I wanted to continue. I decided to major in CS and completed two technical internships during my undergraduate career. My second internship was at Publicis Sapient, and I decided to return here full time after graduating. I’ve been here ever since!”
What are some cool projects you’ve worked on or responsibilities you’ve had in your tech role(s)?
Roz: “Over the years, I have worked on projects across many industries, on teams both large and small. You know the jumping fries and proximity sensor for pickup orders in that fast food company’s mobile app? Or that beverage company’s digital soda machines that allow you to mix strawberry soda, cherry cola, and lemonade to make your very own concoction? Or the interactive vivid pink map that tells you whether you can get 5G service where you live? Chances are I’ve worked on some part of those and many other exciting digital projects over the years.”
Jenny: “Throughout my time here, I have worked in several different industries, ranging from banks and grocery stores to CPG appliances and restaurants. This has led to various experiences in the roles that I have held: from analyst and strategist (business analyst, campaign optimization analyst, content strategist, paid media analyst, owned media analyst, SEO analyst, data strategist) to back-end data roles (platforms engineer, big data engineer, and test and learn specialist). Each of these opportunities, made possible by PS, has allowed me to continuously learn, develop new skills, and broaden my expertise in the data field.”
Eliza: “I think my current project, which I’ve been on since May 2021, is really cool! We’re helping a large grocery store chain build a health and pharmacy application to integrate with the grocery experience. I’ve mostly been working on the health app, which lets users track health goals, log exercise, manage their nutrition, and more. This makes it easier to buy healthy groceries, and users even get grocery coupons for achieving health goals! We recently worked on a large initiative to revamp the health goals, and I was responsible for developing the new features, along with my team. Some of the features I worked on are the addition of different goal levels that a user can choose between, a calendar component that helps users track their goal progress, and new goal category pages, which make it easier to add a goal. We got a lot of positive feedback on the new functionality which was really rewarding.”
Why should women pursue careers in tech?
Roz: “Tech is such a broad and interesting field, so the opportunities for finding that thing that brings you joy are only limited by your imagination. Whether you like to draw and design, organize people and things, are good with numbers, enjoy gaming, love to write code, love creating content and thinking of ways to grow your followers, or you like to break and fix things, there is a job in tech that’ll allow you to do any of those things and more. I am a woman from Zimbabwe who didn’t use a computer until I came to the U.S. for college. If I could learn and go on to be successful in tech then anyone can do this. The female talent pool in tech is growing by the day, so just jump in and go for it!”
Jenny: “The tech industry has historically been male-dominated, but times are changing. By entering the field, you can help break barriers and challenge stereotypes, paving the way for more diversity and inclusion in the industry. Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, and women have the opportunity to be at the forefront of these advancements. Women can contribute to the development of new technologies and solutions that can have a significant impact on society."
“There are also supportive communities and BRGs, especially within PS such as Women in Tech or Women Leadership Network. These communities provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources for professional development. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals can be empowering and help you navigate your career journey."
“By pursuing a career in tech, you can inspire future generations of women to follow their passions and break barriers. Your success can serve as a role model for others, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and contribute to the industry. Overall, the tech industry offers many exciting opportunities for women who are passionate about technology and innovation. Women can make a meaningful impact, grow professionally, and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive industry. Remember, your skills, perspectives, and contributions are valuable. Don't hesitate to embrace the opportunities that the tech industry offers. Your unique voice and experiences can help shape the future of technology and make a lasting impact.”
Eliza: “Tech is such a diverse and rewarding field! In today’s day and age, technology dominates our daily lives. By pursuing a career in tech, you have the chance to shape a wide variety of industries and make a difference for people. Also, there has historically been a gender gap in technology, leading to a gender data bias that means tech often doesn’t serve women as well as it serves men. The more women that work in tech, the better the technology will be, as we will have more diverse insights. I say if you have any interest in a career in tech you should pursue it! You don’t need to have all the knowledge, as long as you’re excited and willing to learn.”
More to know: Rewarding careers at Publicis Sapient
How does your team at PS provide support to help you advance your career?
Roz: “Along the way, I’ve had managers and mentors who have encouraged me to speak my mind when I had a different approach, to let my voice be heard, to not be afraid to question authority when I felt strongly about something and to always put people first, whether they are clients, teammates or direct reports. My mentors at PS have all been women who have achieved great success at the company while also being terrific human beings, and that is what I am striving for."
“One of the other things I love at PS is that there are also many employee-led business resource groups (BRGs) across our global community, such as the Women’s Leadership Network or Viva Women, where women can meet, connect over common interests, share insights, tools, tips and experiences, etc. This is a built-in community that we can each tap into and participate in that helps us build connections and relationships with people we may otherwise not meet in our day-to-day work. We laugh (and sometimes cry) together, we learn from and support each other, and PS fosters and encourages that camaraderie so that each of us can ‘find our own tribe’ and feel a sense of belonging and inclusion.”
Jenny: “One of the best things about working at PS is the people. Everyone that I have worked with—no matter the capability—is enthusiastic, curious, and a continuous learner. PS employees have a natural curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. They are eager to learn and stay updated on the latest industry trends, technologies, and methodologies. They embrace continuous learning and professional development to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape. These characteristics collectively contribute to a diverse and dynamic workforce at PS, enabling the company to deliver exceptional digital solutions and drive meaningful impact for clients and the people around them.”
Eliza: “I have felt very supported since my first day, and my teams have all worked to acclimate me to the codebase and support me in ramping up. I’ve been given a lot of autonomy early on and have gotten the chance to work with client stakeholders. My team is also great about giving feedback and recognizing individuals’ accomplishments, which has been crucial to my growth.”
What about upskilling—what resources does PS provide to help you grow?
Roz: “PS is really good about offering free classes, certifications, online courses through learning partners and platforms, and giving us growth opportunities in support of our current or future roles. Want to learn more about generative AI, or get certified as an agile product manager, or become an AWS architect? At PS, there is a class, learning path, online training session, live class on our Marcel platform, or a digital partner in-person training for that—and for almost anything tech- or business-related that you might be curious about or interested in pursuing.”
Jenny: “One of my most recent and cherished accomplishments was graduating from SPEED Academy, a five month long cross-discipline, practical learning program that PS offers. This course covered the key areas of our business (Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, Data) and how they fit together. We learned from subject matter experts from all over the business and worked with a group to tackle a real client problem. The program is broken down into individual courses that included lessons, homework, and assignments. We developed skills outside of our own craft, built a broader understanding of digital business transformation at PS, and learned how to better collaborate with peers in other capabilities to solve all of the many challenges our clients are facing. This was a fantastic learning experience and I recommend it to everyone that I can. It has been integral in my career growth at PS!”
Eliza: “Publicis Sapient has been a great place to grow my career, as they provide a ton of resources! There are many learning opportunities, including access to Udemy and LinkedIn Learning. We are also encouraged to earn certifications, which are a great way to boost your technical skills. Whenever I have downtime on a project, I try to take a course on a technology that I’m not as familiar with. This has helped me get more familiar with technologies that I do not use on a daily basis and will allow me to pursue more opportunities in the future.”
Publicis Sapient is a consulting partner helping the world’s most established brands evolve for a more digital future. Rated most highly for Paid Time Off, Ability to Telecommute, and Support for Diversity, PS also prioritizes perks women tell InHerSight they want, such as a new parent transition program to ease the return to work and a Headspace subscription to bring everyone back to baseline. Explore PS’s ratings, benefits, and open positions now!
