An interview with Helen Frost-Symmonds: Twenty years ago, engineering was a starkly different landscape, especially for women. With only a handful of female students starting engineering courses and even fewer graduating, the environment was rife with scepticism. Many male students doubted their female peers would endure the rigorous three-year programs.

We delve into an insightful interview with Helen Frost-Symmonds, the Vice President of Platform at OneAdvanced, a leading British software and services company. As one of the few women to earn an engineering degree from Durham University during a time when the industry was overwhelmingly male-dominated, Helen’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Faced with the challenge of working in a field that undervalued women, Helen embarked on a diverse career path.

She navigated through various industries, seeking employers who recognized her worth and expertise. Now, two decades later, Helen observes significant changes in the tech industry, but her resilience and determination prove her perseverance. Helen shares her experiences and insights, reflecting on the industry’s evolution over the past twenty years. She discusses the inspirations that led her to engineering, her parents’ influence on her career choice, and offers invaluable advice to young engineers. Helen emphasizes the importance of self-assurance and the unique contributions each individual can bring to their role.

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and how did your parents influence your career choice?

I was always the child who wanted to pull things apart to see how they work, and as I went through school, I was excited by the idea that, as an engineer, you can build and shape anything. I could apply logic and create something new. This was a time before the internet and when computers still used floppy discs, but I was inspired by the possibility of becoming a computer engineer. During a pre-degree course, I discovered coding.

I loved it, so I searched for university courses in computer science. I was part of the boom at a time when everything ran on mainframes, and then later, some people were predicting that everyone would have the internet at home. And here we are now when most of us consider it to be standard utility. Engineering gave me the chance to be part of creating innovative solutions to problems, which is part of my DNA, and I am still exhilarated by the challenge.

With unwavering support from my parents, I knew I would always challenge convention in my career, and that helped me gain the confidence to hold my own in a male-dominated industry.

How has the industry changed over the past 20 years, especially regarding the inclusion of women in tech?

Twenty years ago, a computer science degree was not an obvious route for women. I would see all the opportunities going to males. I think it was easier for males to get things wrong and still be credible. It was harder for females to fail and be taken seriously. But getting it wrong is a crucial part of the process.

Now, female leaders are commonplace, and I strive to make a difference and support females in their career growth. This includes overcoming anxiety and sharing my experience of standing out from the crowd.

The recent surge in technological innovations has paved the way for new careers and expanded opportunities in the tech industry, highlighting the importance of gender diversity in the workplace. As a result, I’ve witnessed large organizations launching significant diversity initiatives. In recent years, campaigns like #SheCanCode and #WomenInTech have emerged to increase awareness of women’s unique challenges and underscore the critical need for inclusion at all organizational levels.

Reflecting on my school days, opportunities for STEM programs were limited. However, I have actively supported these programs as our schools and colleges strive to unlock the potential of young girls in these fields.

Can you share some experiences from your time at Durham University and your early career, where you were one of the few women in a male-dominated field?

At university, I diligently worked towards my A-levels to secure my place. I remember the long nights spent studying for exams, ready to reel off equations, quotes, and examples at a moment’s notice, depending on the question. So, I took great pride in being accepted into a Computer Science course and was eager to excel.

At 18, being in a degree course dominated by males was challenging. Only a few women in my cohort started the course, and even fewer graduated. I was aware of my classmates whispering that the females would never last the three years. It was challenging to be heard and find my footing. Fortunately, Durham University supported lab sessions and peer programming, which helped me find common ground with my fellow students and build my confidence. I probably worked harder than many of my male counterparts, but that effort boosted my confidence and knowledge, enabling me to excel in my coursework and pursue further studies, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

As I look back on my university experience, I am fond of it, as it made me. It helped me explore Computer Science and, afterwards, Software Engineering from its origins to growth and see how the theory relates to practice in the workplace.

My drive enabled me to succeed and downplay any negativity I saw. It helped build my resilience, which has continued to help me in my career progression since university.

What different industries did you work in, and how did those experiences shape your career and your view of the tech industry?

The prospect of working for employers who didn’t value a female in a man’s world meant that I followed a varied career path. Fast forward 20 years, and I can see that things are changing, but for me, it meant I bounced in and out of different industries, as I was determined to work for someone who recognized my worth and could see I was credible in their organization.

The early part of my career took a bit of a curve as although I enjoyed the technical side; I couldn’t be authentic as I had little or no experience in the world of work. So, I took a path in a Graduate trainee program in Retail; the program introduced me to finance – Profit and Loss, Sales Campaigns, and Promotions. It taught me how important people are in the workplace and how the mix of skills, experience, and knowledge delivers high-performing teams. Finally, as it was retail, it taught me pace.

Since I had a passion for connecting how the world of works operates, I moved to a new role focusing on Product Management, Data and Technical consultancy. This helped me bring the retail operations into the tools and capabilities that power them. I felt this helped my experience and gave me a solid foundation to grow my career. Unfortunately, I didn’t find opportunities to get into senior roles and felt overlooked by my male counterparts.

As I moved into facilities management, the roles became more accessible. I found a technical route via Programme Management, as I often had to translate technical solutions into non-technical audiences. This gave me a springboard to develop further and reach a senior role. I used that to widen my industry knowledge into telecoms and education before landing at OneAdvanced. This is where I have held senior roles and mentored others in achieving their growth and career goals.

What advice would you give young engineers, especially women, about being comfortable with who they are and what they can bring to their roles?

Success means working hard to stay up to date with market trends and computing skills. Things are changing very rapidly and at pace; I’m excited to see where we’ll be in five years. Therefore, new entrants to technology must keep their skills relevant and refreshed. Also, don’t be afraid to learn something new; it’s always empowering and can lead you to innovate in a different way that can be transformative.

Far from trying to be more like one of the boys to fit in, I strongly feel that all young engineers, including females, should feel comfortable with who they are and what they can uniquely bring to the role. I’d say to anyone: Always challenge yourself and be authentically you. There is no need to conform to a stereotype; you can do whatever you want.

We must never be afraid to fail. If you do, fail quickly, learn, and move on. Make sure you are transparent, concise, and clear. Sharing what you’ve learned with others will always bring the best outcome, so be bold, open, vulnerable, and keep learning.

How do you see the tech industry evolving in the next few years, and what are the key areas where more progress is needed?

I believe the technology industry is rapidly growing, with decreasing technological barriers. It’s now primarily about integrating various components to develop the next generation of technology.

AI and machine learning will likely find their rhythm and become normalisednormalised technologies rather than concepts reminiscent of sci-fi films. Advances in natural language processing and autonomy will make these technologies more accessible. Consequently, I expect AI to increasingly integrate into various sectors to streamline workflows and enhance decision-making processes.

As 5G rolls out and we see network expansion, this will provide more reliable internet connections. It will also enable newer tech advancements, and I am keen to know where this will develop in the coming years.

I think the areas that still need progress are ethical AI and data privacy. More work must be done to develop and enforce the standards to prevent biases and ensure consumer fairness and transparency. Hence, they are aware of the AI being used and the guardrails that are being enforced.

For me, organisationsorganisations need to continue to drive workforce diversity and create an inclusive workplace to improve the representation of women in tech.