What does IWD 2025 mean for women in tech? We explore the role of mentorship with two senior Daemonites
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This year’s International Women’s Day is a very special occasion for us at Daemon. We love championing diversity and inclusion, and we’re keen supporters of women in technology.
For 2025, the theme of IWD is ‘Accelerate Action.’ But what does this mean? We spoke to two of our senior team members about how mentorship and networking play a vital role in accelerating women’s career development. Let’s dive in.
What can companies or individuals do to accelerate women’s growth in tech?
We chatted with Consultants Aparna Kulkarni and Fran Knight about how supportive managers play a vital role.
Aparna:
“Having someone recognize you and your ideas as equal is important. Parity in the workplace is essential, so if you ensure women are heard and their ideas are judged on merit, you are, by default, accelerating their career and impact within the business.”
Connect with Aparna on LinkedIn
Fran:
“I completely agree with Aparna. It’s wonderful to have supportive mentors and champions within a company. At Daemon, we’re working toward the voice of the individual becoming independent of their gender or any other differentiator. Having the support of respected individuals in the company validates our work. Many women will have experienced offering a suggestion or solution, only to have that reworded by another who takes credit for it. We need to ensure we reward the person who originally contributed the opinion so that they are heard properly.”
At Daemon, we have a ‘Praise You’ Slack channel in which people from the company can give a shout-out to anyone they’ve worked with. These small, personal pieces of praise do wonders for contributions, both large and small. It’s a great place to praise people regardless of gender or expertise, and we’d recommend that any company give it a try.
Tell us how mentorship contributed to your personal career development
How important is mentorship? For many, having a sounding board when you need support, someone to take your ideas and develop them, and someone with more experience is key. All of this helps women in tech process challenges and develop in their roles.
Aparna:
“For me, mentorship isn’t a formal thing. I bonded with a colleague in a similar role who was also a returner to work. Together, we provided each other support, exchanged notes, and shared experiences. This helped me and gave me guidance when I needed it.”
Fran:
“I’ve been lucky to have consistent, formal mentorship throughout my career. I work with champions who push me forward for opportunities to which I can contribute. My project manager encouraged me to be active in contacting people, demonstrating my desire for personal development and ambition to move forward. Developing these relationships with people whom I admire has given me a wonderful and supportive network.”
Whether mentorship is formal or informal, it’s extremely important for career development. Mentors who have more experience can help direct their mentees' understanding of the field and assist them in carving out the career they’d like. Fran continues,
“For me, there are so many avenues in technology that I learned it’s impossible to be a master of all trades. It takes thought about what interests you and which avenue will serve you in the future. It’s not simply about how you can be the best at your job now, but about how you can ensure you continue your training and development so you’ll end up where you want to be.”
Role models were centre stage at Women of Silicon 2024. Read more about it here.
Tell us about the difference between a mentor and a champion
Both Fran and Aparna were optimistic about both mentorship and champions within businesses. But what is a champion, and how is it different from a mentor? Let’s explore:
Fran:
“Champions offer everyday support in a more casual role than mentors. They acknowledge your contributions, highlight your strengths, and steer you toward opportunities you may not have considered.”
Aparna:
“My manager was more of a ‘champion’ in the sense that they ensured my ideas were always heard. This is important because it ensures fairness and that everyone, even quieter colleagues, has their suggestions heard.”
Having champions who back up your ideas boosts your confidence. This helps women in tech teams to be more proactive in presenting their ideas, and with practice comes credibility, making it easier to be heard in the future.
This year’s IWD theme is ‘Accelerate Action.’ What does this mean to you?
Aparna:
“It's crucial to uphold the equality established in the sector. With AI's growth, women should seize the opportunity to enhance their skills, advance their careers, and move forward. Embrace AI; it can be beneficial.”
Fran:
“I have had a positive experience in tech, and I see action and support all around. For me, acceleration is a snowball effect, where women continue to encourage and support each other to the point where gender is no longer the focus.”
If you’re a woman trying to break into a career in technology, now’s a great time to start. Like Aparna and Fran, there are plenty of opportunities and support in place to help you forge forward. As you go, finding champions and mentors, people who inspire you, can help you build a network and create an amazing career.
At Daemon, we recognise the challenges women face in the workplace, but in 2025, let’s look for inspiration and seek support - because you never know who might be happy to help.