Radhika Kapur is the EMEA Partnerships Leader at Confluent, where she leverages her extensive cross-sector experience in driving growth across the region through strategic partnerships.
With over 20 years of experience, she has held key roles at organisations like KPMG and Oracle, and is a passionate advocate for women’s advancement in the workplace generally but also in STEM related-fields and technology. Outside of work, Radhika is passionate about the arts and serves as a trustee of the Rose Theatre.
As a woman, walking into a room in the tech industry can still feel daunting. All too often, you can find yourself as the only female voice at the table.
In 2024, Women in Data reported that women in tech roles are still twice as likely to be “the only one” in the room. That reality doesn’t just shape workplace culture; it also affects career progression, confidence, and visibility.
Changing this would open up enormous opportunities — not least enabling millions of talented, capable women to contribute hundreds of billions to global GDP. But progress won’t happen by chance, and it needs to happen in the absence of a level playing field.
This means that we need to learn to take ownership of our individual journeys. Becoming your own career champion is about recognising your worth, being intentional with your growth, and making sure your voice is heard. But importantly, in your journey upwards you must also champion and support others.
The good news is that you don’t need a linear path, or decades of experience, to start. It’s self-advocacy, and not your CV, that empowers us to break boundaries and generate our own momentum.
Here’s how you can begin to champion your career:
Reframe your career story
Careers are rarely linear — and that’s a strength, not a setback.
In 2023, the World Economic Forum found that “two-fifths of the core skills workers have today will be disrupted by technological change by 2027.” The incredible acceleration of AI since that report may well have brought that reality closer, with constant debate on whether tech roles have been augmented, made redundant, or become more important than ever.
With that in mind, we shouldn’t expect to inhabit the same roles — or even the ones we desire most when we start out — forever. One engineer I spoke with began her career in chemistry before discovering data science, eventually moving into software development. Another leader started out in international marketing before pivoting into analytics and partnerships.
Neither path was traditional, yet both professionals found success by highlighting how their unique backgrounds gave them a broader perspective. When you champion your own career, you learn to tell your story with pride. What might look unconventional on paper is often your biggest strength.
Build your support architecture
You may be your own advocate, but you don’t have to stand alone!
One of the most effective ways to accelerate growth is by building a “personal board of directors.” This is a mix of mentors, sponsors, and peers who play different roles — from cheerleaders to truth-tellers. A sponsor might be the one who puts your name forward for a stretch assignment. A mentor might help you navigate tricky team dynamics. A peer might keep you accountable when you hesitate to apply for that promotion.
And just as importantly: be that person for someone else. Advocacy becomes most powerful when it’s reciprocal.
Don’t underestimate “soft” power
In tech, technical expertise is often treated as the main currency. But communication, empathy, and influence are the skills that turn ability into impact.
I once heard a senior data leader describe how early in her career she was labelled “robotic” in feedback. You might assume that an authoritative tone is non-negotiable in a senior role — but by learning to bring her authentic, human side to her leadership, she was able to exert her influence with much more power, as well as empathy.
Soft skills aren’t optional. They’re what bring your technical skills to life. They help you connect with people, guide teams, and influence decisions in ways code alone can’t.
Act before you feel ready
Imposter syndrome is far more common than most people realise. In fact, it’s classic imposter syndrome to assume that you’re the exception to that rule!
Almost every woman I know in tech admits to feeling it at some point. But waiting until you feel completely prepared before stepping into a new opportunity often means waiting forever.
Courage doesn’t mean an absence of doubt. It means you’re willing to move forward despite it. Trust that if you’ve been offered the chance, it’s because others already see your potential. If you still need the support, rely on your network of mentors, sponsors and coaches.
Create ripples through community
Being your own champion doesn’t stop at self-advocacy. Every time you take up space, you give permission for others to do the same. Confidence and visibility are contagious.
I recently heard a story of a young girl hesitant to join a robotics class. With a nudge of encouragement, she not only joined, but brought another girl with her weeks later. That’s the ripple effect of representation and support.
That small gesture can have a huge impact on the group as a whole. By showing up and speaking up, you create ripples that extend far beyond your own career, enabling both yourself and others to express yourself.
The bigger picture
Of course, women are still underrepresented in tech, and progress can feel slow. Inclusion is both the right thing to do and a powerful driver of economic growth.
Just this morning I read a blog post by Wies Bratby, an ex lawyer turned HRD turned blogger and now negotiation coach. Her message stood out: be exceptional – that’s non-negotiable, especially for women. Results don’t simply speak for themselves; you need to speak for them too.
Championing your own career is part of a much larger movement — one where personal growth and systemic change go hand in hand. Becoming your own career champion is equal parts mindset and action. It’s about owning your journey, investing in relationships that elevate you, developing the skills that amplify your expertise, and stepping forward even when you feel uncertain.
Most importantly, it’s about remembering that by advocating for yourself, you widen the path for others to follow. If you can advocate for yourself and others, others will advocate for you — allowing us all to champion the people who deserve it most.
