Celebrating the women of Vidatec on International Women’s Day 

We believe in fostering an inclusive and empowering environment where everyone can thrive. This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on some of the incredible women in our team, sharing their insights, experiences, and advice for those looking to break into the industry. 

Sharon| QA Lead

What Defines a Strong Woman?

We often say ‘strong woman,’ but what does that really mean? A strong woman is resilient, self-confident, and determined. She overcomes challenges, advocates for herself and others, and finds strength in embracing her femininity. Her power isn’t just physical—it’s in her mindset, her presence, and her impact on the world around her.

To all the remarkable women around us—Happy International Women’s Day from me.

Kym | UI/UX Designer  

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other women looking to break into the industry? 

I’ll try to say this without coming across as an anarchist feminist! Be pushy, don’t give up and don’t let anyone tell you can’t – especially due to your gender. Woman, mother, whatever the label you’re given, it shouldn’t matter. You are capable. Not everyone will accept this, but do not let them reduce your worth. There are some amazingly supportive people out there, find them and stick together. 

Have you had a mentor/role model/manager who influenced or inspired your career journey? 

 Absolutely. To start, it wouldn’t have happened without a few of the faculty leaders at Abertay University letting me twist the definition of “Computer Arts“ to include UX/UI, when it wasn’t quite its own thing yet. 

Beyond that, two people helped shape my career and involvement in the industry. Ken Scott-Brown, a psychology lecturer at Abertay, opened my eyes to the world of design. He saw potential in me that I didn’t even see myself, encouraged me to always ask questions, and continuously pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone. 

Of equal importance was my first manager as an aspiring UX/UI Designer – Mike McKenna. Another person willing to take a chance on me. He taught me many of the core UX/UI principles that I still implement to this day. Everything I know about Agile UX I 100% owe to him.   

What inspired you to pursue a career in tech? 

It’s 2012, 3rd year Computer Arts, semester 2, project brief: design a digital wallet. Until that point, I considered myself an artist. I’d always been interested in tech (particularly gaming), and thanks to a backwards childhood, sci-fi and tech were a point of fascination for me – but not something I considered a career… until that project. 

 Everything just clicked. UX/UI was the perfect combination of art, psychology, and technology for me. At the time, it was such a new profession, I saw the opportunity to be part of something as it emerged. That sense of discovery was – and still is – a powerful driving force for me.  

Marina Kim | Technical Lead

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other women looking to break into the industry?

If I am to summarise everything it takes to get into the tech industry in one advice, it would be “be determined and believe in yourself”. 

I would advise to choose wisely your area within tech, as it is important to enjoy what you do. Secondly, invest more time in working on your own project ideas, rather than watching tutorials and repeating common pet projects. And lastly, I believe that technical certifications and active LinkedIn profile are really helpful with getting noticed in the job market.  

In addition to the above, it would also help if you could find a mentor, you’re comfortable with to guide you through your tech journey. 

Have you had a mentor / role model / manager who influenced or inspired your career journey? 

 I did not have a mentor or a role model in a sense, but a set of circumstances that inspired my tech career journey. Ironically it started with me losing a job in a mono economic city with no other jobs available. I just chose to look at it as an opportunity to change career and become a developer which in turn would open up so many life-changing opportunities for me. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in tech?  

As someone who lived for many years in a small city in Kazakhstan, I was mainly inspired and daily motivated by my goal to move to UK and becoming a professional developer. Besides this, I had and still have many product ideas which now I can build thanks to the acquired skills, and which also greatly helped me to stay motivated and keep working on achieving this goal every day. 

Accelerate Action 

The theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) in 2025 is “Accelerate Action”.  

What does “Accelerate Action” mean? Closing wage gaps, Increasing leadership opportunities, Ensuring equal access to education and healthcare, Fostering innovation and policy changes, and Empowering the next generation of women and girls. 

The stories and advice of Sharon, Kym, and Marina remind us that success in tech is often built on determination, support, and the courage to push boundaries. 

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the resilience and brilliance of women everywhere. Let’s continue breaking barriers, lifting each other up, and shaping a future where opportunity knows no gender.