Positivity Lunch With Nicola Battey and Ciro Rizzo
The tech industry’s barrier to entry is lowering, and rightfully so. Many tech professionals you talk to will tell a unique story about how they broke into the industry, and few of them will have obtained a computer science degree. According to both Ciro Rizzo, Head of Engineering at The Telegraph, and Nicola Battey, Product Lead at OVO Energy, one of the keys to success in tech is having the right mindset. In this Q&A, they discuss their journeys into tech, their failures and learnings, and how developing healthy mindsets allowed them opportunities they might have otherwise missed.
This is an excerpt from a live Q&A. Join our community to make sure you don’t miss the next event!
How did you get to where you are today?
Nicola: My first degree was in product design with a focus on physical products; I enjoyed the process of building something that people could use practically. The thing that struck me about this work was the environmental impact that anything physical would have on the world which led me to complete a doctorate in environmental technology.
Later, in around 2013, I would meet someone who worked at a company called Hive, which was looking at how they could manufacture a remotely-controlled smart thermostat that would use less energy. Joining this company was the beginning of my journey in the tech industry.
Seven years later, I went to work on OVO Energy’s smart home propositions. We’re working towards a very audacious goal of achieving the decarbonization of five million homes in the UK by 2030. It’s super exciting to have this kind of vision to work towards.
Ciro: I’ve been interested in computers and computer science since the age of seven. At the time, it seemed like a weird thing to want to pursue, as it wasn’t as steady and predictable as being a doctor or a lawyer.
My parents bought me a micro-computer, and I started learning programming with that. I was fortunate to have the support from my parents and my teachers at school. I received opportunities throughout school to volunteer with some smaller companies in the area to gain coding experience. Eventually, I pursued a more serious career at a large tech consultancy enterprise in my local area before working with a variety of products and companies throughout Europe before landing here in London where I’m the Head of Engineering at The Telegraph.
What are the three things that helped you reach where you are today?
Ciro: I actually have four. The first is curiosity, which pushes you out of your comfort zone to explore uncertain, uncharted territories where you can learn. The second is maintaining the certainty that if someone out there could achieve something you might see as unachievable, then so can you. Nothing is preventing you; it’s just a matter of time and effort. Thirdly, being optimistic (which is different from positivity) helped me get where I am. Optimism allows us to see the benefit of what we do, even if it’s tough. And lastly, I’ve become accustomed to the sense of incompleteness. I might never find that thing that will make me feel complete in my work, career, or myself, but that’s okay as long as I’m learning along the way.
“Following our desired career path and dreams has more to do with how we think about them rather than the practical skills which we can develop along the way, but a healthy mindset drives us forward.” – Yota Trom, co-founder of Together in tech
Nicola: As a girl interested in tech in the early 2000s, I’m grateful for the support from one of my teachers who pushed me to consider it as a career path. My dad was also supportive, and having that security helped me pursue this career with certainty. I also think being adaptable helped me; when I began my doctorate, I had no idea how it would turn out. I must have changed my plans three or four times after working for a few months on a single idea before realising it wasn’t working. It was crucial to pivot from and adapt to changes rather than seeing obstacles as a ‘bad’ thing. I also took any opportunities given to me. Having the confidence to say ‘yes’ is hard, whether it’s working on an unfamiliar task, receiving greater responsibility, asking someone you admire to go for coffee, or a new project; ultimately, pushing yourself will be useful in the long run.
Who was someone who helped you overcome specific challenges throughout your career?
Nicola: I had coffee with someone I met through my colleague because she was interested in my research. Three years later, she’d be the person who got me into tech. Over coffee, I told her about the companies I found particularly interesting who were working in my area of research, and she eventually got a job at one of those companies and passed on my paper when it was published. Eventually, I joined them. She had a profound impact on me, and I often think if I’d have said ‘no’ to that coffee, would I have found a career in tech in the same way?
“Part of our success is dependent on the people who are around to support us; we can feel at ease knowing we’re never truly alone, and there will always be someone we can reach out to for help.” – Yota Trom, founder of Together in tech
Ciro: It’s always been older people who believed in me and gave me chances. I was an ambitious junior developer at a large company in Italy, and I asked my manager for more challenging work. He was completely open to it, and we worked together on a range of tasks, and I learned a lot through him. I always worked hard to show my capabilities, and I think it’s important to remember that you have to learn to fail and fail to learn whenever you start a new career.
Can you share a story from where you felt like an imposter, and how did you navigate it?
Nicola: This is kind of ongoing day-to-day. When I joined the tech world, I was like, “I don’t know anything about tech; all I know about is thermostats,” which was intimidating, but now I realize that my skills are transferrable. Whenever these thoughts enter my mind, I think about how my best friend or husband would talk to me, and they would never talk me down. So, why would I do that to myself? There have been hundreds of times when I’ve been on panels or submitting to journals, and I think, “why am I doing this? I’m completely out of my depth,” but actually, maybe I’m not.
Ciro: Imposter syndrome is something I’ve always felt anytime I start a new job or face a new challenge. It’s something we have to live with. However, imposter syndrome is based on your self-perception, which might not be the same as how others see you. We have higher expectations of ourselves, and perhaps it’s in a continuous cycle because we are always learning.
Can you share something you perceived as a failure or major learning in your career?
Ciro: I remember stepping into a new role and taking responsibility for projects that had a significant impact on cost. I had to get the right result. In the end, I made a mistake and created more mess rather than cleaning the mess that was already there. I had to be humble and admit the error to my team. I took the responsibility, and I think my openness led others to be more open.
“Having the courage to take responsibility when things go bad allows for deeper connections and relationships. People are more receptive when you show your real self.” – Yota Trom, founder of Together in tech
Nicola: After having my son, I returned to work but moved to a new product range where the role was less clearly defined. It kind of felt like I was treading on toes, and my confidence was taking a bit of a hit. In the end, the product we were working on failed as the goal wasn’t clear. This taught me a lot, and looking back, I think we didn’t have the right resources to succeed. I could have been stronger, pushed back on things I thought wouldn’t work, and set expectations differently.
Connect with Nicola and Ciro on Linkedin and join the Together in Tech for event updates.
