Natalie Reynolds has always been fascinated with technology which led her down the career path to become a Software Engineer in what is often viewed as a male dominated space. With the campaign theme of International Women’s Day 2024 being #InspireInclusion, Reynolds says as a female who has taken a non-traditional path to becoming a Software Engineer, it’s a very apt theme.
Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, Reynolds spoke with Loop News about the importance of nurturing female mentorship and finding supportive communities.
In her education journey, Reynolds completed a BA in Rhetoric, Writing and Communications in Manitoba, Canada and later completed a Diploma in Web Development via BrainStation, which allowed her to transition to work as a Software Engineer. She explains software engineering involves using principles from computer science to design, create, test, and maintain software applications. Software engineers also utilise programming languages and engineering concepts to develop solutions that meet the needs of users.
Why did she choose this career path? Reynolds says she has always been interested in computers, however due to a lack of exposure and resources it was never an interest that was able to be properly nurtured.
In high school, the only exposure she had to anything Computer Science related was via an Information and Technology class that she did from Grades 9 to 11 and could not recall there being any hands-on exposure to programming languages or software development in this class.
By the time she got to university and considered switching her major to Computer Science, Reynolds says she was lacking some pre-requisites, and this would have delayed her graduation, which was not ideal since she was an international student. However, in 2021 she enrolled in a bootcamp Web Development Diploma program, graduated in January 2022 and was able to start working as an Associate Software Engineer in May of that year.
“Ultimately, I chose this career path because technology has always fascinated me. I’m from the generation that got to witness the world go from cassette players to mp3 players/ipods to smartphones; from floppy discs to CDs to USBs; from dial-up to Wi-Fi…the list could go on.
I also really enjoy problem-solving and have been told that it is one of my strengths, and a bonus is that the earning potential in tech can allow one to live comfortably.”
Working in a role that is male dominated, Reynolds’ advice to other women interested in becoming a Software Engineer or pursuing similar roles in tech is to ‘believe in yourself.’
“Be confident in your ability to learn because this field requires lifelong learning; I’m a firm believer in the words of Marie Forleo – “Everything is Figureoutable”. Additionally, take actions that help you to achieve your goals. Seek out mentorship and find supportive communities that can relate to your unique needs. One such community I joined is Women in Tech Caribbean and it has been a great source of knowledge and encouragement.”
Reynolds says one barrier she has noticed would be the seeming lack of female representation in the more technical roles in this field.
“I’ve had to be very purposeful in finding and nurturing female mentorship. I am still working on overcoming this barrier, but I’m very grateful that the Women in Tech Caribbean community has been one means of addressing this challenge. In the past I’ve also used ADPList to connect with a female mentor. ADPList is a global community of Mentors and Learners— a community that was founded in 2021 with a mission to democratise mentorship for all.”
This year’s International Women’s Day campaign theme #InspireInclusion reminds Reynolds that as a Software Engineer, she is a not only a female in a male-dominated space, but also a female of colour who was raised by her eldest sister, and knew she had to depend on scholarships to pursue post-secondary education because she couldn’t otherwise afford it.
“I was lucky enough to have persons around to help guide and encourage me to pursue higher education, but there are still many girls today who are not afforded this privilege. Furthermore, when this privilege is accessed, there are still other barriers that may be faced because of one’s womanhood. For me, inspiring inclusion means that we are continuing the work to forge a more equitable path for generations to come, creating a world where no resources or opportunities are out of reach based on one’s sex or gender. Inclusion is more than just a goal to strive for; it’s a mindset and a dedication to shaping a world where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and succeed.”
To inspire inclusion to the next generation, Reynolds believes we can continue to include lessons on diversity, equity, and inclusion in all levels of school curricula.
“Continue to encourage community involvement by organising events that celebrate diversity and provide opportunities for people to learn from each other, we can also continue to establish and support peer mentorship programs where young people from marginalised groups can connect with mentors who share similar backgrounds and experiences.”
For International Women’s Day, Reynolds also shared this message: “Do what you can in your small corner of the world to make it better and to #InspireInclusion.”
Not forgetting to note that she’s surrounded by impressive women in her life, Reynolds says she looks up to her eldest sister who raised her and took on the responsibility in her early twenties and basically raised her as a single mother after her birth mother passed away.
Reynolds also looks up to her late grandmother who was a mother figure to so many in the community she grew up in.
