Women continuing to break down barriers in Vietnam’s technology field

What hinders career success for women in the technology arena?

April Tayson, regional vice president for India, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand at analytics platform Adjust

In previous roles, and having spoken to other women in the industry, I think one of the most common obstacles revolves around not being taken seriously. Knowing your worth, continuing to be assertive, and delivering consistent revenue numbers will force all employees to sit up and take notice.

However, good leadership and company values will ultimately help to break these patterns. Having a diverse leadership team that supports and champions female leaders is key to breaking this glass ceiling. Companies should not allow any type of workplace discrimination and provide adequate flexibility for working parents.

How can women overcome these obstacles?

With over 15 years of experience in digital marketing and promoting a fast-growing mobile app ecosystem, I can say that the path to success is never without obstacles, irrespective of gender. I do not view a particular gender having advantage or disadvantage, but some inherent biases that women need to overcome more than others.

Implicit or explicit bias in career or outside is unavoidable. What matters is how you deal with it. Women in tech carry that additional burden of proof to overcome the misconception that we can navigate confidently between soft and technical skills, and lead successful teams to deliver business outcomes.

However, growing proof of women leading successful teams in diverse industries have lowered the barriers for women in technology to be successful. There’s no better time than now for women to contribute and add value effectively.

What advice would you give women trying to advance their careers in technology?

The martech (marketing technology) industry in particular sits at an intersection between technical and social management skills. It provides a great avenue for women to fully utilise both their IQ and EQ to excel in this industry.

My simple advice for women looking to get into martech would be to learn as much as they can about technology and where it’s heading - whether that’s networking within the industry, reading relevant publications to stay up to date, or even looking at company blogs to understand how they work, and market themselves.

I would recommend seeking a diverse source of information, regularly reading up on the latest news and trends in the tech space - Tech In Asia is a great resource to understand the latest in technology in our region. Some additional go-to online outlets include TechCrunch, Digiday, The Drum, Business Insider, AdExchanger, and PocketGamer, in addition to Adjust’s blog and other martech partner blogs or reports.

Vietnam Investment Review itself is also a reliable source for entrepreneurs in Vietnam, particularly international investors, to get a slice of what is happening here. Staying informed on the latest trends and news in your area of expertise keeps you ahead of the curve.

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