"Flexible working is key to career development, enabling people to stay in tech while balancing personal needs, Sophie Weston said. In her talk at QCon London, she mentioned that flexibility widens the pool of potential talent and enables keeping the best talent. She also championed internal promotions and "squiggly careers," allowing role shifts, including in and out of management, to support long-term growth."
"Weston argued that one of the most impactful things that organisations can do to help people to pursue and develop their careers is to offer flexible working. To balance my family life with having a career, I chose to work part time for many years. Without part-time work while my kids were young, I wouldn't be in tech today. I would have had to walk away. It's that simple."
Flexible working enables people to balance home responsibilities and remain in technology careers, increasing retention and expanding the pool of available talent. Part-time roles and other flexible arrangements allow caregivers, students, and those seeking different work-life balances to contribute meaningfully. Internal promotions and "squiggly careers" permit movement in and out of management and across roles to support long-term growth. Senior technical roles require influence, communication, strategy, and the ability to shape team culture rather than solely technical depth. Skills developed outside work, such as sports or volunteering, can enhance perspective and leadership potential.
Read at InfoQ
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]