Week 4 of 52 — Women in Tech Series

Welcome to our Women in Tech series. Over the next 52 weeks, we’ll spotlight inspiring women shaping the technology industry — sharing their stories, achievements, and insights.

From founders and engineers to designers, researchers, and community leaders, this series celebrates the diverse voices driving innovation and building the future of tech.

I graduated with a Law degree in 2010, but quickly realised I didn’t want to pursue a career in law.
What I was really drawn to was business and marketing, and even back then, I could see the potential of digital technology to solve problems and create more freedom in how we live and work.

When I moved to Bath, I discovered the local tech community and soon became involved with Bath Girl Geeks, eventually helping to run the community. Being surrounded by people building products and startups sparked my curiosity.

I became fascinated with the idea that you could build something from nothing, even learning to code or create digital products yourself. That exposure to the startup ecosystem was the moment tech stopped feeling abstract and started feeling accessible.

I’ve had what I’d describe as a very squiggly career path.
Marketing has been the common thread, but every role has been a learning opportunity that ultimately prepared me for entrepreneurship.

After graduating, I was determined to gain as much experience as possible. I worked six days a week – three days running an Oxfam shop and three days as a paid marketing executive intern at a cathedral. That experience taught me a lot about resourcefulness, creativity and making things work with very limited resources.
I tried corporate life briefly but quickly realised it wasn’t for me.

Since 2016, I’ve worked as a freelance marketing consultant, which has allowed me to work with a wide range of businesses and develop a broad skill set across strategy, growth and digital marketing.

All of those experiences eventually led me to found Melody.

One of the biggest challenges is simply not knowing what you don’t know when you first start. You often have a very clear vision in your head, but translating that vision into a real product can be difficult.
Finding the right team is critical.
Strong product and design partners help turn ideas into something tangible, and good communication is essential because what you imagine doesn’t always translate directly into the final product.

Like many women in tech, I’ve also experienced moments where the industry’s male dominance is very visible.
Early in my career, I would sometimes walk into rooms where I was the only woman and feel people underestimate me or assume I didn’t understand technical concepts. But I’ve always had a strong belief – perhaps a little bit of healthy delusion – that I was capable of building something meaningful. That belief kept me moving forward even when the path wasn’t entirely clear.

Tools like AI and no-code platforms are also helping to level the playing field, making it easier than ever for people to start building.

Start before you feel ready.
You don’t need to know everything at the beginning – the best way to learn is by experimenting, building and iterating. There are so many tools available now that make it possible to start creating immediately.

I’d also encourage women to get really clear on their purpose.
Having a compelling “why” will keep you going through the inevitable challenges. As Simon Sinek says, starting with why makes everything else easier to navigate.

Most importantly, tech and innovation need more women.
We bring different perspectives and see problems differently – and those perspectives are essential if we want to build products that truly work for everyone.

Connect with Jade!

Follow Jade’s journey and connect with her on LinkedIn here