This is how you get women into IT
“Step out of your comfort zone and go for it.” That’s something close to the heart of Bélise Songa, team manager at Colruyt Group IT, and she is taking it with her to the competition for the Young ICT Lady of the Year. Project manager Laura Monten took part in the competition in early 2017. So, what are their ideas for creating a more diverse IT sector?
Trade journal Data News sees the ICT Woman and Young ICT Lady of the Year awards as a way of turning the spotlight on strong women in IT. The IT world is still predominantly male and Data News wants to use role models to encourage women of all ages to consider exciting IT careers. Laura draws attention to the issue every year at Colruyt Group. When she participated in 2017, she met two other enthusiastic women in IT and they have since set up the WeGoSTEM organisation together. This organisation aims to enthuse students from the third grade of primary school onwards about technology and information science. Laura was involved in the preselections for the awards at Colruyt Group and Bélise was ultimately chosen as one of the ten candidates who will compete for the title of Young ICT Lady of the Year 2022.
What are your experiences of being a woman in IT?
Bélise: “When I was planning to apply for a job in IT, I did ask myself if that male-oriented world was really where I wanted to be. I worked for companies with IT departments that were nearly all men, from technicians to managers. So, it’s definitely a world for men, but there are also an awful lot of women in my department here at Colruyt Group. Traineeships, placements and career changes mean there’s a lot of talent coming in. I’m in the right place at Colruyt Group! I like the family atmosphere here and the variety that my job involves: lots of working with people combined with stiff intellectual challenges.”
Laura: “Here at Colruyt Group, we are definitely a step ahead of other companies. I also noticed that when I took part in the competition and met other women in IT. A lot of women work here compared with other IT companies, but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
What specifically can we do to attract more women?
Bélise: “Encourage young women and make the world aware of what IT really is. Lots of people think that IT involves programming, coding and hardcore computer work — but that definitely isn’t all it is. There are plenty of different profiles in the IT sector, like project and team managers, and you mainly need lots of people skills for that. Paying more attention to IT in schools would be a good start; for example, through information sessions or initiatives like WeGoSTEM. But there are also things we can do as Colruyt Group. Most people associate that name with our shops, but we do lots more as well. And our in-house IT department is pretty unique. We have to raise the profile of Colruyt Group and make sure that young women can also find their way there.”
How do you both see the ideal IT world?
Bélise: “According to the figures from Data News, just 17% of IT jobs in Belgium are held by women. That definitely has to improve, step by step. Studies show that a more diverse and pluralistic working environment is more efficient and therefore produces better work. Making 25% of IT female by 2030 would be great.”
Laura: “The Young ICT Lady of the Year competition is a way of turning the spotlight on IT and the winner is an ambassador for women in IT. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to access the IT sector, whatever their gender or social background. We’re trying to achieve that with WeGoSTEM as well. We take coding games and drawing robots into schools where children have fewer development opportunities and we want to get these children interested in IT too. Bélise said during her selection test that we need to do more than just attract women; we need to retain them in the IT sector as well. I think that’s also an important element.”
Bélise: “Getting people interested in IT careers is something I’ve been doing for a long time now. At networking events, for example, and on LinkedIn I’m someone who women of all ages can talk to and ask questions about IT. One of the things that I emphasise is that you can combine an IT career with having a family. I share my experiences in an open and accessible way through the Kunga organisation and the XP Days event. My door is always open for people to ask questions or for advice — not exclusively women, but also young people or older professionals who are considering switching careers. It’s often a question of building self-confidence and stepping out of your comfort zone. And having someone like me as a role model can help with that.”
Read more about Colruyt Group’s IT department
