Why Representation Matters: My Journey as a Woman of Colour in Data 

When I first started exploring a career in technology, it was hard to see myself in it. Online searches turned up very few young women in tech communities, and within my immediate circles, school, family, and community, I couldn’t name a single woman of colour working in data or technology. It wasn’t just underrepresentation; it was invisibility. The silence around us in these spaces, and the subtle nudges toward roles “more suitable” for girls, made tech feel distant and something not meant for us. 

But I put the doubt aside and chose to study Management and Information Technology with a year in placement, hoping it would give me a broader understanding and help me to find my footing in the world of business and technology, if it felt right. 

What I Found at University 

From the very beginning, I knew I was in the minority. Women were few but women of colour even fewer. But instead of seeing that as a setback, I found it empowering. It felt like I was part of a generation taking a plunge into spaces where women hadn’t always been visible. While it wasn’t always easy, I reminded myself that more women and women of colour would follow, and being even a small part of that shift mattered. 

In group projects, I noticed a pattern: contributions from women of colour, were often second-guessed, overwritten, or dismissed. It wasn’t always intentional, but it was persistent. I had to learn to speak up, to defend my ideas, and to remind myself that being one of the few in the room didn’t mean I didn’t belong. It meant my perspective was unique and needed. 

Finding My Place at Cloud Perspective 

Joining Cloud Perspective was where things shifted. I was given the chance to prove myself on challenging projects and work alongside a team that valued both diversity and skill. I’ve constantly been pushed, since day one, to become a better version of me. Training, encouragement, mentorship, criticism and praise have been continuous. Never has a doubt been placed on me that I’m not able, rather that I’m more than capable. I learnt that the seat already exists and if it doesn’t, we have every right to request one. With the right support and mindset, you can grow to any height you work toward. 

In a broader sense, the women I work alongside each day, prove that as women we’re not just entering tech we’re shaping it. Representation matters. Working in an environment where women, and women of colour, are not an exception but a vital part of the team made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t before. 

Miranda Pocock, CTO and Co-owner of Cloud Perspective, and a leading woman in data, put it perfectly: 

“We strive to provide a nurturing environment for people from all backgrounds, in our 15 year history we have seen a 50/50 split female/male in our workforce, in our view the make up of our business should reflect the world around us.” 

For Anyone Starting Out 

For anyone second-guessing themselves: you do have a place here. You don’t need to have all the answers to begin. 

Your perspective matters. Your voice belongs. And your journey, however different, has power. 

You are more than capable.