This International Women’s Day 2021, TECHx brings you important messages from Women Leaders in Technology across the Middle East. Here Dushala Agarwal & Nichola Banerjee, Marketing Specialist – Midis Group share insights about their experience in the tech industry, the importance of work-life balance, and tips for aspiring women looking to join the industry.
Dushala: My journey in tech has been entirely enriching. We are so attuned to using different forms of technology in our day-to-day lives that it is interesting to be in the center of an industry that oozes innovation and creativity. Moreover, being a marketer, the pace and scale of innovation makes the experience all the more compelling as it makes you dive into your creative side in an ever-evolving field.
Dushala: Every modern-day worker strives for a work-life balance. Today, with advancements in smartphones and apps translating to work literally sitting in your pocket, and the evolution of workforce dynamics making everyone available on the go, finding the right balance between work and personal life requires a continuous and conscious effort. It is crucial to understand that one must create an identity for oneself that is separate from one’s career.
We are fortunate that organizations these days acknowledge the importance of the mental well-being of their employees. With the pandemic changing the whole work culture, simplistic initiatives like offering the flexibility of working from home, permitting flexible working hours and encouraging social networking between employees have proven effective in improving employee morale. A very basic necessity which a lot of companies oversee is offering employees up-to-date technology so that work can be done faster and more efficiently.
Dushala: Keep yourself updated on the industry trends and most importantly, focus on strengthening your knowledge and skills, as eventually, this is what will ensure your success.
Nichola: My overall experience as being a “woman in tech” has been both positive, and rewarding. Working in tech requires a lot of dedication, and this can be challenging for women sometimes. But it’s not different from many other fields as at the end of the day, it’s just a matter of choice!
Nichola: Work-life balance is not a new concept, it simply means etching out the appropriate time for your professional and personal life. I believe it’s important to accept that while you might not have the perfect schedule, you can strive to achieve a realistic one. Some days, you might focus more on work, while on others, you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. Work-life balance is something that is achieved over time, rather than being a goal for each day.
Fostering a work-life balance requires some creativity and discipline and most companies today understand that productivity is measured in different forms for different employees. As a result, they have adapted employee engagement models and many now allow flexible timings and remote work, encourage physical activities, accommodate a stand-up workspace, encouraging timely vacation, and promote initiatives such as bring your kids to the work day. The crux of all these programs is that they demonstrate that companies are willing to trust that employees will provide value and produce results at the end of the day.
Nichola: When it comes to generally progressing in your career, always find a way to keep learning, improving, and improvising. The tech industry is constantly changing – often at a pace that surpasses other industry verticals – and so make sure you keep brushing up your skills as this will help you stay ahead.
