Last year I was listed as one of the women leaders in IT in Bulgaria. I talk with DevStyler about the role of women in IT. You can find the original interview here (in Bulgarian).
More and more successful UX teams are led by extraordinary women
Original interview from 31 December 2021
You have more than nine years of experience in the field of design. Can you share what are the necessary characteristics of a successful UX Lead?
The most important thing for me remains the ability to listen carefully. Listen carefully to every detail you hear from your customers, from your colleagues, and most of all from the end users. Secondly, don’t take everything you hear for granted. Carefully analyse any information that reaches you, turn it over and extract the essence from it. The question “Why?” remains the most important for me. Why do people act the way they do. Why do they say one thing or another? Why do they choose one or the other? When you have the answers to these questions, everything else comes naturally.
What makes UX design an important part of the IT industry?
Design is an often underestimated aspect of a product. The truth is that companies that invest in quality design are more successful in the long run. These organisations manage to build stable, loyal and long-lasting relationships with their customers. Good design becomes an ambassador of the brand, a conduit of its values, mission and culture. UX design is a crucial tool that can make or break a company. Successful UX design comes early in every project, addresses and solves complex business problems, and prevents hundreds of wasted hours of IT development later. One of the first questions I ask when I see an organisation willing to compromise on the quality of their design: Are you willing to take the risk on the bottom line by accepting that compromise?
What are your observations about the female/male ratio of professionals in a position like yours?
I have had no particular observations lately. Years ago, the field was led mainly by men. I guess that has changed in recent years – more and more successful UX teams are led by outstanding female professionals.
What differentiates a female leader from a male leader?
In principle, I am not a supporter of generalisations. If I have to answer specifically, I think the main difference is in communication styles. Women like to contemplate more before they react and make their next move. They are definitely more careful in making promises. Overall, I’ve seen both visionary thinking and serious strategic lapses on the part of both genders.
Is there a place for women in the tech industry, and how will this field change if more women join leadership positions?
There is a place in the technology industry for anyone who has the desire and tenacity to actively participate. I think that the role should be determined by professionalism and personality qualities and not by the fact that a person belongs to one gender or another. However, the projects I’ve been involved in recently, have mostly been run by women, who are doing their job more than admirably.
What are the biggest misconceptions about women in the TECH industry?
Perhaps the ones that apply to women in general. The claim that we are too emotional is something I have never liked. Such remarks completely discredit women’s ability to make serious, rational decisions.
What are the most suitable areas of technology for the realisation of women?
Any area that one finds inspiring and works hard to develop in is a great area for development.
Do you think it is correct to still distinguish between “female” and “male” roles? Why?/ Why not?
I do not think so. History gives us plenty of examples of successful men and women in all kinds of roles. For me, passion is the key to success.
How do you see the technological standstill in the country after five years in terms of diversity, equality and inclusion?
Even freer from various prejudices. We face enormous challenges from the economic, ecological and personal freedom points of view. We need all the specialists who can be involved in solving those challenges.
What is the company you work for doing to encourage more women to join the tech industry?
It gives everyone an equal start. Everyone who has managed to prove their qualities and talent is encouraged. In INDUSTRIA there has always been a spirit of friendship and understanding of the personal needs of each colleague. This is embedded in the DNA of the company and is definitely a factor in our success.
What advice would you give to future women leaders in technology?
To think carefully about whether they want to take such a position. All good leaders are responsible for themselves, their colleagues, their customers, the end products and results. The rest is a lot of hard work and a desire to learn something new every day. Certainly, the pleasure of successful projects is irreplaceable.
