Rashi Jain – Software Engineer at Think Future Technologies

Thinking about ‘Women and technology’ I feel the same as I would feel while thinking about ‘Men in technology’.

Rashi Jain is a Software Engineer at Think future technologies pvt. Ltd. She has been in the software engineering industry for 3 years and in such a short time she added a significant value to leading brand products in the IT Industry. She is a technical enthusiast, traveller, freelancer, speaker. She has worked with clients and companies to take their ideas to production level web and mobile applications. She likes to take up challenges in day to day life and hone them. She is an active member of various communities who support women equality in the society like Women Who Code, Womentech Network, RemoteWoman. A strong believer that future of technology world is way more than gender, sex, religion and color.

In a Nutshell: Tell us a bit about your job and what role technology plays in it?

I am a Front-end developer at Think Future Technologies based in Gurgaon, India. We provide Software Development and testing service across the globe. My job here is to interact with the client, understand the business idea, develop mobile for android and iOS and web applications solutions for them.

Where did your professional journey start and how did you get to where you are now?

I came from a small town in India. For me getting my first break in the IT world was not an easy deal to break. I attended several interviews in various colleges and universities where students took part in thousands but only 2 or 3 persons got selected. Those crowd of students were majorly from big metropolitan cities who had more exposure than me. Many of them have done some sort of internships, jobs, certification during their college time. But for a small town girl like me it’s not the same concept. Then finally somehow in the journey of giving an interview I learned a lot about the real IT industry. Fortunately, I had 2 offers in my bag to choose which company to join. One company is very big and famous while the other is a small company in a small town. I chose to join the small one after taking some advice from my cousin. My reason for joining the company was the type of work they were offering me. I learned a lot as a fresher enthusiast, worked on several projects, and interacted with the client. Back in College, I did not think in my wildest dream that I could code, handle clients by myself. I gained immense confidence after delivering my first project. After completing 2 years in the company I chose to be out of my comfort zone, raise some challenges for myself, get more exposure. I decided to make a career switch. I joined a company which can give me more learning and career opportunities.

What is the greatest transformation in technology you’ve witnessed in your career?

I am fortunate that I was born in the 21st century where I have witnessed a humongous change in technology. Mainly in the communication sector.

We used to have giant phones with antennas with so much expensive phone call charge which made it difficult to connect with people but now the market is overloaded with different mobile phones, touch phones, watch phones and many more with 5g internet support which is great.

That brings people around the world really close.

When you think about ‘women’ and ‘technology’ what comes to your mind first?

Thinking about ‘Women and technology’ I feel the same as I would feel while thinking about ‘Men in technology’. There is nothing to be judgmental about technology on the basis of gender of the individual who is contributing equally to make it bigger. We all need to understand this and accept this. Gender should not be a reason to make someone think about technology in a different manner. Women are capable of doing everything with equal chances and opportunity. I feel proud to be a part of the generation where women have come up in the front line to tell the people about their worth and what they are capable of doing for the tech community.

We always hear there are not enough women working in Tech. What needs to happen to change that, which steps should be done to achieve gender equality in tech? 

Gender inequality is not because of the less opportunities for women in the market or they are less capable to be a part of the technology work  but it is the lack of resources (internet,family restrictions,exposure) for women to reach out for the opportunity.

Gender inequality is not because of the less opportunities for women in the market or they are less capable to be a part of the technology work  but it is the lack of resources (internet,family restrictions,exposure) for women to reach out for the opportunity. Many of the women in India or may be in several countries can barely complete their studies and if they do so they have a long hard way to get a job in tech companies.

For other regions where women got an opportunity to be a part of the tech companies. They are misunderstood to be less productive , less paid , have to face various gender biasing. We find very few women who have reached a high position in tech companies where they can pull up more women power in the tech. Opinion and suggestion of the women employees has to be equally respected. Unconscious bias is a daily struggle which has to be dissolved at all levels of society to bring a change in mindset.

In the past few years time has taken a turn and we can see improvement in the way women contribute to the technology world. Still we have a long way to go. Social awareness about the need for women to be a part of tech is very important, especially in small areas where access to things is not quite an easy deal to crack. More Internship opportunities is the best way to let the girls get to know how to build a trajectory of their tech career.

We also see that all the big tech companies in India are located in big metropolitan cities for women to move out of their small town, which sometimes may come in the path of her tech career. So we should come up with new ideas , entrepreneur so that more opportunities can be created.

How different would our world be if more women worked in STEM?

Women are the ‘Stem’ of the tech plant which will grow into the future.

Past is proof of how commendable work women have done in STEM. More women diversity in STEM will surely contribute to the betterment from where we are right now. We need all hands on deck and that means clearing hurdles for women and girls as they navigate careers in STEM. Having more female leaders in tech would positively reflect on social values, gender equality, and empowerment.

Which was the best decision in your career?

After completing my degree, I managed to have 2 offers in my bag. One was from a very famous, big company which is established in a metropolitan city, another is from a small software service provider company based in a small town. Knowing the privileges to be a part of a big company which has a big fancy office, light work culture etc etc. I did not know about the kind of work they were going to offer me. On the other hand, I know the kind and value of work the small company can offer. I choose the small one to join. That decision has changed my career path.

What advice would you give to women who want a tech career?

Make the internet your best friends, join bootcamps, learn online and believe that you can also pursue a tech career.

For all the women and girls who come to the small town and who want a tech career. I would suggest they reach out to communities who can help them guide the path which they can take to be a part of tech. Make the internet your best friends, join bootcamps, learn online and believe that you can also pursue a tech career. Believe in your instinct who tells you to pursue a career in tech and work for it .

Rashi Jain, a Software Engineer at Think future technologies pvt. Ltd. She has been in the software engineering industry for 3 years and in such a short time she added a significant value to leading brand products in the IT Industry. She is a technical enthusiast, traveller, freelancer, speaker. She has worked with clients and companies to take their ideas to production level web and mobile applications.She likes to take up challenges in day to day life and hone them.An active member of various communities who support women equality in the society like Women Who Code, Womentech Network, RemoteWoman. A strong believer that future of technology world is way more than gender, sex, religion and color.

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