How to #InspireInclusion in the Digital Workplace

 

‘Although more companies are addressing the gender gap in technology, women still only account for around 26% of people working in IT.’ (Women in Tech Survey, 2023).

 

The UK tech industry is growing a lot, but there are just not enough women in it. Currently, only 26% of IT professionals are women, conveying a significant need for improvement in making the tech industry more welcoming and inclusive for women. 

 

This year, International Women’s Day is campaigning to #InspireInclusion in all areas of society, to encourage people to value and promote women’s inclusion, and to inspire women to be included. More diverse minds mean more ideas, and that’s how the tech scene stays cutting-edge. 

 

As a tech agency and employer, we know there’s still much we need to do as an industry to break down gender biases and for women to feel welcomed. We also know how competitive the tech industry can be and how this can lead to imposter syndrome. However, we hope that by having these conversations, we can all learn from each other and find ways to inspire inclusivity in the digital workplace.

 

Inspiring Inclusion in the Digital Workplace

 

 

1) Mentorship & Skill Sharing

 

Within digital marketing, it’s evident that specific job roles harbour a gender gap. Notably, fields like Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC) are still predominantly male-dominated areas, while content creation and social media roles tend to have higher female representation.

 

Studies show that this gender disparity stems largely from limited educational opportunities for girls in STEM fields during their formative years. Many girls recall facing discouragement or exclusion from pursuing tech careers, shaping their perceptions from an early age. Although strides are being made to address this issue, recent research suggests that achieving gender parity in STEM might take up to a century. Furthermore, women who have already completed their education may feel it’s too late to enter these fields.

 

The digital world is constantly evolving, and with that, we feel that it’s never too late to grasp its intricacies. So, how can we do our part to bridge this gap? Businesses can start by encouraging talks with their team about mentorship and additional training in SEO and PPC to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for new learners in these technical fields. Publishing blog posts that share skills and updates on these subjects can also have a larger impact than imagined. By making this knowledge accessible to everyone, we can inspire more women to give SEO and PPC marketing a try, providing new opportunities for those who may not have had them before.

 

 

2) Remote Working Roles

 

As the digital workplace is online, it opens up a unique opportunity for remote working. Although COVID-19 has led to a temporary rise in remote jobs, such roles have become scarce lately. More often than not, women are still the primary caregivers for their families, and remote work offers them a flexible working environment and the opportunity to re-enter the workforce, which might not have been possible before. By supporting hybrid or 100% remote work opportunities, companies could hope to cast their net further and catch the best talent available, as well as give wider opportunities for a more inclusive recruitment strategy.

 

 

3) Collaboration Equity

 

It’s important to create a space where every team member feels welcomed, heard and confident to share their ideas and become decision-makers. This inclusive environment fosters a culture of mutual respect and trust, ultimately driving greater success for both the team and the clients these businesses serve.

 

Breaking Down Internal Barriers 

 

This year’s campaign, #InspireInclusion, aims not only to emphasise the importance of valuing and encouraging the inclusion of women but also to ensure that women feel empowered and inspired to actively participate. For many of us, we are our own worst critic, particularly when grappling with internal barriers such as Imposter Syndrome.

 

Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon that affects both men and women at some point in their lives. However, studies suggest that women tend to experience it more. 

 

In regards to the tech industry, the combination of an unwelcoming environment, gender biases, and the influence of Imposter Syndrome can give rise to pervasive self-doubt, discouraging many women from considering a career in this sector altogether.

 

According to Danel Redelinghuys from Career Karma, ‘Digital marketing is competitive in an exceptional way. The industry fuels comparison, which can often lead to insecurity and discouragement.‘ Similarly, Beth Hewitt from Walr found that 86% of people in the tech industry experience imposter syndrome, with 75% attributing it to the competitive and fast-paced nature of the industry. In this constantly evolving landscape, the pressure to innovate and the fear of falling behind can be overwhelming, leading many people to feel like they don’t belong.

 

Our team recently attended a TecWomen Cornwall talk on “Overcoming Imposter Syndrome” and the Confidence Cycle to deepen our understanding of this common issue. The event was a great learning opportunity that emphasised the power that our inner critic – who constantly whispers in our ears – can have on our work and personal lives.

 

Reframing Imposter Syndrome

 

Before the session, we completed a survey to identify our main saboteurs (you can find it here). By improving our understanding of imposter syndrome and identifying our own personal saboteurs, we became aware of how these thought patterns and beliefs might be holding us back and, more importantly, how we can challenge them to move forward more positively.

 

After the workshop, our Marketing Manager, Xavia Smith, shared her experience, saying, ‘I was a bit torn emotionally having faced my Saboteur from the imposter syndrome workshop! At first, I thought “here we go” let’s list out the challenges and pitfalls of what falling into the “pleaser” identity offers up in the digital workplace. But actually, after sitting amongst other pleaser-saboteur-identifiers, it was amazing to see what came to light. Firstly, we were highly compatible with other saboteurs such as “controllers” and “hyper-achievers”, and therefore, most of us came away feeling like what I had labelled myself as a negative actually was a huge positive to the workplace.

Another brilliant takeaway was that although imposter syndrome is a challenge, it’s actually very necessary. As a tribal species, we need an element of being concerned for our safety to make regulated decisions.’

 

While many of us may believe we should silence our inner critic, it’s actually better to reframe it into positive action. Facing imposter syndrome usually means we’re moving out of our comfort zone, which is always something to feel great about because that’s where growth happens. Writing a note of your achievements, no matter how small, can also be helpful at times when you feel like an imposter because it proves you can overcome any challenge.

 

Looking Ahead

 

We recently spoke to Hollie Gibson, a Senior SEO Strategist from Cornwall, who told us that years ago, when she started her first digital work placement, the SEO industry was predominantly male-oriented. But, she sees great potential in the future for women entering SEO, saying, “I’m confident the industry will be more of an even mix in the near future.” 

 

Hollie also offered some friendly advice to women who are considering a career in this area:

 

‘Believe in yourself, take on challenges with gusto, and set your sights high. In SEO, women play key roles, bringing creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills to the forefront. Our contributions shape the digital landscape and make a real impact. Some might think SEO is just for tech-savvy folks, but that’s far from true. SEO has many facets, allowing you to specialise in areas that match your strengths.

For me, I’m passionate about crafting engaging content and developing strategies that resonate with target audiences. Find what you’re good at and pursue an SEO career path that suits you best. So, to all the women pondering their next steps: Go for it, follow your passion, and brighten the SEO world with your unique skills and brilliance.’

 

What We Are Doing at HookedOnMedia to Bolster Inclusion:

 

• Collaboration: At the moment of writing this blog, HookedOnMedia has an almost 50/50 split of talented women and men in our team working collaboratively to manage our campaigns. As a small team, we rely on every member to build the best campaigns possible for our clients, and this means encouraging collaborative working, as well as welcoming and respecting each other’s ideas. Inclusion is not just important for team morale and dynamics, but it is also essential for ensuring that our campaigns and projects are inclusive. 

 

• Remote Working: Our Hooked team has been fully remote since the start of the pandemic, allowing us to employ the best talent from all over the UK and give that added flexibility to those who need it in order to return to the workplace. 

 

• Skill Sharing: We aim to foster a diverse community of aspiring digital marketers by sharing our expert digital marketing knowledge with others through our blog posts. We hope to inspire skill-sharing and continuous learning in these areas.