After being the only female technician at Kent-based tech company ADM Computing for more than a decade, Jolene Bullock has told of her inspiring journey to become Service Director and provided words of wisdom to any women who are considering a career in the tech industry.
Jolene attended EKC Broadstairs College, which is part of East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group), from 2002 to 2004, when it was then known as East Kent College.
A career in tech was not always what Jolene intended, as she was originally enrolled on a hairdressing course. She was ambitious to succeed in that profession but found that she preferred the IT side more, so she signed up for the BTEC Level 3 in Information Technology.
“It was just me and two other women on the course, but I wasn’t fazed by that,” Jolene explained.
“The lecturers on the course were really supportive and helped me achieve a triple distinction.”
Jolene was awarded Student of the Year, and after receiving her qualification, she went travelling in Australia for a year before getting a job in IT support.
In 2007, she joined ADM Computing in Canterbury as a trainee engineer. Eighteen years later, she is now the Service Director.
Jolene is keen to break the stigma that it’s a male-dominant industry and wants more women to consider the career path.
“I believe that anyone can achieve anything they dream of doing – there should be no boundaries,” she said.
“That’s why, at ADM Computing, when I look through CVs, I don’t look at what gender applicants are, I look at what they can do and whether they would be able to do the job well.
“Gender doesn’t matter, and we need to inspire more young women and girls to consider a career in tech.”
When Jolene started at ADM Computing 18 years ago as a trainee engineer, she assisted nine engineers who were all male.
Now, she is the service director and manages a diverse team of men and women.
However, Jolene holds firm that there is more which needs to be done to encourage more women to consider a career in tech.
“It’s a personal goal of mine to not just recruit more female technical people, but to get the CVs and enquiries in the first place,” she said.
“I hope I can help to normalise tech as a career path for women.
“At ADM Computing, we’re doing this by going into schools and talking to girls from a young age about a career in tech.
“To any woman considering a career in tech – don’t be scared.”
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