International Women's Day 2026 – mentorships, hands-on experience and trust top the wishlist for women new to the tech industry

Working in a male-dominated industry like the tech sector poses a variety of challenges for women. To mark IWD 2026, I’ve spoken to women who have recently joined the industry to find out what they see as the biggest hurdles to overcome, and why mentorship is so important to climbing the ladder as a woman in tech.

While Amy Clarke, a Technical Publications & Training Design Apprentice at Thales UK, is confident in her ability to progress in the tech sector through hard work and pushing herself, working in such a male-dominated industry causes some concerns about her ability to progress. She explains:

Even today, most people in the executive teams and senior roles are men. I sometimes do wonder if this means it will be harder for me to develop my career because of this.

Clarke is able to reassure herself that progression in tech isn’t just about technical ability, but also about being able to demonstrate long-term growth, an ability to communicate, and teamwork and leadership skills. She adds:

For this reason, it’s more than possible to progress as a woman in a company like Thales, or in tech sectors in general.

To ensure her career progresses, Clarke would like to get some more hands-on experience to help her understand the entire cycle of the products being produced. She notes:

For women in tech, practical exposure would really grow credibility, because we aren’t expected to have that hands-on experience and understanding, having this experience would really help shape my long-term progression.

Apprentice advantage

Being part of a large apprentice cohort has been a positive experience for Tysha Gaskin, IBX Critical Facilities Apprentice at Equinix. Gaskin works at Equinix’s campus in Slough, and was recently awarded Best Electrical Apprentice of the Year by Newbury College, which co-runs the apprenticeship scheme with the tech vendor.

A major high point for Gaskin has been getting to know other apprentices looking to learn new skills and grow their careers. She says:

The support I’ve received throughout my apprenticeship has made a huge difference, especially when taking on new technical challenges and building my confidence.

Looking ahead, she wants to continue developing her knowledge and skills within data centres, to keep growing within Equinix and take on more responsibility as she builds her expertise. 

Top of Gaskin’s wishlist for career progression is continued exposure to new projects and responsibilities within the data centre environment. She says:

Being trusted with more complex tasks will help me build confidence, deepen my technical knowledge, and continue progressing within the company.

Technical ownership

Kriti Goel, Graduate Product Engineer at Optalysys, hasn’t yet completely defined her next career steps, but she knows she wants deeper technical ownership, moving beyond contributing to systems toward shaping their architecture and understanding decisions at a more fundamental level. She says:

I want to work on meaningful, advanced technology that pushes boundaries. The next phase for me is about gaining broader experience, building confidence and exposing myself to different aspects of technology so I can intentionally choose a direction rather than just follow one.

The one thing that would help her most achieve her career goals is consistent mentorship from experienced technical leaders, especially those who have navigated cutting-edge hardware or startup environments. She explains:

Having someone who can provide perspective, challenge my thinking and help me see the bigger picture would significantly accelerate both my technical growth and my confidence. Alongside mentorship, gaining deeper clarity about my strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement would help me make more intentional career decisions.

Meaningful relationships

Shoshana Sugarman graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in December 2025 and started working full time at Cisco in February as a Product Management Specialist. At such an early stage in her career, her current focus is on learning as much as she can and building a strong foundation in her role.

Her ambition is to grow into a confident, thoughtful product manager, and continuing to build meaningful relationships in the industry will be a big factor in career progress. Sugarman notes:

The connections I have built with mentors, peers and teammates have made the greatest difference in my growth so far. Staying current with innovation is important, but having people to learn from and collaborate with is what really helps you move forward.

Sugarman has already been able to build strong relationships during her time as an undergraduate; at conferences – she’s already spoken at ISC2 Security Congress twice on quantum and generative AI; and now at Cisco. She adds:

I’ve felt that my ideas are valued and that my voice matters. I know that is not everyone’s experience, but I’ve learned how important it is to seek out people who genuinely support your growth and want to see you succeed.

From Finance to tech

Mentorship is also top of the list for Katherine Mustard, ESG Analyst at CyrusOne, when it comes to what would help her most. Coming from a finance and business background, Mustard was drawn to the tech sector as it offered the opportunity to broaden her expertise.

For the next step in her career, Mustard is keen to deepen her technical knowledge and understanding of data center operations, focusing particularly on the balance between energy efficiency and service reliability. She says:

Ongoing mentorship and hands-on experience are critical to professional development in any role, and especially in an industry where misconceptions have meant that many women may not see relevant opportunities for themselves. Effective mentorship not only helps early-career professionals carve a path toward their goals but also highlights gaps in knowledge and opens doors to learning experiences we might not otherwise seek.

Mustard has been lucky to work with supportive colleagues and forward-thinking teams, and hopes to continue engaging with initiatives that strengthen female representation in tech while learning from those with diverse experiences and perspectives. She adds:

It’s an exciting time to be a woman in the technology industry, and with this year’s International Women’s Day theme focused around giving to gain, it’s more important than ever to pay it forward, work together and help empower each other in this industry.

My take

Hearing from this group of women, who are all recent starters in the technology industry, offers valuable insights into how to attract and retain women. By sharing their biggest challenges and their planned next steps, they offer useful insights for all organizations wanting to support their female staff at the earliest stages of their careers.

If we want to retain women new to the tech sector, mentorship is key to giving them the support they need. Giving them opportunities for hands-on experience and trusting them with complex tasks will also ensure they feel valued and want to build long-term technology careers.