The prospect of working in a male-dominated industry can be unnerving, what with the potential glass ceiling and discrimination just because you’re a woman.
But Jane Ng didn’t let the intimidation hinder her and went on to find herself at the top of the game. The Head of Marketing at ESET worked in the beauty industry prior to joining the cybersecurity solutions provider in 2012, and while she found “stark differences” between a female-dominated industry and a male-dominated one, she rose through the ranks quickly and was promoted to her current role within three years.
“It was definitely a challenge for me to break gender stereotypes when I first made the switch. However, I invested time to learn about the evolving technologies and how they functioned to become proficient in my work,” she says.
The 35-year-old adds that to succeed in an environment like that, a female professional should not only have resilience and effective communication skills, but also confidence.
“Many women are afraid to speak up, share an idea or take a chance. But don’t shy away from decision-making—it’s fundamental to being a confident leader. Women must be empowered to take charge of improving situations on their own accord.”
Want to thrive in a male-dominated industry? Here are some of her tips.
