Toni Robinson-Bowring is Chief Product Officer (CPO), where she will lead product strategy, vision, design and development across the full Twenty7tec suite.
Her responsibilities include setting the overall product direction, driving innovation and new product development, leading the Product and Delivery teams to execute against company roadmaps, and ensuring alignment across product, engineering, commercial and customer teams. Toni will also oversee product performance, adoption and long-term value creation, and lead go-to-market delivery for new product launches.
When people talk about succeeding in tech, they often focus on technical skills.
Coding languages. Frameworks. Certifications. Tools. Those things matter. But they are not the whole story.
The women I see thrive in tech are not always the loudest in the room or the most technically advanced. They are the ones who build confidence over time, ask good questions, and learn how to influence without losing their authenticity. Confidence in tech does not arrive overnight. It grows through action. Early in your career, it can feel like everyone else knows more than you. You may find yourself comparing your knowledge, your experience or even your personality to others. This is normal. It is also unhelpful.
Instead of trying to match someone else’s strengths, focus on building your own. Ask yourself what you are curious about. What problems do you enjoy solving? What feedback do you receive most often? Confidence grows when you lean into what makes you effective, not when you try to copy someone else. One of the most powerful things you can do in the early stages of your career is ask questions without apology. There is a myth in tech that asking questions signals weakness. In reality, it signals engagement. It shows you are thinking, learning and trying to understand the wider context.
You do not need to know everything. You do need to be willing to learn.
Soft skills are often overlooked in tech discussions, yet they are essential for career progression. Being able to explain a complex idea simply is a skill. Being able to listen well in meetings is a skill. Managing your time, prioritising work and communicating clearly are all skills that will set you apart.
If you want to stand out, focus on being reliable. Deliver when you say you will. Communicate early if something changes. Own your mistakes and learn from them. Trust builds quickly when people know they can depend on you.
For women in particular, there can be an added layer of pressure around visibility and self-promotion. Many of us were not taught to speak confidently about our achievements. Yet progression often depends on it.
Start small. When a project goes well, share the outcome. If you contributed to solving a difficult problem, explain your approach. You are not boasting. You are providing clarity on your impact. If you are preparing for promotion, think beyond your current role. Are you mentoring others? Are you improving processes? Are you thinking about how your work supports wider business goals? Promotion is rarely just about doing your current job well. It is about demonstrating readiness for the next level.
For those entering tech from another industry, remember that your previous experience is not wasted. Skills such as project management, customer service, writing, teaching or analysis all translate. The key is learning how to frame them in a tech context. Show how you solve problems, adapt to change and work with others. Imposter syndrome is common in tech, especially in environments where you may be one of few women in the room. When it surfaces, return to facts. What have you achieved? What feedback have you received? What skills have you built? Confidence is not the absence of doubt. It is the decision to move forward despite it.
Finally, be patient with yourself. Careers in tech are rarely linear. You will take sideways steps. You will try roles that do not fit. You will learn through experience. Growth is not about being perfect. It is about being willing to improve.
The tech industry needs diverse thinking, different backgrounds and varied leadership styles. There is no single mould for success.
Build your skills. Build your confidence. Build your network.
And remember that you belong in the room.
