2023 reflections, 2024 predictions with Code Like A Girl’s Ally Watson

As we start to wind down before the holiday break we are asking a wide range of SME business leaders to reflect on 2023 and gaze into the 2024 crystal ball.

It’s been quite the year, and the only certainty for next year is uncertainty.

Today, Ally Watson OAM, founder and CEO of Code Like A Girl shares her highs, lows, and plans for next year.

How has Code Like A Girl been going in 2023?

Entering the year, we braced for a financial rollercoaster, sensing mid-2022 market trends, especially the hurdles of a junior tech-talent recruitment slowdown.

So, our 2023 game plan was all about adaptability and digital transformation for the long run. We’ve been making moves — investing in scalable offerings, streamlining operations, and cooking up a B2B product with a 2024 launch in sight.

A personal standout was launching our 2023 Virtual Careers Fair in a custom-made virtual world (or metaverse — is that still a buzzword?). The community and partner feedback served as a strong reminder of our crucial role in bridging the gap for women entering tech careers. Excitingly, we’re gearing up for an even bigger run in 2024.

Despite industry shifts, major props to our steadfast multi-year partners — Macquarie Group, Pepperstone, IAG, Xero and the Victorian State Government. It’s our homegrown Aussie companies that have stood by us the most in these turbulent times, contributing to some incredible gains we’ve had this year.

As a social enterprise, do interest rate rises affect your operation? How has the overall economic gloom affected you? 

While 2023 brought economic challenges, we’ve navigated the impact on Code Like a Girl with a focus on long-term sustainability. The economic clouds were already looming over our revenue streams well before 2023 kicked in. That’s why, right out of the gate this year, we were lucky to snag a federal grant and lock in some long-term partners that have been detrimental to our success this year. Our proactive approach includes creating more cost-effective solutions for our partners, ensuring not only short-term resilience but also establishing a solid foundation for continued success in 2024 and beyond.

How are you going personally? 

This year has been a wild ride; “Take me out the oven, I’m done” comes to mind! Recognising my vulnerability to burnout, a state I’ve dipped in and out of this year, I’ve focused on developing more effective stress-management systems — leveraging colour-coded calendars, and Gmail filing systems, and incorporating AI where possible.

A personal standout in 2023 was joining Tractor Ventures’ Advisory Program. Regular meetings with seasoned ex-founders like Noga Edelstein have been invaluable in navigating both short-term challenges and long-term goals.

Additionally, my inaugural year on the Telstra Foundation Board, starting late in 2022 has been both rewarding and educational, offering valuable insights beyond the realm of CLG.

In the whirlwind of 2023, a truly unforgettable personal highlight was my partner and I’s tropical elopement in breathtaking Far North Queensland!

You’ve been blazing a trail for women in coding since 2015. Clearly your work is not done, but does it feel like you’re getting there? 

Navigating a challenge as substantial and multi-faceted as ours can indeed make it seem like you’re only making a drop in the ocean. However, staying connected to the mission, continually evaluating our progress, and relying on our set milestones and metrics serve as our navigation system. While the journey feels ongoing, every year concludes with a sense of optimistic determination. I often hope that the difficulties faced this year will be the last, and that the upcoming year will be the one where significant progress truly begins to unfold.

How do you measure your impact?  

To measure our impact, we rely on an elevation framework. This tool helps us assess whether our efforts are truly making a difference. It’s not just about counting the major outcomes, like placing 162 women directly into software engineering jobs; we’re delving into all the steps in between. We ask questions, seeking a broader understanding to solve the problem more effectively. This ensures our initiatives not only meet immediate goals but also contribute to long-term positive change.

What do you love about working in the social enterprise space? What other organisations or leaders inspire you? 

I’m passionate about driving positive change at scale, and working in the social enterprise space with my software development mind/skill set enables me to build a brand that can accomplish this goal. My role at the Telstra Foundation has been particularly fulfilling in this regard. A recent meeting with the team at Humanitech, an Australian Red Cross Initiative, has left me deeply inspired by their principles and methodology, further fueling my commitment to creating meaningful change at scale with technology.

What frustrates you? 

What frustrates me is the evident gap between the vocal pledges to support women and the harsh financial realities we face. Despite the growing awareness, financial pressures often eclipse sincere efforts. That’s why I find solace in the work we do at Code Like a Girl; it’s a proactive response to this dissonance. Through our initiatives, we actively narrow the divide between words and action, working to make a real impact in empowering and supporting women in tech. Our commitment goes beyond mere promises; it’s about generating employment opportunities, cultivating inclusivity within the workplace, and ensuring that financial backing aligns authentically with the vocal commitments to advancing women in the workforce.

The explosion of interest in artificial intelligence is being seen as an existential challenge to knowledge workers like software engineers: does gen AI excite you, or concern you? 

The surge of interest in AI is a topic that both excites and concerns me, particularly through a gender lens. While AI holds great potential for innovation, we must be mindful of historical patterns where technology advancements sometimes inadvertently perpetuate gender biases.

Rapid adaptation is essential not only for shaping the landscape but also for actively participating in a conversation that ensures gender inclusivity and equity. By embracing AI responsibly and prioritising diversity in its development, we can work towards a future where technology contributes to a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

How is your partnership with the Victorian government going? 

Our partnership with the Victorian government is going really well, and has been extended to 2025. The success of this collaboration is rooted in our shared goals and a strong alignment of values. The government’s expansive reach to public servants complements our work seamlessly. An illustrative example is the 101 Python Coding workshop we hosted last October, engaging over 400 public servants during Cyber Security Awareness Month.

How are you feeling about 2024? 

Looking ahead to 2024, there’s a mix of excitement and determination. The strides we’ve taken in 2023, have set the stage for an even more impactful year. With a B2B product launch on the horizon and continued support from our committed partners, we’re gearing up for transformative initiatives that will further empower women in tech. While I know financial challenges will persist, the year ahead holds the promise of meaningful progress, pushing us closer to our vision of a more inclusive and equitable tech industry.