 Background/Current Position:
Nikki has worked in the technology industry for over the past ten years and is probably best known in the media for being ‘Gadget Guru’ on BBC2 Something for the Weekend. She is an experienced technology writer and presenter and is the founder of the award winning tech and gadgets site www.girlgeekchic.com which has won the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards in 2010 and 2011. She is resident ‘Gadget Guru’ on BBC, TalkRadioEurope and iVillage.co.uk and appears regularly on various news channels including BBC, ITN and Al Jazeera English news as a technology commentator. Nikki writes regularly about technology for various magazines and websites as well as in the corporate sector; predominantly in investment banking. She also works as a technology speaker, corporate host and is a spokesperson and ambassador for various technology companies. For more details go to www.nikkimoore.co.uk or you can follow Nikki on Twitter on @girlgeekchic.
Best thing about working in IT:
Technology is constantly changing so there is always something new to learn. I also work with geeky, quirky people which is fun. And it can be quite lucrative too.
Why did you choose a career in IT in the first place?
I didn’t choose a career in IT as such. My first job out of uni was actually in line with my degree. I was doing technical support in French and Italian for IBM. I really enjoyed it and decided to go down the IT route so you don’t necessarily need specific IT qualifications to do well in IT.
Highlights of my career so far:
It has to be setting up my technology website for women www.girlgeekchic.com. The response I get from women is overwhelming as they find it useful which I find hugely rewarding. I am passionate about breaking down barriers for women in technology. Primarily making technology accessible, easy to understand and fun.
Career Aspirations:
I don’t have specific career aspirations that are set in stone, I don’t think life works like that, I always have an idea of what I want to be doing and the kind of money I want to be earning and I can honestly say it has always worked out for me. I tend do write down a list of say 5 things that I want to achieve and once it’s clear in my head that it’s what I want I just go for it and things seem to fit into place. I am however very driven once I set out to achieve a goal.
Tips for success:
Be true to yourself, confident in your ability and measure you success by what you want to achieve not by other people’s success.
ALWAYS enjoy what you do.
Words of wisdom for women thinking about pursuing a career in IT
Be aware as a woman you will be judged by men who think you are not as capable as them and in many instances judged by the way you look and not your brain which can be mightily frustrating. Now I’m older this doesn’t bother me at all but when I was starting out in my twenties I couldn’t stand the injustice
Always rise above situations like this and perform to the best of your ability, true potential always shines through.
Do you think it might have been a different story, of "how you got to where you are now", if you'd been a man?
No, for me exactly the same, I don’t ever consider my gender when I set my mind to doing something, I don’t think that should come into it. If you’re in an environment where others think like this and it could hold you back, you always have the choice to move and be with better people in a decent environment. In my opinion, succeeding at something is not about being male or female; never limit yourself to this kind of thinking.
Tell us a little about your life outside of work.
When I’m not doing my ‘day job’ I do a lot of work on my website. I also luv snowboarding, playing golf and running. Phew!
Do you think that there are obvious differences between what men and women have to offer an IT department?
I think women offer balance in what can be a testosterone fuelled environment.
Are you aware of any preconceptions or stereotypes of women in IT, and if so what do you think of them?
The most recurrent stereo type I come up against being a woman in IT is that “you don’t look like a geek” – implying that if you are geeky or techie you have to also be unattractive and not take pride in your appearance. All nonsense. Don’t ever conform and bow down to stereo types. Another one is when you start a new contract very often people think you are IT admin or a PA as you are a woman, that’s quite funny too.
If you could give young women looking for a position in the IT market place a single piece of advice what would it be?
Go for it! It’s a great career to work in. It’s challenging, constantly changing, exciting and without sounding too mercenary it can be lucrative - so you can provide yourself with a decent standard of living, nice handbags and shoes!! | 