Meet Evelyn Loo, Ria Nagpal, and Xin Yi Tay: 3 women forging success in the world of tech

Evelyn Loo is an Expert Software Engineer with an impressive 15 years in the field. Ria Nagpal, an Advanced Software Engineer, boasts five years of experience, and Xin Yi Tay – a Junior Software Engineer – is about to complete her first year in the role. 

All three speak with passion about how they fell in love with tech, and have all had very positive experiences working in the industry, especially during their time at Zühlke. 

And yet, Evelyn, Ria, and Xin Yi are all too aware that this is often not the case and that women can face significant barriers.

According to research from Statista, women currently hold just 26.7% of tech-related jobs. In fact, the percentage of women in all tech-related careers has actually decreased over the last two years.

In this blog we explore the key insights Evelyn, Ria, and Xin Yi have learned from their careers in tech so far. We will cover:

• A key barrier that can stop women pursue technology-based careers
• Why tech needs women now more than ever
• How women in tech can reach their full potential
• What Zühlke is doing about the barriers women face

Expectation – the invisible barrier

In spite of Xin Yi’s natural affinity for software development, she believes there’s an invisible barrier that can stop women from even considering a career in tech.

“At school, most of my peers were planning for careers more traditionally pursued by women. Even though I knew my family would support me whatever my choice, it can take a lot to break out of a mindset of doing what most people expect you to do.”

This invisible barrier can have a big impact. In one PWC study, just 27% of the women surveyed said that they would consider a tech career, compared to 62% of their male counterparts. 

For Xin Yi, something that attracted her to Zühlke was that the company was actively trying to remove this barrier.

“My first encounter with Zühlke was at a school outreach program. I’d just graduated from a B.Sc in chemistry but a chatbot hackathon had made me realise I wanted to be a Software Engineer. From the very first moment I started speaking to the Zühlke representatives, they treated me as an equal. The team were interested in how my chemistry experience and background in scientific research would give me a new perspective on software engineering, and impressed on me the importance of challenging the misconception that tech wasn’t for women.” 

Why tech needs women now more than ever

Even at age 15, Ria knew she wanted to pursue a career in technology. 

“My eldest sister was always a role model for me. She had a career in tech, was doing really well, and was enjoying it. It helped me see that a career in tech was not only possible but could also be really fun.”

Having now worked in the tech industry for a number of years, Ria says the thing that makes her love working at Zühlke is that the company understands that when more women work in tech, it benefits everyone, not just women.

“Zühlke truly believes that ‘group-think’ is a huge obstacle to innovation. That when you have a more gender diverse workforce, you strengthen your perspective power and therefore your ability to create value in the face of change. With the industry changing faster than ever before – this is a huge competitive advantage.” 

The stats firmly back up this approach. A study from McKinsey & Co found that companies with greater gender diversity were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than their less diverse competitors. 

How women in tech can reach their potential

As an experienced Expert Software Engineer, Evelyn has seen the tech industry evolve and she believes that businesses are starting to understand the contribution women in tech can make. 

“There are some great opportunities out there today for women to not only enter a career in tech but hold senior leadership roles within it.”

But as Evelyn is keen to point out, as a woman entering the tech world, it’s important to assess those opportunities and identify the ones that will help you become all you can be. 

“Some businesses will focus on helping you develop your technical skills, which is a great start. But to reach your full potential, look for those employers that will develop you holistically. Skills, confidence, communication, leadership. Zühlke supports my development in all aspects of my working life. This has helped me craft a fully rounded career that I'm extremely proud of.” 

What is Zühlke doing about the barriers in tech for women?

At Zühlke we’re firm believers in the power of diverse perspectives, which is why we are committed to increasing the proportion of women in male-dominated tech professions, and in particular in management positions. To uphold this commitment, we hold ourselves to account on equal opportunities, the elimination of gender-specific differences and prejudices in our teams, and on creating flexible career models.

“Zühlke really values the contribution women can make, creates an environment where we’re encouraged to develop our professional skills, grow at a personal level, and take senior positions.” says Evelyn. 

Ria agrees:

“Zühlke understands that confidence can be a barrier for women in tech and has taken an active role in helping me develop. I’ve been given opportunities to present more, to lead working sessions, and even got to run one of our Zühlke Asia camps. This involves choosing and booking hotels, helping with programming, and more. It’s such a fun project but really builds your confidence as an individual. The camp is actually one of my proudest achievements.”

Advice for women considering a career in tech

Evelyn, Ria, and Xin Yi have found their careers extremely fulfilling at Zühlke. Their advice for women considering a career in tech? Be brave because the industry needs you. 

• “Challenge the expectation that’s placed on you. You really can do anything, so believe in yourself and inspire those around you to do the same”, says Xin Yi. 
• “Tech needs great women right now and the first step is to believe you can be one of them”, adds Ria.
• And for Evelyn, “The most important thing is to be brave and believe in yourself, but not be afraid to ask for advice.”