International Women's Day 2026 – the real reasons young women opt for a career in tech

International Women's Day (IWD) is always a good time to take stock of the tech sector’s progress on gender equality. A raft of studies and workplace data show women still account for only around a fifth of technology roles. To mark IWD26, I spoke to a group of women all at the very early stages of a career in technology to find out what made them join the sector, and how inclusive and welcoming it is in 2026.

Being one of the only girls in her technology class at school was the perfect motivation for Amy Clarke to prove to herself she could be successful. She says:

I have always had an interest in tech and engineering as I was continuously supported and encouraged through school in my Technology and Design classes.

She studied the subject for seven years in secondary school, and her teachers identified her as having a natural talent for tech. At 19, Clarke is now a Technical Publications & Training Design Apprentice at Thales UK, as well as being in the second year of a Mechatronic Engineering degree with Ulster University through her apprenticeship.

Confidence building

Stepping into a role in the tech and engineering sector without having years of prior experience has been a challenging aspect. She explains:

Being only 18 years old joining Thales, straight out of school, when I first started, it took a lot of work to develop my understanding of the complex systems and industrial terminology to the level required for my role. I have had to ask a lot of questions and build my confidence over time, but it’s rewarding to see how far I’ve come in less than two years.

From her school days, Ash Brooke could see how much technology shapes the world around us. Becoming a parent to a now five-year old gave that interest a deeper purpose. She notes:

I wanted to build a career that could give her a better life and create more opportunities for our future.

But although she’s always been interested in technology, Brooke wasn’t sure how to turn that interest into a career. She started off working in social care, but it quickly became clear it wasn’t the right fit. Throughout her twenties, she explored different areas of tech, including coding. She adds:

I realised coding wasn’t where my strengths lay, but it helped me understand what I wanted to do. Networking and building systems really excited me, but the biggest challenge was figuring out how to get my foot in the door without prior experience.

Last April, Brooke finally got the opportunity, securing a tech apprenticeship at digital transformation company ANS. The placement has given her a structured, supported route into tech alongside hands-on experience. She says:

The apprenticeship has helped me thrive by balancing on-the-job learning with structured training, mentoring and networking. Attending bootcamps and networking has given me dedicated time to focus on my development while building connections with other apprentices and key players in the tech space.

Brooke’s highlights have been passing her AZ-900 certification after attending an Azure bootcamp and being awarded top apprentice at the ANS Apprenticeship Awards. She adds:

The biggest challenge hasn’t been during the apprenticeship itself, but gaining access to the industry. I had the drive and passion, but securing that first opportunity in tech was the hardest part.

Complex problems

The challenge of solving complex problems was what drew Kriti Goel to the technology industry. After a Masters in optoelectronics and quantum technologies, she’s now Graduate Product Engineer at Optalysys, working on photonics, using light to power computing. 

Goel has always loved maths and physics, and is naturally drawn to solving complex problems and finding structure within them. She says:

I chose to pursue a Master’s in quantum technology because I’ve always been fascinated by what I think of as ‘sci-fi’ technologies that stretch beyond what feels possible today. Specialising in photonics in Bristol was a turning point for me. The idea that we can encode and process information entirely in light genuinely captivated me.

As well as having a genuine interest in tech, Goel rates it as an important field with long-term relevance and strong industry demand. She notes:

Building expertise in an area that combines technical depth, innovation and long-term career stability is important to me.

Despite her impressive academic background, imposter syndrome has been a challenge for Goel, especially working on cutting-edge systems early in her career. Surrounded by highly capable people and operating at the frontier of technology, it’s easy to question yourself. She adds:

Over time, I’ve learned that feeling stretched usually means I’m growing. Startup environments add another layer. You take on multiple roles at once, which accelerates learning and exposure, but it can also be intense and overwhelming if not managed carefully.

A lack of visible role models early on had an impact on Goel’s experience. She was one of only a handful of women in technical classrooms and engineering spaces. She recalls:

That made confidence building more internal than external at times. And transitioning from academia to industry was a significant shift.

From academia to tech

After 10 years in academia, Dr Florence Concepcion moved to the tech sector two years ago, where she’s currently Senior Quantum Engineer at Aquark Technologies. She wasn’t attracted to tech in a conventional sense, and her move happened more out of circumstance than strategy, precipitated by the need to move from London to Southampton. She explains:

I re-located to Southampton to support my family, and a friend introduced me to Aquark Technologies. They needed lab-based expertise to help build capability in quantum technologies, and my experimental background was exactly what was required.

Concepcion still sees herself first and foremost as a physicist, with her background in experimental atomic physics. She says:

What has always motivated me is the challenge of understanding something new and solving complex puzzles. Quantum technology isn’t just about theory, it requires vacuum systems, optics, materials science and engineering skills. The lab challenges of building ultra-high vacuum systems and turning complex science into real products are what make my current role such a good fit.

The switch from academia to tech is proving a success so far. In 2025, Concepcion won a £1.9 million Future Leaders Fellowship grant from Innovate UK towards her research and development work at Aquark. 

Inclusion matters

While there’s a general feeling the industry is a more inclusive place for women than it used to be, representation and perception issues still linger.

At ANS, Brooke is surrounded by women in senior roles, which shows what’s possible. She’s also had the opportunity to attend Women in AI events, which she found empowering. She says:

Being in a room of women supporting and encouraging each other makes a real difference. It reinforces the idea that women can take leading roles in areas like AI and be part of shaping the future.

In her experience at Aquark Technologies, Concepcion has felt supported, and feels confident the company would stand behind her if needed. She notes:

There’s an awareness that women may experience certain situations differently. Working alongside colleagues who are driven, knowledgeable and genuinely supportive, both professionally and personally, makes an enormous difference. Especially when balancing family responsibilities, that kind of culture matters.

Her early experiences in academia showed Concepcion why representation is important for encouraging and empowering the next generation. As an undergraduate in physics, where women were a small minority, she felt pressure to be taken seriously. She explains:

I avoided things like piercings or dyeing my hair because I hadn’t seen many female role models expressing individuality while being respected as scientists. That lack of visible representation does shape behaviour. There’s a balance between not wanting to be defined by gender and recognising that visibility matters.

According to Katherine Mustard, ESG Analyst at CyrusOne, the company prioritises female growth and professional development. Every team she’s worked with has valued skills and contributions over background, which creates space for equal progression, while there’s a focus on mentorship and peer-to-peer support as a business priority. She adds:

That said, the tech and data centre sectors remain traditionally male-dominated, and the perception of the industry can still pose a barrier to attracting diverse talent. While there is a positive push to advocate for diversity in technical roles, addressing these perception challenges remains a priority, and it’s one I am committed to helping tackle as I progress in my career.

My take

These stories highlight how important it is for schools to encourage girls to study computing, and why funding for apprenticeships is a vital path into the tech sector for young women. Role models and representation are also key to making women feel welcome when they join the industry.