Epic Women in Tech — Eloise Tait
Eloise Tait is an ex-international hockey player turned coder. Alongside her role as Software Developer, she founded and now runs the Women in Tech initiative at the Ministry of Justice as part of the Diversity and Inclusion capability.
Eloise is an Ambassador at GirlCode, often speaking on mental health, personal growth and motivation.
How did you get into the tech field?
In the most roundabout way possible — my degree was in Communications and Chinese! I spent years playing hockey abroad, working any job I could to make ends meet including door knocking sales, gardener, barista, baker, dog walker, cleaner and more. On moving back to the UK I tried my hand at technical recruitment. It was high energy and a great learning curve, but I decided to make a change after starting to feel a little stagnant.
Talking to elite developers about their careers, goals, impacts they have at work inspired me to get even remotely aligned with that career lifestyle. I could have waited forever to make the switch, but there’s never a right time to do something — you have to create it for yourself and be in charge of your own opportunities.
What are the main challenges in this field?
Technology is constantly changing. There is almost too much choice in language or niche that you could be interested in. It’s tough to stay on top of what’s relevant today alongside where the industry is moving and considering what to get ahead of. It’s a nice challenge to have though.
What are the things you’ve learned being a woman in tech?
Technology is meant to be the most forward thinking and genderless industry — yet the statistics are wildly male orientated. Less women choose tech as a career at a young age right through to leadership level. It’s crazy to me that we have to drive this conversation at all in this day and age, but if we are to make any changes we have to at least start talking about it and raising awareness.
What advice would you give to women who would like to join the industry?
It really never occurred to me not to try something just because I’m a girl. Curiosity and confidence will get you far. You don’t need permission to pursue anything, your success and path is under your control, if that is within this industry then we are lucky to have you.
Who are your role models?
My biggest role models are mindset and motivation coaches like Tom Bilyeu, Tony Robbins, etc. Being able to help others manifest huge potential simply by how they think about life is empowering, and has taught me some of my greatest lessons.
If you could go back in time to your first days in the industry, what would you do differently or tell yourself?
I’d hate to hear it, but I would tell myself to slow down a little. Enjoy learning one thing at a time, and learning it well. Prioritisation is something I am still working on in an effort to de-clutter my to-do list and my mental state!
