4:1 Are the odds in your favour?

The ratio of men to women in my office is 4:1.
Whilst being outnumbered not only in my agency but in the entire industry might seem intimidating as a concept; on a day to day basis it isn’t something that I personally feel.

I am however, a huge advocate of girl power in the digital age, and encouraging potential female leaders, developers, marketers and general supergirls is an absolute passion of mine. There are agencies out there that not only encourage women into the fold but understand that women commonly bring keen insights and unique skillsets into an otherwise male dominated environment, and the more we champion it; the more commonplace it will be.

If you’re a woman considering a career in the digital landscape, consider the following:

1. There are many directors, mentors and managers who have come before you that are passionate about technology, software and marketing. Sheryl Sandberg, now COO of Facebook started out as a consultant and met Mark Zuckerberg at a Christmas party. Meg Whitman (CEO of Hewlett-Packard) started as a marketing consultant for an Advertising Agency. Now these women are writing books, sharing on LinkedIn and letting other women know the reality of the industry. Align yourself with people you can learn and grow from.

2. Understand that 95% of your experiences will be positive, no matter which gender combinations make up your team. At the end of the day, most teams, pulling in the same direction all want the same thing and gender doesn’t play a role in that. Vince Lombardi said, “Individual commitment to a group effort; that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work.”

3. Understand that 5% of the time you will face challenges.
Nothing worth it is ever easy, so trust that your persistence will pay off in the long term. “When women are supported, encouraged and funded to lead, they excel. In fact, tech companies led by women are more capital-efficient and achieve on average 35% higher return on investment.” (Kauffman Foundation Report).

There’s still a long way to go for women in technology and equality in general but don’t let that stop you getting in on the ground floor. You could be part of the generation of that makes a real change!