VIC JACK: EMPOWERING WOMEN IN TECH TO THRIVE

For too long, women have been underrepresented in the tech sector. Vic Jack is working hard to change that. We sat down with this powerhouse wāhine to explore how she’s making tech a more inclusive space, and unpack the unconventional ways that young women can build fulfilling careers in this fastpaced industry.

The cool thing about talking to Vic Jack is that you’re not just tapping into her wisdom - for which there is plenty, but you’re also gaining access to the collective insight of the hundreds of women she has connected with over the past few years. Through the podcast and community group she has built and grown, Vic has become a vital connector for women in tech.

Five years ago, Vic launched Women in Tech NZ to foster equitable opportunities for women in tech. What started as a small initiative has since grown immensely, and as we speak, Vic is knee-deep in preparations for the group’s first in-person event - a documentary screening followed by a powerful panel discussion on why women still receive less than 2% of venture capital funding.

It all started when Vic found herself frustrated by the lack of diversity in the industry, and the number of sacrifices women were making to advance their careers. “The drive behind it was to share resources, community, education, skills, and networks. I wanted women to feel like they could be whoever they wanted to be and apply to any job they wanted.”

For Vic, community is the foundation of everything. “Community is really, really important - you can never underestimate the power of it. The people you meet can help to change your perspective on things, and motivate you to get ahead or try new things.”

This sense of community extends to the Heroines Women in Tech podcast that Vic hosts, where she shares the stories of women who have started tech businesses. “We talk about what it means to actually start a technology business as a woman.” The podcast doesn’t shy away from hard truths - offering a raw exploration of the adversities that women face, and confronting the longstanding stereotypes about what women represent in the business world. “It’s important to keep telling these stories, hearing these stories.”

But for Vic, storytelling alone isn’t enough - she wants her listeners to take action. “That’s the most important thing. I want people to walk away with something they’ve heard and act on it Call people up, ask for leadership roles, and hold yourself and others accountable.”

Vic’s story - and the stories of those who appear on her podcast - serve as reminders that while the challenges that women face in tech are real, so is their potential for success.

Vic knows this from personal experience - her own story is one of resilience and tenacity. Coming from a marginalised background, she had to work hard to get where she is today. “My family didn’t have a lot If I look at where I’ve come from and where I’ve got to, it’s taken a lot of self-belief and hard work. That’s the thing I’m most proud of. Taking myself out of a situation that could have been extremely difficult and continuing to set and meet new goals.”

She wants others to know they’re capable of doing the same “You don’t need to have a certain university degree or come from a specific background. I think if you really want something, you can go get it. You just need to have a strategy and plan in place.”

Her career is proof of this. Trained as a designer, Vic has also worked in advertising, marketing, business development, and across several start-ups, in both the UK and New Zealand “It’s an unconventional career trajectory,” Vic laughs.

Today, she runs Actualise.io - a tech startup aiming to eliminate the bias and discrimination in hiring, as well as Maslow Recruitment - a recruitment agency focused on increasing diversity in the tech sector.

She’s quick to clarify that her approach is not about ticking diversity boxes. “We take a holistic approach, looking at the full story of each persontheir skills, passions, and needs. That’s how you attract the right people to drive growth and innovation in tech.”

Interestingly, Vic fell into recruitment - largely by accident - as it fit well with her family’s lifestyle at the time. But it's ended up being the perfect way to combine her passions and interests.

“I’ve always been naturally curious and a problem solver. Recruitment is problem-solving - it’s looking at different aspects of a person, figuring out what they need - whether it’s a new job or a career change - and coming up with a plan to make that happen.”

There’s an important lesson here, and it’s one that any young woman can take away with them: to think outside the box.

“Identify what excites you and figure out how you can leverage technology as the enabler to bring that vision to life,” Vic says with conviction.

“There are so many different roles that you can play in the technology sector. Technology is the future, and you can figure out how to use it as an enabler for your work and what you want to do.”

As our conversation draws to a close, Vic reflects on what she wants her legacy to be. It’s not an easy question to answer - but Vic’s response is beautiful.

“I’m about collective impact I hope that firstly, I’ve helped my daughters understand they have a place in this world, and that they can be whoever they want to be.”

“And secondly, that the communities I’ve established and the people I’ve helped will have taken something away to adjust their future in a positive way.”

VIC’S ADVICE FOR YOUNG WOMEN INTERESTED IN STEM:

"There are so many different roles that you can play in the technology sector. Technology is the future, and you can figure out how to use it as an enabler for your work and what you want to do."