Women in tech: Orla Mc Carthy, director of Professional Services – META at Cloudera

The year 2022 was of innovation and partnerships where we witnessed numerous tech advancements.

As part of our mission of giving back to the community, Cloudera partnered with the global organisation, Generation, to provide no-cost skilling and mentorship to prepare, place, and support individuals into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible.

As exciting as the tech space is, the only thing I think it currently lacks, is a stronger female presence.

To improve the number of women moving into a career in tech, I believe, we must focus our attention into the education system. This period is arguably the most impactful in attracting females from a younger age.

I am proud that Cloudera is bridging the shift in the gender gap, by launching several initiatives where students are exposed to opportunities within STEM and other professional development options in the corporate world.

In addition, we partnered with education company ReadyAI to create a downloadable children’s book, A Fresh Squeeze on Data.

Female leaders, play a pivotal role in attracting and retaining female talent. As one progresses in their career, adopting a “drop the ladder down “approach is crucial to help pull up and support other women. They’re likely experiencing the same challenges you did, but you can positively influence their learning curve through your experience.

I advise aspiring women leaders to be authentic and focus on their strengths and what they bring to the table. Build a strong network, both professional and personal. Find a mentor who can encourage and support you with your career progression. If such a program doesn’t exist, don’t be afraid to advocate for it.

In the year 2023, I expect to see the continued evolution and implementation of an assortment of cloud technologies, from automated cloud orchestration to hybrid cloud offerings. As a result, cloud services and technology will continue to expand the possibilities of what enterprises can do with data.

A focus on artificial intelligence (AI) engineering will grow as AI projects will increasingly require a cohesive strategy that ensures the performance and interoperability needed to deliver on investment.

Read: Women in tech: Méliné Eolmezian-Soulie, VP – Marketing and Development at Obvious Technologies