Confidence over doubt: Thriving as a woman in tech

Confidence beats doubt every time. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Marta Bas, Head of Careers at Le Wagon, shares practical ways women can overcome impostor syndrome and thrive in tech.

This article was written by Marta Bas, Head of Careers at Le Wagon.

At Le Wagon, inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s part of who we are. We believe tech education should be accessible to everyone, no matter their background. That’s why each year, we use International Women’s Day as an opportunity to celebrate, reflect, and spark conversations about how we can keep pushing for more diversity in tech.

Since Le Wagon started in 2014, we’ve seen the number of women in our bootcamps grow from 19% to 31%—proof that change is happening. In 2022, we launched Flex, a part-time format designed for people who can’t commit to full-time learning. It’s been a game-changer, especially for women, who now make up a bigger percentage of our Flex students than full-time program. And our newest bootcamp, Growth Marketing, has already hit a 58% female participation rate!

While progress is happening, there’s still work to do to make tech more inclusive. Many people face barriers—impostor syndrome being one of them. Let’s explore simple confidence-boost strategies that anyone can try.

Don’t do it alone

Seeing more women in leadership and technical roles makes a difference. Whether it’s classmates, teachers, or professionals you meet along the way, surrounding yourself with supportive peers can help counter impostor syndrome. Learning to code (or pivoting into tech) is about more than just skills—it’s about finding your people. Joining a network provides mentorship, connections, and a space where women can thrive. Having an accountability partner to share progress with can also keep you motivated and remind you how far you’ve come.

Job-ready, hands-on skills

Confidence comes from doing, not just learning. At Le Wagon, we focus on real-world projects so students leave not just with knowledge, but with the confidence and portfolio to land a job in tech. The same applies to anyone transitioning into tech—building small projects, contributing to open-source, or tackling coding challenges can make a huge difference. The more you apply your skills, the more you’ll see how much you actually know.

Leverage your unique background

Tech isn’t just for people with traditional computer science degrees. Your previous experience—whether in education, healthcare, marketing, finance, or any other field—can set you apart. The industry values diverse perspectives, and combining your past expertise with tech skills makes you a unique professional. Think about what problems you’ve solved in your past roles and how tech can enhance those solutions. Recognizing that you already bring value to the table can help silence impostor syndrome and boost your confidence as you step into tech.