By Kathryn McKenna, Editor of Sync NI
Lyndsay Shields, Head of Data and Analytics and Caroline van der Feltz, HR Director, at Danske Bank UK discuss the important strides the organisation is making when it comes to improving the gender balance within the tech sector.
Sitting down with Sync NI recently, the pair discussed topics including ‘squiggly’ career pathways; why educating young people, teachers and their parents is vital when it comes to understanding the variety of diverse roles available within tech; and why it’s never too late to make a career change.
Kicking off by highlighting the positive progress within Danske Bank’s own Technology and Digital department, Caroline states the organisation is making waves, not only in terms of ambition and appetite, but also in paving the way for Northern Ireland.
Danske Bank introduced its Technology and Digital Development department four years ago. Since then, it has grown to a thriving team of over 140 staff members. Impressively, 40 per cent of the team are women, a significant achievement compared to the current industry average of just 23 per cent female at industry level. The team has a focus on bringing in new, specialist tech roles to complement embedded skills and those who have ‘squiggled’ in from non-tech roles.
“This figure demonstrates our commitment to progress,” Caroline explains. “We encourage more women to join the tech sector by establishing strong, positive female role models. Furthermore, we have created entry-level roles and are focusing on emerging female talent. It was great to see this reflected at the recent Women in Tech awards where three outstanding colleagues were shortlisted, with Laurie Montgomery winning the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Category.”
Lyndsay’s own career is the perfect example of someone with a ‘squiggly’ career path, having initially joined Danske Bank as a Customer Advisor in one of its branches before progressing through a wide range of roles with increasing seniority. Today, as Head of Data and Analytics, Lyndsay advocates for setting aside misconceptions about what it is like to work in the technology sector. As an English Literature graduate who now works closely with technical teams in Belfast, Denmark, Lithuania and India, Lyndsay emphasises how many roles exist which fit individuals’ own strengths and skills.
She says: “Throughout my career I have made many sideways moves and promotions, and with every squiggle you gain more breadth and practical experience. There is often a perception that working in technology is all about coding and that you have to be extremely technical - but this is not the case.”
This is evidenced throughout Danske Bank which has a broad spectrum of roles, from the very technical roles of Engineering and Architecture, through to more business focused roles such as business analysts, product owners, risk managers and more. “There really is something for everyone,” Lyndsay emphasises.
“Don’t allow perceptions to block your way. Find out more about the types of roles that are available, reflect on your own strengths and the transferable skills that you have. If you possess core skills such as problem solving and solution design, then it is highly likely there is an ideal role in tech for you.”
READ MORE: Danske Bank forecasts economic growth of 0.9 per cent for Northern Ireland in 2025
With a thriving tech community in Northern Ireland, networking is an ideal way to reach out to mentors, build a list of trusted sector contacts and demystify myths around tech roles. “In Northern Ireland we have got a great community in the tech sector and are home to outstanding conferences and local events. My advice would be to attend events and engage with industry insiders about the different opportunities and what each role involves,” Lyndsay says.
One effective method of attempting to improve the gender balance within Northern Ireland has been reaching out to schools and making more young girls aware of the types of roles that are available in technology. This is vital not only in making more female pupils aware of the diverse range of opportunities on offer, but also in helping teachers and parents to understand the career opportunities in order that they can best advise our next generation.
“Getting out into schools to allow the children to engage with inspiring female leaders in tech is vital,” Lyndsay reveals. “This is important because one of the challenges can be that the type of professions often suggested to children are very visible ones, in that they tend to be professions who ‘help’ us. Teachers tell children about being a doctor or lawyer as it is very easy to convey what their job is, whereas in tech there is still some way to go in explaining what a ‘data scientist’ is, for example.
“I believe it is important we improve this by equipping teachers with the right information at key points in school children’s journeys -particularly when they are making decisions around their careers.”
To help inspire and educate younger generations, Danske Bank also supports the SistersIN leadership development programme and CyberFirst’s Empower Girls initiative.
In a business advisory seat on the DfE Northern Ireland Skills Council, Caroline is part of the group working to ensure that the future skills needed to optimise opportunities arising from the Government’s economic vision over the next decade are included in educational curricula.
“Technology is ingrained within everybody's everyday lives now and should not be viewed as being out of reach for anyone, regardless of their age, Caroline adds. “The reskilling opportunities tech offers are for everyone - we have many female trailblazers here from those at the beginning of their careers to grandmothers participating in Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes in Software Engineering.”
For those wishing to pivot their careers into the tech sector, there are programmes and initiatives available to help.
Danske Bank's Gender Diversity Network includes a dedicated Women in Tech workstream. Led by Lyndsay, this group focuses on sharing the success stories of team members who have transitioned from other roles into technology. Their aim is to inspire others and highlight the importance of transferable skills.
“There are a lot of initiatives and training programmes available, particularly running through the Department of the Economy such as Scale Up and Step Up which focuses on getting people into the workforce with the right skills. Women in Business and Women in Tech NI are great for support and networking advice from others who have personal experience of making the career shift into tech,” Caroline outlines.
In addition to pursuing additional qualifications, Caroline points to the training and upskilling opportunities available at Danske Bank which also includes confidence building and presentation skills.
“My best advice is to start the journey, explore learning opportunities, and focus on your invaluable transferable skills. Technical skills need to be alongside human skills such as coaching, creativity and innovation, so think in broad terms about the skills you have to offer.”
Finally, Caroline encourages continuous learning and taking up opportunities to stay relevant in the fast-paced and ever-evolving tech industry.
“If stepping into a career in tech you must be eager and willing to participate in lifelong learning. This is critically important as you need to constantly think about how you keep yourself relevant and continue your learning journey.”
