TVBEurope talks to three women about their experiences of working in the media tech industry, and the importance of support from their colleagues
By Jenny Priestley
Published: March 4, 2021
TVBEurope talks to three women about their experiences of working in the media tech industry, and the importance of support from their colleagues
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> TVBEurope talks to three women about their experiences of working in the media tech industry, and the importance of support from their colleagues
https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/be-brave-and-be-bold-why-its-important-for-women-to-see-themselves-in-the-media-tech-industry title=Share via Email class=share-email>
The need to encourage more women into media technology is an on-going challenge across the industry.
The idea that media technology is for old white men needs to shift, and advocacy groups such as Rise are hard at work making sure that young women are able to see themselves carving out a career in our sector, through both mentoring and talking to their contemporaries.
To mark International Women's Day 2021 on 8th March, Rise is hosting an event titled #ChooseToChallenge which will explore what it means to be a woman in the broadcast tech sector. The event's keynote speaker is Jackie Howes, director of media infrastructure architecture at Discovery. Hawes who has over 20 years of experience working in the broadcast industry.
Don't be afraid to ask questions Hawes admits it's been challenging and intimidating to be a woman in a very male world. To realise you are the only woman in a room full of 20 people is not always a comfortable place to be, especially when you are younger and just starting out, she tells TVBEurope. Whenever you are in an atmosphere where you are in the minority, it's always going to be something that you are aware of, even if it's at the back of your mind, but this should never be something that stops you striving for what you want.
Her advice to any woman starting out on a career in the media tech industry is to be brave and be bold. Figure out what you want and go for it, she adds. Educate yourself in the field that you are in and trust in your skillset. If you can, find a mentor - it's important to find people you can learn from. I've been lucky enough to have people who have taught me not just about technology and the world I work in, but also about how to negotiate the workplace.
Never be afraid to ask questions and learn as much as you can. The most intelligent and brilliant people I have worked with have always been the ones that asks the most questions and are always willing to say they don't know and need more information. There is no shame in not knowing, use every opportunity you can to gain as much knowledge as you can, and then when you have it - share it. It's always a pleasure to work with people who are generous with their knowledge.
Hawes adds that she views Rise as a key way to encourage women they are not alone in the industry. For women starting out in this field it's important that they see us, that they see women who have worked hard and made it to the top of their field, Rise does this. It allows us to give back, to encourage others through their publications, through their works, and especially through their mentor programme. This is a very direct way that we can help others that can be extremely rewarding to all involved.
As for her speech on Monday, Hawes's theme is #choosetochallenge, which she describes as a great topic for International Women's Day, as there's so much to focus on. I love how empowering this sounds, and the idea of taking control. We will be looking at when and how we should take control. That's all I'll say for now, so listen in to hear more! she concludes.
Go for it! Another key part of Rise's activities is obviously it's mentoring programme. Nicola Parr and Anna Patching have both been a part of the programme in previous years and are keen to praise the help and support they received from both their mentors and the other mentees.
Having a group of people to share ideas with and talk through the highs and lows is invaluable, says Patching. Knowing I have a bunch of incredible women who I can talk to helps bring perspectives I'd not considered to my challenges, or sometimes validates my opinions. Professionally it's given me formal and informal mentors to question and act as inspirational role models all demonstrating their own successful careers.
It's translated into a real sense of community, which you can't underestimate the value of, adds Parr. I've definitely reflected on these experiences and aim to seize any opportunities I get. Thanks to my mentor's advice I now have a journal that I contribute to each day - I note down small wins at work and create weekly targets designed to challenge me. Thanks to Rise and the people I have met through the scheme, my confidence has grown hugely, and my communication and leadership skills have improved dramatically. I have witnessed first hand the benefits of being part of a networking programme and would recommend them to anyone in the industry.
As newer members of the media industry, what advice would they offer young women thinking of media technology sector? Patching says it's important to be confident in your abilities. Confidence (or the perception of confidence) can open so many doors. It can give you the push to go for a job you're not sure you're qualified for, or even just give yourself the little boost to know you are making a valid decision or asking a reasonable question.
Parr's advice would be to just go for it! You have nothing to lose and so much more to gain, she adds. The media tech space offers a wide
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
14/01/2026
Staines-upon-Thames, UK, 13th January, 2026 ITV, one of the UKs leading broadcasters, has selected Yospace, the global leader in Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI), to ...
14/01/2026
Steiger Media's adoption of Calrec's compact Argo M console not only makes its innovative new hybrid truck faster, more efficient, and agile, but also e...
14/01/2026
Wednesday 14 January 2026
Sky News announces Cathy Newman to lead flagship new political programme
Sky News today announces that award-winning journalist and ...
14/01/2026
The first stamp of An Post's 2026 Stamp Programme, marking 100 Years of Broadcasting, was unveiled at by Patrick O'Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Com...
14/01/2026
It's official! Beverley Callard has landed in Carrigstown. The beloved actor, known for her unforgettable roles and iconic screen presence, is joining the c...
