Week 9 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.
Reema Vadoliya
Head of Data at Signable
How did you first get into tech/innovation?
When I graduated from university in 2016, I got an internship as a Data Analyst for a digital marketing company. I really enjoyed the fast feedback that comes from querying and playing with data, using that information to share with team members and understanding how that data is used for storytelling to inform decision making within an organisation. From there, my curiosity led me to more technical roles where I continue to build upon my want to learn about how to be creative with technology.
What did your career path look like before landing your current role?
Since my first job in data, I’ve worked in many data roles including as a data engineer, data scientist, data team manager, and as a data consultant for a firm and then for myself. I’ve worked at companies of various sizes, whilst the company culture has varied across the organisations, the fundamentals of data remain the same. I’ve built upon my knowledge over the past decade and built confidence in my ability to solve problems with and around data.
What does your role involve day-to-day?
As Head of Data at Signable, I’m responsible for setting the vision and direction for how we use data. That means on top of thinking about how data systems are built and the data is used, I’m making sure that stakeholders across the business are able to access and understand the data that they need to enable them in their roles. I see data as a storytelling tool that enables information to be used in decision making and ultimately to achieve business goals. I support the data team to tell stories in an easy to understand manner, whilst collaborating on the technical methods that are necessary to tell those stories.
What challenges have you faced working in tech, and how did you overcome them?
There is so much to learn with new innovations, technologies and approaches being created and changing at a high frequency. The biggest challenge I’ve had to, and continue to, overcome is that I can’t know everything. I’m a curious person who wants to know everything about anything, which is a goal that cannot be achieved within this industry, or many others I’m sure!
I’m open to learning all the time, and try to focus on the problems that are in front of me. This has also helped me to grow my ability to prioritise. There are always many challenges in front of a person, not needing too far to go to find more. Reframing challenges as opportunities to learn has helped me to remain optimistic and excited about learning new things, rather than feel overwhelmed by the amount that there is to learn.
Was there a moment or opportunity that helped you break into the industry?
The initial internship that I had really helped me to learn about a career in data. In terms of the other roles that I have had there have been so many individual moments that have contributed to me arriving to where I am today. Most of those moments come from networking and having open and curious conversations with people across the industry. Having the openness to know that I don’t know everything has helped me to continuously learn. I have also had some really great managers who have shown me what is possible within a career in data.
I’d recommend to anyone who wants to build on their career experience to find a mentor if they are seeking support outside of what they can receive from their managers.
What advice would you give to women who want to work in tech or innovation?
It’s a really exciting industry to work in, in part because it is constantly changing. The fundamentals of professionalism apply as they do across many industries and if you’re looking to career change as your route into tech & innovation then I’d highly recommend using that to remind yourself of the value that you have to give.
What do you love about working in the South West tech ecosystem?
As a new person to the South West tech ecosystem, I’m really excited to meet people and dive into the exciting things that are happening within the region.
Connect with Reema!
Follow Reema’s journey and connect with her on LinkedIn here
