Since joining MGF in July 2019, Web Developer, Terri Porter is continuing her mission to challenge the stereotypes and stigmas around women working in technology and STEM based subjects. The number of women working in IT has remained static for over a decade sitting at just 16% according to the campaign group WISE. We are celebrating Women in Technology and delving into Terri’s experiences and career so far in the hopes of inspiring and empowering more women to work in the world of technology.
Terri’s initial attraction to IT started at GCSE where she excelled by achieving an A*, then continued her IT studies at A-level, she had interests in Childcare, English and Business but by far excelled and proved how talented she was in IT. After a placement with Fujitsu during A-Levels, she decided to further her studies and went to Leeds Beckett University where she really found her passion for Web Development, achieving a first class honours degree in computing.
Since then, Terri has continued to expand her knowledge and now knows 8 coding languages from her studies and work experience but is still learning more. While working at MGF she has contributed into developing internal and external programmes bringing brand new thoughts, features and improving the effectiveness of our systems.
The advice she recommends to encourage other women who would like to get into software development is “don’t get scared or intimidated”. During University she advised younger women in IT who were disheartened by the lack of female leads and presence within the industry, so she encouraged them to keep going, persevere and overcome the stereotypes the industry throws at them. The University placement she chose was an all women’s charity after research showed that some high profile Tech Companies had big Software Development teams of 30+ but no women, similar to how on her university course of around 200 people only 20 were women.
Terri mentioned how there is a lack of female leads within the industry with stereotyping being a common occurrence, she feels as though there must be more engagement and opportunity to girls earlier on in the education system to get them interested in IT . Female tutors expressed to Terri how the lack of women in the industry has not changed over the past 20 years and the lack of females interested early on has become an issue for many universities, businesses and the government has begun to offer coding sessions to younger girls in education, to encourage and develop an their interest in IT early.
Terri has progressed and excelled during her time working here, we are looking forward to seeing how she will continue to gain more valuable and practical experience in the future. We share the excitement in seeing her career develop.
Speaking on WIT she said “Women in Tech week works to empower women and each other so they don’t feel alone when trying to combat the stigma of women in tech, it’s to celebrate each other’s achievement and show each other the respect they may not receive within the workplace”
With support from experienced women within their fields WIT can help develop women who may have just entered their careers or looking for a vision to see what prospects STEM subjects hold.
There are festivals, conventions, websites and LinkedIn groups all dedicated to educating about Women in Tech.
