Give to gain: What women in tech can achieve when they dare to fail

In the corporate world, success is often incorrectly framed as the steady accumulation of wins over time. In contrast, failure can be seen as a deviation from the norm, something to be concealed and corrected quietly. In the technology sphere, where efficiency and competition are defining factors, these common perceptions of success and failure are even more pronounced.

What's true, however, is much simpler: failure is inevitable, and openly embracing it can be transformative – especially for women in tech. Missteps are not anomalies in an environment that is shaped by emerging technologies, ever changing customer expectations, and the drive for constant innovation. Instead, they are evidence of experimentation and progress. By recognizing this reality, organizations can build more inclusive cultures that respond well to failure, enabling everyone to thrive.

This year's International Women's Day theme, "Give to Gain", offers an important lens through which to examine how failure can act as a catalyst for success, creating a ripple effect that empowers everyone. For women in tech, embracing this ethos does not come without its challenges, as it requires us to relinquish the expectation of perfection in the pursuit of something greater. This involves vulnerability in an environment that has not always rewarded women for it.

As an early-stage new graduate working in technology, I learned early that failure would be the norm. But what kept me going was powerful leaders and mentors who accepted those failures and reinforced the growth that occurred as a result. "What did you learn from this?" is a powerful way to drive the dialogue in a constructive manner.   

Through experiences like this, we've learned that by embracing the power of failing first, there is much to gain.

First, it's a reminder that choosing vulnerability acts as a catalyst for gender equity. When we are vulnerable, it creates space for greater understanding, transparency, and trust. This fosters an environment in which we can gain more inclusive, stronger cultures. 

Second, by embracing failure as a tenet of culture in technology, the opportunity for clarity is much greater. When leaders candidly acknowledge mistakes, there's less ambiguity. Teams can better understand what did or did not work and, crucially, why. When this comes from a woman in executive leadership, the clarity accelerates not only learning, but empowers women to embrace their full potential to become leaders within their own teams.

Additionally, we gain trust. In tech, understanding the outcome of a decision and the behaviour that follows it is incredibly important. When leadership models accountability and integrity rather than defensiveness, they create a psychologically safe environment. One of the lessons I learned many years ago was the power of taking accountability quickly when things don't go as planned. It can go  far to defuse a situation and help everyone move on, but it also sets the tone for others. 

In turn, this enables employees to become more willing to take risks and challenge themselves, which leads to bigger and bolder ideas. Innovation is only possible when these environmental factors are present. Without it, caution stifles creativity. 

Critically, for women leaders, the dynamic of embracing failure to gain opportunities for collective growth and achievement carries additional significance. As demonstrated by research and the lived experience of women in senior technology roles, we are often evaluated with a greater level of scrutiny. The margins for error are narrower as a result, making greater visibility a risk. This often results in the strong instinct to avoid or quietly correct failures altogether.

Notably, however, when women in positions of leadership openly demonstrate that mistakes are a requirement for progress, they shift the narrative. This narrative shift not only benefits the leader, but also everyone who observes it.

Dialogue on its own cannot achieve this cultural shift. It requires systematic and deliberate change.

For women in tech, fostering opportunities for sponsorship is equally important. A sponsor is someone who not only provides guidance but also advocates for you. Building a network of support enables greater acceptance and encouragement to productively learn from setbacks. This can be achieved through formal and informal mentorship programs, peer support groups, and creating spaces for open dialogue, where experiences can be shared without reputational risk. Normalizing discussions of failures opens the door for others to share. We hosted an event recently where we talked about setbacks and how they led to growth and the participation and stories that women felt inspired to share gave us hope that these conversations can drive real impactful change.  

And this is really how the concept of "Give to Gain" becomes more tangible. By showing up authentically and giving vulnerability, we collectively gain space to make mistakes and become stronger together.

Success as a woman in tech is not possible in the absence of failure, it is possible because of the requirement for it. By daring to fail first, we create the conditions for others to progress more equitably.