This Is How You Can Break Barriers as a Young Woman in Tech

Although there are plenty of initiatives encouraging young women into a career in tech, the reality is that men still outnumber women by a ratio of 3:1.

Additionally, by the time students choose their majors in college, only 21% of engineering majors, and just 19% of computer science majors are women.

But one woman who has lived this experience, while also managing to carve out a successful career in tech despite the systemic obstacles standing in her way, is Lori Laub. She is the CEO and founder of TruCentive, an incentives delivery platform that allows businesses to send gifts, rewards, and incentives to employees.

Driven by “pure passion” to pursue a tech career, Laub credits her parents with instilling the self-belief that she could achieve anything she set her mind to.

“They presented reality without sugar-coating it,” she explains. “They informed me that some people might have advantages, such as better education, stronger connections, or greater resources, which could hinder or facilitate my journey. Nonetheless, they impressed upon me that, ultimately, the outcome would hinge on how I utilized the opportunities presented to me.

Ambition counts

“Although they didn't phrase it in these exact terms, I've come to realize they were imparting a crucial lesson: my gender, my background, or any other aspect of my identity were not the defining factors; rather, what counted was my ambition, my commitment to my goals, and the consistency of my efforts every single day.

That doesn’t mean Laub’s career path has been smooth sailing. In fact, she admits that she’s had to overcome gender stereotypes throughout her career, especially in her twenties, when clients struggled to believe she was “in charge”, and also internally when a male colleague consistently referred to her as “little lady”.

“His seniority in both position and age within the company was daunting. However, I reached a point where I felt compelled to take action,” she reveals.

“Initially, I politely requested that he refrain from calling me that. Still, when the behavior continued, I decided to address him as 'little man' respectfully. This prompted a dialogue between us, after which he started to use my actual name. While he occasionally reverted to the old moniker, gently correcting him became easier over time, and he eventually ceased using it altogether.”

While this approach might not work for everyone, Laub advocates that all workers, regardless of rank or gender, could benefit from some self-awareness.

“Ultimately, the key is consistently presenting your best version of yourself while being truthful about your strengths and improvement areas… Perfection is unrealistic; it's essential for each of us to dedicate ourselves to improving our contributions to the organization and the way we deliver them.”

Tech’s doors are opening

Her advice to women hoping to break into tech is similar in sentiment: “The doors to the tech industry are increasingly open to women, and the opportunities continue to expand. The question now centers on how women leverage these opportunities to enhance the workplace for the generations of women who will follow.”

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By Aoibhinn Mc Bride