This International Women’s Day, the theme Give To Gain reminds us that sharing our time, knowledge, and support creates more opportunities for everyone. In the tech industry, where women are still underrepresented overall, generosity and mentorship can make a significant difference. At Fonix, a company proud to have a strong presence of women across its tech teams, Francesca, Head of Technology and Engineering, Kat, Software Developer, and Laxmi, QA Engineer, show how collaboration and support help everyone thrive, proving that when women rise, we all rise.

STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, drives innovation that shapes our world. Increasing women’s participation strengthens industries, encourages diversity, and fosters forward-thinking solutions. From leading engineering strategy to building new features and ensuring quality across products, Francesca, Kat, and Laxmi each play a vital role at Fonix, demonstrating the value of teamwork, mentorship, and creativity.

Francesca – Head of Technology and Engineering

Can you tell us a bit about your role at Fonix?
I lead the engineering team, combining hands-on coding with strategic planning and mentoring. I focus on building scalable systems while fostering collaboration across teams. Supporting colleagues to take on new challenges and grow is one of the most rewarding parts of my role.

How did you get started in tech? What inspired you?
I wrote my first lines of code at around 10 years old – a simple program to calculate the area of a triangle. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it showed me I could create something useful. My interest grew from a love of maths and science, and at university I explored different programming languages, building projects that deepened my skills and passion.

What’s your proudest achievement at Fonix?
My proudest achievement is seeing how our team has grown and built something lasting together. Since joining on day one, we’ve developed a platform that now processes billions of messages and payments annually. The collaborative nature of coding, sharing ideas, designing solutions, and improving together – makes it especially rewarding.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in tech, and how did you overcome them?
At times, people questioned my abilities or qualified praise with comments like, “As a woman, you’re doing well.” I overcame this by focusing on my work, trusting my skills, and consistently proving my place in tech through results.

Who or what inspires you in your career?
The creative potential of coding inspires me. I love combining logic and imagination to build something new that can make a real difference in people’s lives.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in tech today?
Diverse teams create better solutions. Follow your passion, trust your abilities, and don’t let bias or doubt hold you back – your contribution matters.

Kat – Software Developer

Can you tell us a bit about your role at Fonix?
I’m a full-stack developer, working across both the front end and back end of our platform. I spend my time building new and improving existing features and work closely with my team to deliver reliable, user-focused solutions.

How did you get started in tech? What inspired you?
After travelling, I joined a start-up to gain exposure to different roles in order to find my passion. I spent five years in operations before moving into engineering, as a self-taught QA engineer. I loved the roles where I could be hands-on, and build solutions that were having a meaningful impact. So, I invested in a web development course and committed to a career in engineering.

What’s your proudest achievement at Fonix?
Being part of a small team that built and launched a brand-new online product in 2025. Seeing it go from idea to a live product used by real customers was incredibly rewarding, and something I’m really proud to have contributed to.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in tech, and how did you overcome them?
I’ve been fortunate to work in supportive environments and haven’t faced significant challenges specifically because of my gender, which I’m very grateful for.

Who or what inspires you in your career?
Many people inspire me, but one standout is Fran, our Head of Technology and Engineering. She’s an incredibly talented developer, a mother, and has been with Fonix from the beginning. She leads with calmness and clarity and makes it all look effortless.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in tech today?
Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn will take you far. Ask questions and learn from those around you.

Laxmi – QA Enginner

Can you tell us a bit about your role at Fonix?
I work across product and engineering to ensure our products are reliable for clients and end users. I run tests, report defects, and work closely with developers to resolve issues quickly. I’m proud to contribute to quality at every stage of development.

How did you get started in tech? What inspired you?
I’ve always been curious about how things work and enjoyed solving problems. QA appealed to me because it combines technical thinking, attention to detail, and communication. I started by learning testing tools and processes, then grew through hands-on experience working closely with developers and product teams.

What’s your proudest achievement at Fonix?
Helping reduce post-release defects by improving regression testing and working closely with developers to catch issues earlier. I’ve also contributed to the successful delivery of key projects through thorough and effective testing.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in tech, and how did you overcome them?
I’ve been lucky to work in positive, supportive teams where I’ve felt respected. I focus on collaboration, clear communication, and delivering quality work, which helps build trust and overcome any challenges.

Who or what inspires you in your career?
I’m inspired by the users we support through QA. Knowing my work helps prevent real-world issues keeps me motivated. I’m also inspired by representation – being a woman in tech and helping create a more inclusive industry.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in tech today?
Believe in yourself and work hard. Keep learning, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to try new things.

Give To Gain

This International Women’s Day, ask yourself: What will you give to gain gender equality in STEM?

Whether sharing knowledge, mentoring, or supporting others, every action helps build a more inclusive and connected industry. At Fonix, giving generously helps everyone succeed.

Because when women rise, we all rise.