Keep Your Tech Flame Alive: Trailblazer Rachel Bayley

I started my career in the tech industry by working as a Word Processing Operator. This job allowed me to get a position in the National Health Service (England) working in different roles — such as training, help desk, and data center work — until I managed to find a more technical position. During my time working in these roles, I realized that governance was a real strength of mine, and that ultimately led me into more IT governance roles.

The team in one of my previous companies discovered that they needed a Release Manager for a project and I raised my hand and said "I can do that," and that’s how I started in release management. I've been fortunate to further develop in this role at Jet2, which is the United Kingdom’s largest tour operator and third largest airline. Here at Jet2, I oversee the release process for our technology products, ensuring smooth deployments and minimizing disruptions for our users.

I have two pieces of advice. First, don't be afraid to step into the unknown. The tech industry offers a wide variety of roles, each with unique challenges and opportunities. Whether you're drawn to coding, project management, or something entirely different, there's a place for you here. Seize every opportunity to learn and grow, and don't let fear hold you back.

Second, be your authentic self. It can be tempting, especially at the entry level, to try to fit into a mold or emulate more senior colleagues. But remember, your authenticity is your greatest asset. Bring your unique perspective, your passions, and your strengths to the table. Embrace who you are and let your genuine self shine through. By being true to yourself, you not only bring value to your work but also inspire others to do the same.

The Jet2 Women in Tech initiative is a program designed to foster diversity and inclusion within our organization. Recognizing the importance of this, we've implemented strategic initiatives across three key areas: recruitment, empowerment, and retention.

In terms of recruitment, we've proactively adjusted our job postings to be more inclusive and welcoming to female candidates. By using language that resonates with a diverse audience and shortening lengthy lists of technical requirements, we've successfully increased female representation in our trial team by 30%. Thanks to this initiative, the number of female employees in my team has also doubled. We've also made a conscious effort to include salary information in all our job adverts, a move that has proven effective in attracting a more diverse pool of applicants.

Our mentorship programme is another pillar of the initiative, offering bespoke training on confidence building, self-advocacy, and other skills essential for success in the tech industry. Through one-on-one mentorship relationships, women are provided with a supportive environment to seek guidance, ask questions, and navigate their career paths with confidence. As a mentor myself, I know how important a mentor relationship can be. A mentor is an independent advocate for you, solely there to build your confidence and support you.

Finally, our initiative focuses on cultivating an inclusive culture within Jet2 to improve retention. Whether it’s work-life balance, pay, or work flexibility, we want Jet2 to be a company that is inclusive and supports every employee. I’m really proud to work for a company that takes such a proactive and positive approach to inclusion.

We need to remember that women are still a minority group in the tech industry. That’s why initiatives like FLAME are important. We need to help one another — not only find allies who can support us, but also go out and support other women ourselves. Initiatives like FLAME play a big role in that by bringing women together and fostering networking opportunities and community.

To keep an eye out for further exciting content and events in 2024, please join our LinkedIn page!