IT Director Shortlisted for three Women in Tech Excellence Awards
Challenging career stereotypes and inspiring female IT leaders of tomorrow
Juliette Atkinson, the University of Bradford's IT Director, has been shortlisted for not one but THREE categories in the Women in Tech Excellence Awards 2021:
- Innovator of the Year: Enterprise
- IT Leader of the Year
- Transformation Leader
The awards recognise top-performing women from across the technology space and provide inspiration for younger women looking to build a career in our industry.
The awards aim to put the issue of increasing diversity in IT firmly on the agenda across the UK, as women are still under-represented across the industry, especially at higher echelons, and they're also likely to be paid less than their male counterparts for the same work.
The issue extends right through the career structure, starting in schools where education institutions report little to no growth in the numbers of women taking STEM subjects, so more needs to be done to encourage the women IT leaders of tomorrow.
The issue extends right through the career structure, starting in schools where education institutions report little to no growth in the numbers of women taking STEM subjects, so more needs to be done to encourage the women IT leaders of tomorrow.
Juliette said: "I’m absolutely delighted to be considered for an award, let alone three. Of course if I didn’t have a brilliant team working with me I wouldn’t accomplish anything and I do feel that this is recognition for the whole department, not just myself."
What is your experience of being a woman in the tech sector?
"IT is not an easy space to operate in for a woman. Being taken seriously, overcoming poor attitudes and the gender pay gap is still too common. It's not surprising that women opt for more inclusive professions such as Law for example. However, I really love being in Tech…..every day is different and diverse and I learn all the time. It's exciting and I wouldn’t be anywhere else."
Are awards like this important, do they inspire the next generation of female tech leaders?
"I think these awards are critical to show the generations to come that women can achieve amazing things, despite challenges. Some of my colleagues in the profession are incredible human beings, getting out there, really making a difference. Awards like Women In Tech Excellence showcase some of that work and really elevate women, which is great to see."
More about the Women in Tech Excellence Awards 2021
The Women in Tech Excellence Awards are designed to help move the tech industry towards a solution, by recognising and promoting the many talented women, and other success stories. There are places in IT for women, and this industry can lead to rewarding, fulfilling careers for everyone.
These awards are in their fifth year and have already celebrated the achievements of over 1,200 women, in front of over 2,000 people. They don't just shout about this success at the awards themselves, they also publish videos, galleries and articles, to ensure that hundreds of thousands of people can see for themselves the talent that's out there.
The winners of each category will be announced at a ceremony on 24 November.
Visit the Women in Tech website for more information about the awards or search #WomeninTechExcellence