Uta Dresch is Chief Operating Officer (COO). In her role she oversees the day-to-day operations of DocuWare.
Her global team, which includes Customer Success, Customer Support and Professional Services, are dedicated to customer advocacy, loyalty and support. Uta joined DocuWare in 2018. She earned her degree in Mathematics from the University of Fribourg.
For years, I walked into rooms and lecture halls where I was one of very few women at the table I stayed quiet, took notes, worked hard and reminded myself that I had the right to speak.
Like many women in technology, I believed in the ‘Expert‑Only’ myth. The idea that you must have every answer before you deserve a seat. What I didn’t realise then was that this belief wasn’t humility. It was a limitation I placed upon myself and I equated confidence with competence.
Everything began to change the moment I challenged that belief.
The moment everything shifted
Early in my career, I finally asked a question I had rehearsed silently for weeks. It wasn’t technical or profound; it was simple. And when half the room admitted they had been wondering the same thing, I was relieved.
That moment reframed everything. I stopped seeing questions as evidence of not knowing enough and started seeing them as a strategic asset, a way to create clarity, accelerate learning and invite others into the conversation.
Once I understood the power of asking the first simple question, I realised something deeper. Silence doesn’t protect your credibility; it erodes your influence. And if I wanted a different career, I needed to show up differently.
Owning your narrative in an industry that won’t hand you success
As I moved from software engineer to COO, I discovered that pushing back on the ‘Expert‑Only’ myth meant moving beyond speaking up and actually stepping in. Curiosity became my compass, and advocating for myself became non‑negotiable.
Women often wait to feel “ready.” But readiness is a moving target, especially in an industry that evolves faster than any one person can. If I had waited for certainty, I would still be sitting quietly at the table.
Taking ownership of your narrative is an act of confidence, not arrogance. It’s the antidote to a system that rarely hands out permission slips. And once you stop waiting for permission, you start to see the strengths the industry consistently undervalues, the very strengths that diverse leaders bring.
The undervalued currencies of modern tech
The more I led, the more obvious it became that technology isn’t powered solely by technical mastery. Creativity, empathy, adaptability and the ability to listen – all of these are traits that build resilient teams and innovative cultures. Yet they’re often dismissed as “soft” when they’re anything but.
When we hire here at DocuWare, we look for passion, dynamism, customer focus and, above all, decent human beings. Technical skills can be taught. Integrity, curiosity and team spirit cannot.
And this is where I believe the ‘Expert‑Only’ myth does some of the most damage. It blinds us to the qualities that actually move organisations forward. When we broaden our definition of what leadership looks like, we create space for more voices and better solutions. That belief shapes how I lead today.
Building the environments we once needed
As I grew into leadership, I realised that challenging the ‘Expert‑Only’ myth involved both my personal growth and the kind of spaces I hoped to build for others.
The most effective teams I’ve led weren’t defined by who had the most answers, but by who felt safe enough to ask the most honest questions. Psychological safety, trust and presence became the real infrastructure of my work.
Whether I’m aligning with our C‑Suite in Germany at sunrise or supporting our US teams in the afternoon, the through‑line is the same: create spaces where people feel heard, respected and empowered to contribute. That is where innovation truly happens.
Companies that retain top talent are the ones that prioritise substance over flashy perks. The ones that invest in belonging, the ones that replace perfectionism with curiosity and competition with collective courage.
A call to action for women in technology
If you’re a woman entering or advancing in tech, here is what I want you to know. You do not need to be an expert to belong. You do not need to wait for permission to lead. You do not need to silence your questions to prove your worth.
Ask the first question. Take the first step. Own your narrative. And remember, when women lead with courage, we reshape not only our own paths but the culture of technology as a whole.
