Abi Nottingham started working at Yorkshire-based agency Herd six months ago, the first female Shopify developer to join the team. Discover her journey from Project Manager to Web Developer.
How did you get into the world of web developing?
At age 31, I decided to change careers into tech. I was working as a Project Manager at the time, and freelancing on the side as an illustrator.
My choice to re-train as a developer may have seemed like a surprise to the people in my life. But truthfully, my interest in tech began young, watching Tomorrow’s World and reading magazines about the internet before I even owned a computer. The first PC my mum bought stayed with us for years and was already outdated when we got it, but it was the most wonderful thing I’d ever experienced to be able to connect to the internet and access limitless information whenever I wanted.
How does it feel to have landed your first developer role?
I feel unbelievably lucky that despite the hardships I’ve faced along the way, I’m part of a team that wants me to feel welcome, that gives my opinion weight and listens to what I have to say.
I’m in a team that provides the same chances to learn and progress as my male co-workers.
Unfortunately my positive experience isn’t the same for everyone. We’re still hearing stories of women being alienated in their tech workplaces. There’s a lot of work business owners need to do to change behaviours and generate awareness of the opportunities available.
How do you think tech roles can be made more appealing to women?
From my point of view, we need to be mindful that more women may have taken a different path to becoming a developer than men. Women are more likely to be the primary carer for children, and/or the family member that takes care of elderly relatives. Therefore, flexibility within the workplace is so important, providing viable options for women with other commitments.
Listen to what we have to say. It isn’t an issue unique to tech that women’s voices are given less credence, that our complaints are more likely to be seen as unimportant gripes rather than serious issues.
If we raise an issue, whether it’s the behaviour of a male co-worker or not getting chance to talk in meetings, listen carefully and take us seriously.
What advice would you give for women wanting to join the world of development?
If you’re a woman who wants to become a developer, the best advice I can give is to find community, and to trust your instincts!
A community (which could be through Twitter, Reddit, or maybe even a Women Who Code meet-up) will help guide you on your path, find resources, and give you feedback and validation when you need that extra push. But it will be your instincts that will deliver you to your destination, and in a world that doesn’t always take us seriously, we deserve to do that for ourselves.
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Tim Powell, Managing Director at Herd, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have Abi in our team of Shopify experts. Abi is an inspiration to all developers and she’s a great asset to the Herd. As a forward-thinking employer, we are pleased that women make up a large proportion of our workforce, and as we continue to grow, we’re committed to hiring and promoting more women in digital.”