In “Trailblazing careers in tech: Advania’s next gen tech talent”, we get a look at the tech industry through the eyes of the next generation of tech experts at Advania. Join us as we explore Advania’s dynamic Early Careers Programme featuring insights from the tech trailblazers who are paving the way for the next generation of innovators.
Meet the Boardroom
- Kate Hutchinson: Head of Dynamics at Advania
Kate is responsible for implementing everything Dynamics 365, Business Central, and CRM at Advania. With a wealth of experience and a passion for technology, Kate leads today’s discussion.
- Aroosa Ali: Technology Associate in the Development Team at Advania,
Aroosa holds a master’s degree in business analytics and has worked as a Data Analyst in the healthcare industry. Currently, she is a key player in the development team at Advania, focusing on innovative solutions and project management.
- Masuma Shariff: Technology Associate in the Architecture and Security Team at Advania,
Masuma studied cyber security at Sunway University in Malaysia. She is now part of the architecture and security team at Advania, focusing on compliance and security tools. Her expertise in cybersecurity and passion for technology make her an invaluable asset to Advania.
The fast-paced world of tech
Masuma kicks off the episode by describing the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry, highlighting the constant need for adaptation and growth.
She shares a valuable piece of advice, picked up from a networking contact T an event she attended: “The moment you feel too comfortable, that’s a bad sign. You constantly need to feel uncomfortable because that means that you’re growing as a person.”
Breaking into tech
The podcast delves into the early careers programme at Advania, a unique initiative designed to help individuals from diverse backgrounds break into the tech industry. Whether you come from healthcare, academia, or a more straightforward tech pathway like cyber security, this programme offers a unique opportunity to upskill and grow in the tech world.
Kate explains the programme’s objectives and its focus on upskilling participants, particularly through Microsoft pathways and certifications. “The main aim of the whole programme is to focus on upskilling people that want to break into tech,” she says.
A diverse cohort
The programme brings together individuals with varied experiences and educational backgrounds. Masuma provides an overview of the cohort, mentioning participants who transitioned from varied and disparate fields to the tech industry.
Aroosa adds: “With me specifically, I was already working in tech but in a different field, so it was more like finding your strengths and your interests and gaining experience in that interest area.”
The application process
Both Masuma and Aroosa their unique journey into the programme. Aroosa recalls her application process: “I don’t remember now if I applied it on LinkedIn or Indeed, but I applied and got into the assessment day we had. It was really interesting. We were split up into two teams, had group discussions and interviews with heads of solution areas”.
She also fondly remembers her interview with Kate Hutchinson, describing it as ‘fun and also exhausting at the same time’.
Masuma had a slightly different experience: “I applied through LinkedIn and had a one-on-one interview with my head manager, who asked me more technical questions about myself. It was very straightforward for me. I just had one interview and then got the response a week later.”
Masuma goes on to share her experience of applying from Tanzania and the swift relocation to the UK, emphasising the importance and intensity of a fast-paced hiring process.
The onboarding experience
The episode explores the onboarding process at Advania, which is designed to ensure a smooth transition for new hires.
Masuma shares her first week’s experience: “I was still new to the UK and staying at hotels. The first day I came in, I was so nervous – but we had an icebreaking session, introduced ourselves, and got our technology onboarding. It was a very smooth process.”
Aroosa appreciated that the approach wasn’t overwhelming for new starters: “They didn’t bombard us with all the tech stuff initially. They gave us time and space to gel, know about how the company works and bond within our solution areas. We had mentorship and certifications to achieve, which streamlined our development.”
Day-to-day roles
As the discussion progresses, Aroosa and Masuma share insights into their respective roles at Advania. As they settled into their roles, they began to take on more responsibilities and learn new skills.
Aroosa, a developer, talks about solving problems, fixing bugs, and web customisation. She highlights the importance of mentorship and her involvement in both client projects and internal team-building activities: “My work involves solving problems, fixing bugs, testing web parts, and adding features to websites. I really enjoy building and customising things.”
Masuma, in the architecture and security team, describes her journey from shadowing projects to delivering her own client work using Microsoft Purview. She says: “I use Microsoft Purview, a compliance and security tool, to ensure people are using the right sensitivity labels and not sharing random information externally. It’s been a fun learning experience, and I’m planning on working on more certifications.”
The importance of mentorship and team building
Mentorship and team building are integral parts of the early careers programme at Advania. Aroosa highlights the importance of mentorship: “I had a great mentor who put me on projects, identified my strengths, and gave me space to try on my own. The mentorship at Advania is really good.”
Masuma emphasises the value of curiosity and taking responsibility for one’s own learning. She says: “In the first three months, I bothered my team a lot, asking if there was anything I could help with or should be learning. It’s important to have the curiosity and take responsibility to upskill yourself.”
Despite transitioning into different teams within professional services, the tech associates maintain a close-knit bond, supporting each other and collaborating on projects. Masuma and Aroosa discuss the importance of understanding each other’s roles and working together to deliver comprehensive solutions to clients.
Advice for aspiring tech professionals
As three women in tech, Kate, Aroosa and Masuma share their advice for others wanting to start a career in tech. Masuma encourages aspiring professionals to explore different tech fields and build on their interests: “Figure out what particular tech field you want to go into because tech as a whole is very broad.”
"Pinpoint what piques your interest and build on that knowledge area.”
Aroosa reassures women that their skills are transferable and not to be afraid of coding, emphasising that anyone can excel in tech with the right mindset and determination: “Don’t restrict yourself to one field – your skills are transferable. Don’t be afraid of coding: it’s like dissecting a bigger problem into smaller chunks and working on those smaller chunks”
Listen to the full conversation on The Technology Boardroom
This episode provides an inspirational insight into how the next generation of tech talent is growing at Advania – catch up on the full “Trailblazing careers in tech: Advania’s next gen tech talent” episode with Kate, Aroosa and Masuma now.
