Give to gain: Opening doors for Women in Tech

Women remain underrepresented in the technology sector – making up just 26-28% of the global workforce. Creating real change requires more than conversations. It requires organisations willing to invest time, opportunity and support into the next generation.

International Women’s Day provides an important moment to reflect. It’s an opportunity to check in and focus on how much further we have to go as an industry.

Last year, I wrote about accelerating action for the next generation of women in tech and the role organisations like UP3 can play in making that happen. In that piece, we talked about the importance of opening doors earlier and helping young women see that technology is a space where they belong. And we introduced our partnership with AspireHer as one of the ways we planned to do that.

Twelve months on, this year’s International Women’s Day theme of “Give to Gain” feels like the perfect lens through which to reflect on that commitment and what it means in practice.

Over the past year, I’ve seen that commitment come to life through the mentors at UP3 giving their time, and the women taking their first steps into the industry.

What "Give to Gain" looks like at UP3

At UP3, supporting women in tech isn’t something that happens once a year. It’s something we try to build into the way we work.

Across the year, the team runs initiatives designed to open doors into the industry, particularly for young women who might not otherwise see technology as a career option. This includes outreach work with schools, careers fairs and work experience programmes designed to show what working in tech looks like.

These experiences go beyond technical skills. Students explore presentation and employability skills while learning how technology connects to different career paths.

Over the last 12 months we have welcomed 25 school-age students to UP3 to take part in these initiatives.

But inspiring the next generation is only part of the picture. We also wanted to work with women who are ready to enter the industry.

CAD certification programme

To this end, we developed a 12-week programme focused on the ServiceNow Certified Application Developer (CAD) certification, mentoring participants from the fundamentals of the platform through to achieving industry-recognised qualifications.

We worked with AspireHer – an organisation that works to unlock the talent and potential of Muslim women, women of colour, and other underrepresented women in the UK – to connect with four inspiring women who joined our first cohort at UP3, each bringing different experiences and career journeys.

For some, the programme represented a complete shift into a new industry. Natalia, who had previously worked as a teacher, was in the middle of exploring a career change when she joined the programme.

“Through this programme, I’ve gained skills that changed the direction of my life for the better… I’ve also gained confidence and a sense that I belong in this space.” Natalia Montufar, programme student

The confidence she gained through the programme quickly translated into opportunity. Natalia secured a job offer shortly after completing her certification – a moment that transformed what had once felt like a distant ambition into a real career.

For others, the programme helped build on existing experience while strengthening confidence in technical skills.

Arinola had already been exploring the ServiceNow ecosystem but wanted deeper hands-on development experience.

“My experience of the training programme was phenomenal. Getting to be trained by a ServiceNow partner and their team of subject matter experts was like a dream come true for me.” Arinola Kolawole, programme student

Through the programme, she gained the confidence to pursue further opportunities within the platform and continue developing her technical career.

The power of mentorship

The 12-week programme was driven by and made possible by the mentors across the UP3 team who volunteer their time to run sessions, guide learning and support participants through the certification process.

For many of them, the experience is also a chance to reflect on their own journeys into tech and the importance of creating more pathways into the industry.

“Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not, and I want to be someone who helps close that gap, especially for young women and career changers stepping into tech.” Sara Alade, Outreach Co-ordinator, UP3

For Amirah Arslan, one of the mentors involved, the motivation was simple.

“I was a beginner once… UP3 has helped me throughout my career through mentors and training, so it only felt natural to pass this on and expose more people to the opportunity that is ServiceNow.” Amirah Arslan, Technical Consultant, UP3

Mentorship, however, is never a one-way exchange. Watching participants grow in confidence and achieve their certifications has been a powerful reminder of why programmes like this matter.

“You always gain something when you give, even when you don’t expect to. The more I gave, the more I learned – about mentoring, about how people learn, and the impact your support can have.” Sidra Ansari, Technical Consultant, UP3

Giving today to shape tomorrow

Technology remains an industry where women, particularly women from minority backgrounds, are still underrepresented. Changing that requires more than good intentions. It requires action.

For us, that means continuing to create opportunities for women to gain the skills, confidence and networks that help them thrive.

“Personally, this work is deeply meaningful to me, being able to give early career women a platform like CAD, and watch them step into their potential, feels like a way of paying it forward and keeping the ladder down for the next generation”. Sara Alade, Outreach Co-ordinator, UP3

We know there is still much to do and we commit to that. Because when we give – through mentorship, opportunity and encouragement – the gains ripple outward.