How women in tech can advance their careers

Women working in tech often walk a tightrope. They're balancing demanding targets, shifting priorities, personal responsibilities, and, for many, the added pressure of navigating environments where senior rooms still lack gender balance. It takes more than skill to thrive. It takes confidence, presence, and resilience – three qualities that aren't innate but are built through awareness, practice, and the right support network.

Here, we unpack the skills that help women progress, perform, and lead with impact.

Why executive presence matters for women in tech

Executive presence is one of those terms that can feel intangible, even unhelpful, especially for women who've been conditioned to "fit in", minimise themselves, or avoid appearing too assertive. But research shared demonstrates that executive presence is not about becoming someone else; it's about elevating the strengths you already have and presenting them with clarity and confidence.

According to Sylvia Ann Hewlett's decade-long study, executive presence is built on three components:

• Gravitas (the most influential)
• Communication
• Appearance (the least important and the most changed in recent years)

These are supported by behaviours such as decisiveness, inclusiveness, authenticity, respect, and the ability to communicate with clarity and warmth. The message was clear: you don't need to master every trait. Instead, focus on two or three in each category and build from your natural strengths.

Presence is learnable

For many women, this is the breakthrough: executive presence is not something you are born with. It's something you can develop.

Confidence ebbs and flows as we stretch into new challenges. By using confidence-building techniques and reframing self-limiting stories, you can recognise that dips are a natural part of growth. What matters is inner confidence; your belief that you can learn, adapt, and succeed even when you're tackling something new.

Your personal board of directors

One of the most valuable strategies for growth is the concept of a Personal Board of Directors - a curated group of mentors, peers, champions, and challengers who support your growth, broaden your visibility, and help you build a stronger personal brand.

This is particularly powerful for women, whose informal networks in tech often aren't as established or visible as their male counterparts. Leveraging advocates inside and outside your organisation strengthens your confidence and ensures your work and potential are seen by the right people.

The link between presence and career progression

The P.I.E. Theory breaks down career success into:

• Performance (10%)
• Image (30%)
• Exposure (60%)

In other words, the way you're perceived and who knows about your contribution matters significantly to your progression. That's not always fair, but knowing this empowers you to take ownership of your visibility and professional brand.

For women in tech, this can be a game-changer. Instead of feeling that you must "work twice as hard", you create intentional opportunities for others to see your strengths, skills, and results.

Building resilience in today's environment

Resilience is a critical capability in a profession where pressure and complexity come with the territory. Defined by the American Psychological Association, it's the process and outcome of adapting well to difficult life experiences. It isn't about pushing through; it's about bending without breaking.

Understanding your stress response

Recognising your own signals – whether that's impatience, overwhelm, disrupted sleep, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating – helps you pause before reacting and move from stress-driven behaviour to intentional action.

Women often carry additional expectations, both inside and outside work, which can compound stress further. The core message is simple: self-awareness is the starting point for resilience.

Practical strategies for resilience

Consider creating a resilience toolkit, made up of simple but effective practices:

• Separating facts from stories to challenge catastrophic thinking
• Pause techniques, including mindful breathing 
• Energy management, not just time management
• Reflection and journaling to understand patterns and celebrate progress
• Building relationships, including drawing on your "personal board of directors" for support

Consistency matters more than intensity. Small, regular actions strengthen your resilience muscle long before you hit a moment of crisis.

You don't need to "go it alone"

Resilience grows through relationships, whether that's a supportive team, trusted colleagues, or the wider women in tech community. High-performing women often feel pressure to stay composed and independent, yet the research is clear; strong networks improve emotional regulation, decision-making, and wellbeing. 

Executive presence and resilience: Two sides of the same coin

Presence and resilience amplify each other.

When you develop executive presence – confidence, communication, and a grounded sense of who you are – you're better equipped to handle pressure. You regulate stress more effectively because you trust your abilities, understand your triggers, and communicate clearly.

When you build resilience, your executive presence strengthens. You bounce back faster from setbacks, show up with steadiness, and sustain high performance over time. In tech leadership roles, this combination is essential for guiding teams, influencing partners, and driving complex projects.

For women aiming to progress in their tech careers, cultivating both skills is not just beneficial but strategic.

Taking your next step

Your next steps don't need to be big or dramatic. Try choosing one small action to build your presence or resilience this week – perhaps defining your personal brand, reaching out to a potential mentor, or experimenting with a new pause practice.

When women in tech have the tools to step into their presence and strengthen their resilience, they don't just thrive; they lead, influence, and inspire.