Persistence, Hard-work and Dedication will keep you going

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Staying Motivated in Tech: A Journey of Persistence, Hard Work and Dedication

In the ever-changing tech industry, being able to remain consistent and persistent is a vital skill. Our speaker, Alison, shares her personal journey and insights on how to overcome the unique challenges of working in technology. She emphasises on the importance of building strong confidence, setting clear goals, and maintaining personal hobbies alongside professional endeavours.

About the Speaker

Alison, a woman in tech who graduated with an Information Technology degree and continued on to a Master's and Ph.D. in gesture based technology, recounts her experiences in the field from 2002 onwards. She has worked in different countries and companies – some of them empowering and fulfilling, while others were quite the contrary. However, her love for technology has kept her persevering and growing through each experience.

Confidence vs Competence

One subject that Alison addresses head-on includes the dichotomy between confidence and competence. According to her, it's common for confident men to overestimate their competence, while women often underestimate their confidence. She believes that this phenomenon could be one of the reasons why women might hold back and eventually abandon their careers in technology, leading to the so-called "leaky STEM pipeline."

As a solution, Alison underscores the value of setting clear goals. She asserts that writing down these goals acts as a daily reminder to take action, even when challenges arise. Most importantly, she encourages regular self-reflection to uncover any fears or emotional roadblocks that might be hindering progress.

The Power of Persistence

Alison also emphasises the importance of persistence in overcoming tough situations in the technology field. She suggests:

  • Creating daily habits that lead us towards achieving our set goals.
  • Working outside of the workplace to hone skills and build a supportive community.
  • Mentoring new starters, especially those who could be feeling isolated or questioning their capabilities.

Life-Work Balance

Striking a balance between personal and professional life is essential in any field, more so in the fast-paced environment of technology. Alison encourages maintaining hobbies as they can contribute to success by enhancing creativity and serving as a stress-buster. She also stresses that finding personal fulfilment is integral to maintaining motivation.

Vision of Success

Finally, Alison asks, “What does success look like to you?" She encourages everyone to envision this success clearly, defining their own parameters, whether they pertain to the work environment, work ethics, team culture, or individual achievements. In this way, she emphasizes that success is a personal journey that can also have ripple effects on communal growth.

Conclusion

In the context of the ever-evolving tech industry, Alison’s talk serves as a practical roadmap for individuals endeavouring to carve out a fulfilling career path. Her key advice encapsulates the importance of persistence, setting goals, cultivating confidence, and envisioning success.

To connect further with Alison, her contact information and youtube channel Java with Ali are available to help answer any questions or provide additional insights into the journey of tech career growth. No matter where you are on your tech career path, Alison’s experiences and insights can serve as an encouraging guide bolstering your efforts, all the more if you're seeking to empower yourself and others within this dynamic industry.


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