Welcome to this insightful interview with Maddie Clingan, an Agile Coach at ControlPlane, a cloud-native security consultancy. Maddie is dedicated to helping people, teams, and products in the tech world reach their full potential through experimentation. She has a diverse background that includes working as a Technical Board Advisor to Dialogue Earth, speaking at conferences to advocate for women in tech on topics from career development to menstruation, and leading the “Take the Mic” community for women in public speaking. Maddie’s journey into tech is marked by her passion for career development, unconventional routes to tech, and everyday Agile practices.
Please, tell us a bit more about yourself Maddie! What interested you in tech?
A fun fact about me is that the first part of my career was focused on something completely different – becoming a specialist in the development of modern China. This meant that from the ages of 18 to 24, I spent 2 and a half years living, researching and travelling in various parts of the country, culminating in a Master’s degree in China Studies from Peking University.
I later got fascinated by the world of tech because it seemed to emulate so much about what I loved about being immersed in all things China: it’s constantly evolving, fast-paced and cutting edge. For this reason, I developed a conviction that the tech industry would be the best environment for me to continue to learn and grow, as well as the place that would best benefit from my skill set.
What was your job history before getting into tech?
I’m a huge lover of learning so I always found studying highly rewarding. I hold a BA with First Class Distinction in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of York, and a Master’s degree from Peking University, Beijing, where I studied Law as part of a China Studies programme which brought together scholars from over 40 countries. The experiences I had whilst studying, the initiatives I was part of and the people I met have shaped me into the person I am today, so I’m deeply grateful for those years of higher education.
What was your career-changer journey?
The doors to the tech world started opening for me when I started networking whilst interviewing for new roles – yes, that’s right, see interviews as a networking opportunity!
This is especially true in the startup/small company space, where relationships matter, and, in my experience, I’d often get invited into the office (pre-covid) and introduced to different people across the company during the interview process.
From here, someone at a company that I originally interviewed put me forward for an Agile Coaching role at a company that was their client at the time. I started this interview process and got the role, landing my first tech role.
Could you share some insights about your initial experience in your first tech role?
My first role was a journey of exponential learning, I was completely new to the world of both Agile and tech so every day was a bombardment of new information and terminology. I wrote out pages of glossaries and notes and found it helpful to reflect on each day and think about one learning to take forward into the next. By doing this, I gave myself permission to not get it all right from the outset and created a way to release the things that didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.
I wrote out pages of glossaries and notes and found it helpful to reflect on each day and think about one learning to take forward into the next.
I was lucky enough to be part of an extremely supportive and open environment where I was trusted from the outset. My role was one of high visibility and leadership and I was encouraged to take that on from the outset and step into all that I was capable of. It allowed me to experiment, find my strengths and fall in love with the role – it’s definitely something that I see myself doing long into the future!
If you could go back in time what advice would you give yourself at the very beginning of your journey?
My top three tips for anyone starting their career in tech would be:
- Create the space to focus: You’ll be digesting a lot of new information, whether that’s related to tech, process or people, and that can be exhausting. Be okay with prioritising your new work and, once you’ve built a strong foundation, you can look at building out other interests.
- Create shared learning journeys with your colleagues: It’s tempting to feel like you need to present the image of having it all together, but in a new role that’s neither expected of you nor the best way to build relationships. Invite people into the journey with you to either learn together or guide you. The best experiences in the workplace come from this as you eventually get to new heights together.
- Lean on external mentors and coaches, always: This is the single biggest reason that my career has grown at the pace it has. From the outset, I’ve always had a mentor and/or coach outside of the company I’ve worked at who was championing my growth and offering impartial input. The conversations are also tailored to your particular circumstances in a way that books, podcasts and talk can never be, which means you can apply the learnings to your work way more effectively.
It’s tempting to feel like you need to present the image of having it all together, but in a new role that’s neither expected of you nor the best way to build relationships.
What advice would you give to someone currently seeking their first job in the tech industry?
Build relationships. Find someone you admire and reach out and learn from them. Find people in different roles, be curious and build out your understanding of the industry. Find people who might one day think of you and suggest an opportunity. This approach has laid the foundation for me to travel across the world and then enter a new industry with zero experience. Ultimately, everything is underpinned by people.
Find someone you admire and reach out and learn from them.
I hope you found Maddie’s journey and insights as inspiring as I did. If you’re a career changer or someone navigating the tech industry, I’d love to hear your story. Let’s connect over a virtual coffee and discuss our experiences, challenges, and successes. Feel free to reach out to me! ~ Amina Ba
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