Company Culture
International Women’s Day in March 2024 is here, and we are taking a step further in capturing every woman’s journey in tech.
Previously, we had interesting chats with Abiola Akande, a WordPress Intern turned Developer at Studio14, Jennifer Onuogu and Kelechi Oduocha – Quality Assurance Engineers at Studio14.
In this article, Rukaya Shuaib, A Scrum Master/Project Manager at Studio14, shares pieces that make up her journey in tech. Let’s get started!
Q: What was the starting point of your career in tech?
Getting into the tech industry was inspired by my curiosity about how digital systems work and my first encounter was at Access Bank plc where I worked for 2 years in the IT & retail operations industry.
Even though I wasn’t in the product team, it was fascinating to see how software products are tailored to solve customer issues and even more captivating seeing customers use the products for the purposes they are created for.
This was an eye opener for me and I just knew I wanted to forge a career in the tech space.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career as a Scrum Master/Project Manager?
The challenge of figuring things out and being a problem-solver inspired me to become a Scrum Master.
I have always had a knack for solving problems and I find fulfilment in roles that involve overcoming challenges and finding efficient solutions. This desire, as well as the ability to make a positive impact in the lives of people through technology solutions, was a strong motivator.
Q: What does a typical workday look like for you as a Scrum master/Project manager?
I believe women in tech always have a lot to do. A typical day for me as a Scrum Master/Project Manager begins with facilitating stand-ups with my development team, with a major focus on removing blockers hindering the work process.
Later in the day, I check in with each team member to ensure we’re in sync with the sprint backlog items they have committed to. I also prepare documentation to make it easier for developers to understand pending tasks to be completed or new updates to be incorporated into the project.
As the day wears on, I spend a reasonable amount of time testing new updates made by team members, to ensure optimal performance and alignment with the project scope. I round up the day by making notes of the necessary iterations to notify respective team members on, if any.
Q: Have you faced any challenges as a woman in tech, and how did you overcome them?
A major challenge I often encounter is the development team’s unfamiliarity with scrum ceremonies. I overcome this particular challenge by arranging personal and team meetings to explain the importance and advantages of the scrum ceremonies in ensuring a productive outcome.
Another challenge is the development team falling short of completing all the sprint backlog items, due to different factors. My strategy in overcoming this challenge is understanding the root cause of the issue, so I facilitate sessions to make them understand how to properly estimate user stories and also tracking the team’s velocity.
Q: Do specific experiences or moments stand out in your journey so far?
Transitioning from a FinTech company, to an organisation focused on multiple project types has been an eye-opening and impactful experience in my journey so far. Also, the experience of managing different cross-functional teams across different organisations has shaped my perspective on how different teams adapt and function within structures.
Also, there’s a project I’m currently working on – iSORT. I have found this ongoing iSORT project quite interesting due to its complex scope. The project is multifaceted, as it focuses on providing individuals working in health and social care with a testing mechanism and a research informed toolkit to understand, build and sustain personal resilience and wellbeing.
Q: Are there some women in tech that inspire you, and why?
Some of my biggest inspirations in the tech space are Odunayo Eweniyi of Piggyvest. Seun Runsewe of Chipper Cash, Tobi Otokiti of Flutterwave, Kelechi Oduocha, and Sarah Friar of Nextdoor. These women have shown that there are no boundaries or limitations for women in making trailblazing strides in the tech ecosystem.
Q: What advice do you have for women considering a career in Project management?
I would advise Project Management enthusiasts to be prepared to apply themselves appropriately. This means they should take entry level project management courses on Udemy, Google and also be willing to volunteer in open source projects.
For a newbie, a crucial factor to succeeding in the field would require setting clear measurable and realistic goals and clearly communicating the purpose and scope of the project. Effective communication and the ability to maximise the right project management tools will allow them to get the best out of the various teams they would work with over the course of their career.
Also, thorough documentation is crucial to staying on top of the project and in giving detailed feedback to team members and stakeholders.
Rukayah Shuaib believes mentorship is a crucial development factor in the tech space for women because it gives room for hands-on learning from an experienced professional, while serving as motivation to reach desired heights. It is a pathway for rapid and sustainable growth, and has the ability to further inspire inclusivity in the industry. She urges women to understand that while statistics indicate that the industry is currently male-dominated, there are indeed no limitations.
For more insights into our efforts to cultivate a diverse work culture and inspire inclusion, send an email to daniel[at]studio14online.co.uk