13/01/2026
Independent media in Brazil and Colombia is facing an urgent crisis of traditional business models alongside a deteriorating security environment, according to ...
13/01/2026
Luxembourg, December 17, 2025 - SES S.A. ( SES or the Company ), a leading spa...
13/01/2026
Written and executive produced by Steve Lightfoot and Angela LaManna, produced b...
13/01/2026
New updates to Hitmaker Expansion from Celemony and Softube Edit pitch-perfect vocals with Melodyne Essential and get radio-ready guitar tones from Softube...
13/01/2026
Live broadcasts from RT 2FM Breakfast with Carl, Roz & Aisling, RT Radio 1 Tod...
12/01/2026
Spotify's new co-CEOs, Alex Norstr m and Gustav S derstr m, start off the new year with a message of renewed leadership, creative responsibility, and what&#...
12/01/2026
At Spotify, we listen to a lot of music. And every year, our global editors and artist partnerships teams come together to spotlight the emerging voices we beli...
12/01/2026
Spotify's global editors and Songwriter & Publisher Partnerships team spend their days immersed in new music, tracking the writers behind the songs breaking...
12/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz opens larger office in Japan and increases its support for the J...
12/01/2026
X-Rite and Rhopoint Launch Rhopoint PANTORA Aesthetix to Streamline Creation of...
12/01/2026
12 Jan 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Launches 5G Pilot in Lviv Lviv, January 12, 2026 - VEON, a global digital operator (Nasdaq: VEON), today announces that Kyivsta...
12/01/2026
Monday 12 January 2026
The ultimate betrayal: Harry and Jamie Redknapp, Paul Me...
12/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz opens larger office in Japan to increase its support for the Jap...
12/01/2026
Welcome to the AVECO team: introducing new members of management
At AVECO, we are continuing to implement our #newAVECO strategy, which aims to build an even s...
12/01/2026
For the first time in the nine-year history of Dancing with the Stars, the first...
10/01/2026
This year, podcasts are making their Golden Globes debut with a new category honoring the medium's leading shows and creators. To mark the occasion, Spotify...
09/01/2026
RT Player has 157 million streams, up 10% year-on-year
An increase on 2024, RT...
09/01/2026
RT 2FM has today announced the highly anticipated list of 2FM Rising Artists for 2026, kicking off 2FM Rising week for the eighth year on The Tracy Clifford Sh...
09/01/2026
RT to Host the 2026 RTS Ireland Awards
Thursday, 16 April 2026 | Dublin Royal Convention Centre
The RTS Ireland Television Awards 2026 | Gradaim RTS 2026 | R...
08/01/2026
An evidence-based analysis on disinformation and information manipulation in Sudan's ongoing conflict is published today. (January 8th 2026).
Thomson Found...
08/01/2026
In 2025 we launched the Spotify Partner Program to give creators more ways to tu...
08/01/2026
On Wednesday in Los Angeles, Spotify welcomed creators and press to a brunch cel...
08/01/2026
TSA awards Rohde & Schwarz contract for advanced airport screening ahead of Socc...
08/01/2026
The review looks back at DPA's miniature microphone development over the years. It compares the evolving technologies from the original mics through CORE an...
08/01/2026
Comscore Launches Audio Targeting and Measurement Capabilities with The Trade De...
08/01/2026
Tonight, on RT Prime Time at 9:35pm on RT One and RT Player
Tonight, Prime T...
08/01/2026
The Late Late Show celebrates the very best of traditional Irish music with its first-ever full special dedicated entirely to the tradition
Lisa Canny | Kevin...
08/01/2026
It will be murder on the dancefloor when Dancing with the Stars returns this S...
07/01/2026
Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...
07/01/2026
We know people use Spotify not just to listen, but to share the songs, podcasts, and audiobooks they love with their friends and family. When we launched Messag...
07/01/2026
This week, all eyes are on the podcast industry as the Golden Globes recognizes ...
07/01/2026
Podcasts are stepping onto a new stage this week as the Golden Globes recognize the medium for the first time. To mark this milestone moment, we're hosting ...
06/01/2026
Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...
06/01/2026
Lorde. A$AP Rocky. JENNIE. Baby Keem. KATSEYE. That's just a taste of who...
06/01/2026
Channel 4 and UKTV are giving viewers even more reasons to stream, with UKTV's U service set to feature thousands of hours of free, unmissable and bingeable...
06/01/2026
Tuesday 6 January 2026
An update on our Sky Mobile prices
Devesh Raj, Chief Operating Officer, Sky
Today, we've announced some changes to the prices of ...
06/01/2026
Comscore Launches Daily Program-Level Reporting with Deduplicated Insights on Sh...
06/01/2026
Comscore Completes Recapitalization Transaction with Preferred Stockholders Foll...
05/01/2026
Bad Bunny's DeB TiRAR M S FOToS defined the sound of 2025 for listeners eve...
05/01/2026
As the clock struck midnight and 2026 was born, so was an exciting range of new ...
TVBEurope talks to three women about their experiences of working in the media tech industry, and the importance of support from their colleagues
