Celebrating International Women's Day 2024

Today, we take the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional women who play an integral role in our organisation's success. Their expertise, commitment, and professionalism drive us forward and contribute to our growth.

We've spoken to a few of our female colleagues from FDB's Product and ITS teams, who share their thoughts and experiences with us...

Working for a supportive company like FDB that values its employees' health and well-being has been a key part to my success. My role at FDB allows me to balance a fulfilling career alongside racing on the World Stage. In addition to this, FDB are a loyal sponsor and I feel very proud to represent the brand on my kit as I race all over the world.

Being at an all-girls school made it difficult for me to know how to even interact with men when I started my career. I became a Secretary, Office Manager and then HR Manager, whilst also volunteering in the Police Force as a Special Constable where I was promoted to Section Officer (Sergeant). This definitely gave me the skills and experience I needed to interact with others from all sorts of backgrounds.

Now in my 50s I have a degree in Employment Law and City & Guilds in Leadership & Behavioural Change, I have now started as a Technical Talent Manager supporting and developing other colleagues to help them grow and unwrap the potential they have.  I recently had a comment from an external contact “I’ve never heard of a Talent Manager, do you dance?”  I was so taken aback that I just laughed it off and explained what I actually did. What I should have said would have been a bit stronger and put him in his place!

Moving in to the IT Team was a big move for me with some asking how can I do the job with no technical skills.  I had impostor syndrome for a while and although I may not have technical qualifications, what I bring to the role is my experience in other areas and can support the team in with their own personal development.  Don’t let anyone else define who you are, I get knocked down, but I certainly come back fighting every time.

There is a sense of inclusivity and equality within my team, as I always feel that my contributions at work are valued and that my colleagues and I have equal opportunities at work. As a South Indian woman, I appreciate how people at work see me for who I am and not my ethnicity or gender.

I am the eldest of four sisters, and two of us work in IT, while the other has a PhD in Chemistry. I believe that our parents played a significant role in encouraging and supporting us to achieve our goals. They never told us that there was something we couldn't do because we were girls. We were always supported in any choice we made, even if it was deemed unsuitable for girls by some. Unfortunately, I heard a lot of those stereotypes, in particular during my time at university.

Detecting bias can be quite challenging since it is deeply rooted in our minds and often goes unnoticed. For instance, on one occasion whilst working as a senior software developer for a previous employer, I was asked if I worked in a call centre as I entered the building. Just because I am a young woman.

Assumptions and stereotypes are prevalent in our society, and this is tough. Please think about this next time you interact with women in IT. Please take the time to identify any biases you may have and work to overcome them. Together we can build the world that is fair and inclusive to all of us.

When I began my illustrious career as a Tester in 1995 the Test team was mostly woman and the Dev team was mostly men. I’ve really enjoyed seeing men become Testers and women become Devs. I have always felt that I’ve been treated the same and had the same opportunities, even in the 90s. I believe we are limited by our own self beliefs, confidence and priorities, not anything else.

I have never (knowingly!) not been taken seriously or been on the end of “well she’s a woman” type comments. When I tell others what I do for a job, most respond with surprise and are visibly impressed which I find hilarious because I didn’t plan to go into IT – I graduated with a history degree and secured a temporary job (data input) to pay the bills. It was the first time I had used a computer!

The transferable skills I already had opened up an opportunity but it never felt like a big thing to me (it just happened!). However, my children, 1 boy & 1 girl, are quick to celebrate my status as a woman in STEM (which I also find hilarious!!) and I do think I have inspired my daughter to go into what is still considered a male dominated profession (science/medicine in her case).