We sat down with Ramsha, Senior Manager in our Technology & Transformation practice, to discuss what led to her career in tech and what advice she would give to those starting out in theirs.

What led you to pursue a career in tech consulting, and how has your initial vision evolved over time?

Starting out in tech consulting was more of a happy accident than a conscious choice. I have always been interested in technology and how it impacts people and organisations, so when completing my science degree I researched various related career options. Knowing little about consultancy I did my due diligence and it seemed like a good fit. I started my career in consulting straight after finishing my studies. At the time, my goal was to get exposure to clients’ tech problems and help resolve them.

The initial variety of opportunities was exactly what I had been hoping for; the ability to experience technology across industries and understand how different clients were embracing or lagging in adoption. Seeing this variety helped me evolve my vision to one where instead of just resolving technology problems, I am also supporting people with the challenges that adoption and change inevitably bring. And since technology is always changing the broader workplace landscape, there will always be organisations that require support in understanding, implementing, adopting, and embracing that change.

What do you do as part of the Technology, Strategy & Transformation (TS&T) team? 

Within TS&T I am a part of the ServiceNow implementation team. Our clients require support with understanding how to best structure technology in their organisations; for example, with governance, processes, as well as up skilling people to increase efficiency.

I spend most of my time supporting clients with technology-specific problems, with a focus on ServiceNow. I help clients to define whether ServiceNow is the right solution for them,  build roadmaps, and advise on implementations so that they can make the most of their investment. In addition, I support with enterprise architecture by looking at how it fits into their overall technology landscape and how it supports their overall organisational goals.

How do you stay up-to-date in the ever-changing landscape of technology, and what resources or networks do you find most valuable?

There are always ways to acquire knowledge through podcasts and trusted tech sources that give you the more high-level breaking and business news. Once you are ready to dive deeper, I highly recommend books or e-courses that keep you up to date in your specific areas of interest. I always have an e-book at hand in my free time, and often listen to tech/science podcasts during my commute. 

However, often the biggest impact can be felt as a consumer. I am a very hands-on learner, so wherever possible I try to get hands-on experience no matter how small. This means signing up for a beta version or downloading a new app just to see how I could adopt it in my own life.

In a high-pressure environment like consulting, how do you prioritize self-care and work-life balance?

The way I respond to this question has changed over time, as I believe it does for most people over the course of their careers. I also believe that it differs greatly from person to person and it can often feel like you’re not doing it right. 

I have figured out that scheduling something concrete during weekdays, such as a class or another engagement, helps me to keep my boundaries. At the moment I am prioritising personal travel when I can, and I actively plan around it. This helps me balance work to the best of my abilities, but I’m certain this won’t look exactly the same next year.

How do you mentor or support other women entering the tech sector, and what advice would you give them?

I can recall where I stumbled in my career and I do my best to pass those learnings along. Wherever possible I advise my female colleagues to put their hand up for opportunities regardless of whether their fit is 60% or 100%. More importantly, I suggest they ask for more themselves instead of waiting for someone else to come up with the idea and then saying yes. 

At the end of the day nobody does this perfectly, so it’s also important for me to be a sounding board and to allow others to come up with their own solutions. 

 “My advice to those entering the tech sector is to find coaches and mentors who will listen and give objective advice.”

What skills do you believe are essential for future tech consultants, and how can someone develop those skills?

There are many skills that are required: tech fluency, understanding business and stakeholder needs, being able to write effectively, etc. It’s also crucial to ensure that urgent asks such as proposals are completed within the given timeframe.

I believe that in consulting it’s important to always define what skills you need in order to scale your career over the next three years, because at some point you will need to learn to delegate and manage teams whether big or small. For example, when you’re thinking of applying for a Manager or Lead role it’s important to understand how you can motivate people, build clear plans, and communicate effectively. It’s always helpful to remember to ask for feedback along the way.

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