Women in Tech: Journeys, Grit, and the Future We’re Building

| Harness Blog

Women in Tech: Journeys, Grit,
and the Future We’re Building

By Prerana Singhal

Technology evolves rapidly — but progress in tech isn’t driven by tools alone. It’s driven by people. By curiosity. By courage. By individuals who choose to step into complex systems and shape how they function.

As an engineering leader driving application and API security, I have always believed that our industry is at its best when complex concepts are made accessible and practical for everyone. When I spoke with women across Harness — from backend engineering and security research to DevRel, quality engineering, and senior leadership — one theme became clear: while our journeys into tech were different, the forces that shaped us were remarkably similar.

Curiosity. Community. Confidence built over time.

Here’s what that journey looks like — together.

The Beginning —
Curiosity, Courage & Defining Moments

My journey into tech started with curiosity — understanding how systems work behind the scenes. That curiosity led me into cybersecurity: not just building systems, but understanding how they break and how to make them resilient.

For Juveria Kanodia, Senior Director of Engineering, the inspiration came from home. As a high schooler, she was encouraged by her mother to look beyond the family business and pursue computer science. Today, she sees technology as the foundation of modern civilization — from the internet boom to the rise of Agentic AI — and believes women must actively shape this next technological wave.

For Soujanya Namburi, Senior Security Research Engineer, the spark appeared even earlier — in sixth grade — when she tried to revive her father’s old PC by installing Linux on limited hardware. Her defining moment came during her first project at Harness, where she was given the time, mentorship, and autonomy to explore deeply — and saw her ideas take shape in real systems.

And for Ramya Maripuri, from Quality Engineering, the journey began with a simple question: “Why?” That instinct to understand how things work evolved into a love for building scalable automation frameworks. One defining “aha” moment came when she identified an edge-case issue on Amazon’s website, reported it, and watched it get fixed — proof that attention to detail can drive real-world impact.

Different beginnings. Different domains. One shared driver: curiosity strong enough to become commitment.

Breaking Barriers, Building Confidence

Working in tech — especially in engineering-heavy environments — can sometimes mean being one of the few women in the room.

In security, I learned confidence comes from preparation and depth. The deeper my understanding became, the easier it was to contribute without hesitation.

Risana Rasheed, a Backend Engineer in the Ingestion & ETL team, echoes this experience. As an introvert, speaking up wasn’t always natural. But she found that as her technical strength grew, so did her comfort in conversations. As she beautifully puts it, growth doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

Jyoti Bisht, Senior DevRel Engineer and OSS Lead at Codes.cafe, points out how limited representation can cap ambition. When most CTOs and deep-tech leaders are men, it can unconsciously limit how far you allow yourself to dream. Her approach? Stop waiting for perfect representation. Learn from competence, regardless of gender — and build alongside women who are growing with you.

There are myths too — persistent ones. The idea that women are “less technical.” Or more suited for coordination roles. Or that you need to be exceptionally outspoken to succeed.

Across every conversation, that misconception was firmly rejected.

Technical depth comes from curiosity, practice, and persistence — not gender. Women across Harness are building distributed systems, optimizing data pipelines, conducting security research, shaping product narratives, and driving engineering strategy.

And what keeps us here? The work itself.

For me, it’s the constant learning — especially in cybersecurity, where thinking like both an attacker and a defender sharpens perspective. For Risana, it’s designing scalable data systems that power real-world decisions. For Jyoti, it’s leverage — the ability for one document, one feature, or one community initiative to impact thousands. For Soujanya, it’s the joy of bringing ideas to life. For Ramya, it’s the thrill of continuous exploration. For Juveria, it’s building technology that touches daily lives.

Impact at scale is addictive.

The Power of Community — And What Still Needs to Change

No one builds alone.

Community has played a huge role in my journey. Even informal peer conversations can accelerate learning and strengthen confidence.

Soujanya emphasizes how crucial formal mentors and sponsors have been in her growth. Jyoti highlights how internal women-in-tech groups create shared momentum — sometimes you don’t need someone twenty years ahead of you; you need peers building alongside you. Risana describes her support system as limited but valuable — found in key moments that mattered. Ramya relied on peers and networks to navigate growth. Juveria credits formal mentorship and sponsorship in shaping her leadership path.

Across roles and seniority, one truth emerged: community compounds growth.

But there’s still more to do.

The women consistently called for:

• More hands-on technical workshops
• Structured mentorship and sponsorship programs
• Leadership visibility for women
• Allyship training
• Flexible work policies
• Greater representation in senior technical roles
  

Support cannot remain symbolic. It must be practical, structured, and visible.

Enabling Growth: The Role of Harness

Culture matters.

At Harness, many of us feel the difference.

For me, Harness provides an environment where you can focus on learning and contributing without unnecessary barriers. Open discussions, ownership, and merit-based growth create space for meaningful impact.

Ramya values the ownership and responsibility embedded in the culture — where quality and engineering depth are truly prioritized.

Risana describes it as a place where she could build complex systems without constantly proving she belongs. She highlights the absence of subtle biases and the emphasis on capability over stereotype.

Jyoti appreciates the intentionality of internal women-in-tech initiatives — conversations that are practical rather than performative.

Soujanya reflects on being encouraged to attend conferences and pursue research, with mentors who ensured she never felt alone in figuring things out.

And Juveria calls Harness a “technology springboard for women” — citing work-life balance, flexibility, and senior women leaders as powerful enablers.

Progress isn’t built on statements. It’s built on systems.

When inclusion is embedded into culture, confidence scales.

The Future Women Are Building — And Advice for Those Starting Out

What excites me most about the future of technology is accessibility. Today, curiosity and intent are often enough to begin. That democratization changes everything.

We’re moving from participation to authorship.

Risana is energized by the evolution of distributed systems and AI at scale — and by the growing presence of women shaping data infrastructure itself. Jyoti sees a world where AI reduces the cost of building, open source reduces the cost of learning, and community reduces the cost of belonging. Soujanya finds hope in increasing representation — because visibility makes belonging feel possible. Ramya is optimistic about women becoming decision-makers rather than just contributors. Juveria sees the Agentic AI wave as an inflection point — one that demands responsible engineering and empathetic leadership from women.

And to women just starting out?

My advice: start before you feel ready. Build. Ask questions. Seek mentors. Don’t wait for perfect confidence — it comes from doing the work.

Risana encourages trusting your curiosity and focusing on hands-on projects. Jyoti reminds us: Ship anyway. Speak anyway. Confidence is built through exposure. Soujanya says: don’t let imposter syndrome make decisions for you. Ramya advises building strong fundamentals and speaking with clarity. Juveria adds an important leadership lesson — don’t just do great work; share it. Teach it. Amplify it.

The field needs your voice — even if it’s quiet. Especially if it’s thoughtful. Confidence follows action.

Beyond the Code: Inspiration & Perspective

A quote that resonates deeply with me is:

“The expert in anything was once a beginner.”

Risana shares the same belief — that mastery is built through curiosity and consistent effort. Soujanya draws inspiration from Thomas Carlyle: “Go as far as you can see; when you get there you’ll be able to see further.” Ramya lives by Eleanor Roosevelt’s words: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Across roles the philosophies differ. But the foundation remains the same: growth is earned, not granted. And when we simplify, we empower.

And that’s what this is ultimately about.

Not just women working in tech.

But women building it. Securing it. Teaching it. Leading it.

Together.