Best Routes Into Tech for Women

5 Gen Z Women Share Their Advice For Breaking Into An AI Career: "Even as the AI career space is expanding at a rapid pace, only 22% of the roles in the industry are occupied by women. Breaking into the tech industry can be hard, but thankfully, there are young women who have already begun paving their way in this industry — and are willing to share their stories and advice for those wishing to follow in their footsteps. Below, Her Campus connects with Rewriting The Code, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in tech, to speak with Gen Z women in the tech sphere and get their advice about breaking into the industry. (Women in STEM, this one’s for you!) 💎 Beverlyn Tsi is a rising sophomore at University of Southern California and is majoring in Computer Science and Business Administration with an AI Applications minor. She also co-leads AthenaHacks (a women-centric hackathon) and is involved in the USC Information Sciences Institute’s HUMANS Lab in the AI Department to research AI-generated political content. Her advice for women looking to break into the industry? 'I suggest beginning by learning how to code, especially with Python and libraries like NumPy and Pandas, while also learning AI fundamentals like machine learning, neural networks, and computer vision,' she tells Her Campus. 'I personally found that immersing myself in local resources that are both educational and project-based through online courses like Coursera and Udemy, and campus opportunities like AI research labs, clubs, and courses, such as those for my AI Application minor, to be immensely helpful and a great way into AI. Hackathons are also a fun and collaborative way to apply your skills, and many are beginner-friendly.' She also emphasizes the importance of building a community of others involved with AI. 'I’ve learned so much through online spaces, especially being a community member at Rewriting the Code, where they have an interest in AI/ML-specific Slack channel filled with supportive and uplifting peers, dedicated mentorship and regular workshops … Surrounding yourself with experienced people who are also excited about AI and listening to their stories and advice can truly accelerate your network and insights and spur your growth in AI.'" Read about more inspiring Gen Z women in AI! 👉 https://lnkd.in/exM2_rmS #WomenInSTEM #GirlsInSTEM #STEMGems #GiveGirlsRoleModels

There’s no “one way” into cybersecurity. *Especially* for women. A new ISC2 report found that over half of women in cybersecurity took non-traditional paths into the field. Many transitioned from roles in IT, customer service, marketing, education, and even healthcare. What’s more: 84% said their previous experience actually made them more successful in cybersecurity. This report certainly hits home for me. I didn’t start out in traditional tech. My background was in accounting and audio recording. But I was always driven by a desire to solve problems and collaborate with people—and I quickly saw how tech could be a force multiplier for both, but only if it was resilient and secure. The transition wasn’t easy. I had to learn fast, get scrappy, and find mentors who believed in me. But once I got started, I brought a different and valuable lens to every room I was in. We talk a lot about the talent gap in cybersecurity. Here’s the truth: It won’t be solved by looking in the same places we’ve always looked. We need to stop gatekeeping and start embracing skills that aren’t necessarily found on the traditional resume. Diverse experiences make our teams stronger. The future of cybersecurity depends on it.

As a woman in tech myself, I have always been passionate about opening pathways for women to work in and around the tech industry. Traditional routes into this space aren't the only paths to success anymore, especially for women seeking to break into tech. Did you know that women hold less than 30% of all tech-related jobs globally? What if we start to consider diverse pathways into the industry? Customer Experience (CX) roles are emerging as unexpected yet valuable entry points. These positions offer exposure to cutting-edge platforms and user-centric thinking, often sparking interest in broader tech fields. For women, even later in their careers, CX can be a gateway to unexplored opportunities in technology. Women joining remote CX teams aren't just excelling in their current roles - they're discovering pathways to transition into more technical positions. And even when staying in their CX roles long-term, an extremely valuable and exciting career space, they are getting access to broadening their tech-skill sets in ways that can impact managing their personal lives too. It's proof that there's no single "right way" into tech, and it's never too late to pivot. Let's broaden our perspective on tech talent acquisition. The next great innovator might come from an unexpected background, and she might be starting her journey in a CX role right now. #WomenInTech #CareerTransition #RemoteWork #DiversityInTech