Many of us are taught that if we work hard, deliver great results and become experts in our field, recognition and progression will naturally follow.
In reality, that’s not always how careers work.
For women in technical roles, there can be an additional challenge. Not only is much of our work happening behind the scenes, but we’re often expected to prove our expertise repeatedly, communicate our impact clearly, and advocate for opportunities that aren’t always offered automatically.
It’s something I’ve experienced throughout my career in data.
There have been countless occasions where a colleague has asked me a question, I’ve provided an answer, and then they’ve gone to a male colleague to double-check it. More often than not, that colleague gives exactly the same answer. What’s striking is that I’ve never seen the reverse happen.
Moments like these force you to recognise that expertise alone doesn’t always translate into visibility.
The visibility gap in technical roles
One of the biggest challenges in data and technology is that success is often invisible.
When a paid media campaign generates record sales, the result is easy to celebrate. When digital PR secures national coverage, everyone can see the outcome. But what about the data analyst who built the reporting infrastructure that made those insights possible? Or the technical specialist who identified and fixed a tracking issue before it impacted performance?
Often, the best technical work is the work nobody notices.
If a report runs smoothly, users rarely think about the many moving parts working together behind the scenes. If analytics tracking is accurate, few people stop to consider the planning, testing and troubleshooting that went into making it reliable.
Technical teams often become most visible when something breaks.
That creates a challenge for recognition and even career progression. If your impact isn’t immediately obvious to the wider business, you can’t assume people automatically understand the value you’re creating.
When opportunities aren’t equally visible
Visibility isn’t just about recognition. It’s also about opportunity.
Earlier in my career, I watched male colleagues receive learning opportunities that I wasn’t offered. Our technical abilities were comparable, but when it came to developing additional skills such as UX and coding, they often had access to experiences that weren’t automatically extended to me.
Those opportunities matter. They build confidence, broaden expertise and create pathways into more senior roles.
Looking back, one thing I would change is being more proactive about asking for those opportunities. Taking a seat in the meeting. Volunteering for the project. Pushing harder to learn the skills that would support my long-term growth.
Because career progression isn’t only about the work you’re doing today. It’s about the opportunities you’re given to develop for tomorrow.
The difference between doing great work and being seen to do great work
One lesson I’ve learned is that doing great work and being seen to do great work are not the same thing.
Many technical professionals assume their impact is obvious. I certainly did.
The reality is that most people don’t see the complexity behind a successful technical project. They don’t see the edge cases you’ve considered, the risks you’ve mitigated, or the problems you’ve solved before they became visible.
That means we need to become better storytellers.
Instead of saying, “I completed a complex tagging project,” explain what was missing or broken, why it mattered, what challenges had to be overcome, and what changed as a result.
The work hasn’t changed. But the way people understand its value has.
Self-advocacy isn’t bragging
For many women, this is where discomfort creeps in.
At the time, achievements often don’t feel like achievements. They feel like the job we’re paid to do.
There’s also the fear of appearing boastful.
But there’s an important distinction between bragging and recognising your own contribution.
Bragging is about elevating yourself above others. Self-advocacy is about helping others understand the value of your work.
I’ve found it helpful to think about visibility as education rather than promotion. Whether I’m explaining a new technical solution, sharing lessons from a project, or running a training session, the goal isn’t to make it all about me. It’s to help others understand something they didn’t understand before.
Ironically, that’s often when people begin to recognise your expertise.
Small habits that make a big difference
Self-advocacy doesn’t have to mean constantly talking about yourself. Often, the most effective habits are the simplest.
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Keep a record of your achievements throughout the year. Document projects, challenges, new skills and measurable outcomes. Not only does this provide valuable evidence during reviews, but it also creates a reminder of how much you’ve grown.
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Communicate regularly about what you’re working on. Share progress, challenges and learnings instead of quietly solving problems in the background.
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Look for opportunities to teach others. Training sessions, knowledge sharing and mentoring can all increase visibility while creating value for the wider business.
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Most importantly, don’t assume people automatically know the impact you’re making.
Great work deserves to be seen
The idea that your work should “speak for itself” sounds admirable. But in reality, work can only speak if people understand what they’re looking at.
For women in data, technology and other technical disciplines, visibility isn’t about ego. It’s about ensuring expertise is recognised, opportunities are accessible and contributions are valued appropriately.
Being a quiet achiever is something to be proud of.
Just don’t let being quiet stop people from seeing what you’ve achieved.
