Yinka David-West

What experiences led you to technology and how did you develop the skills to compete in the industry?

Guided by my late mother, I studied computer science at the University of Lagos. Before even commencing my first year, my father insisted that I must own a computer so that summer he had planned to buy me a PC – an Amstrad. Before making the big investment, my father also insisted I learn how to use the keyboard. Hence, he shipped us off to typing school. By owning a computer, I became a DIY person, managing to complete all my assignments on the PC, except for FORTRAN which the lecturer insisted must be completed on the Campus mainframe.

My practicum began in my fourth year when a scout came to recruit student volunteers for an indigenous software company. After his pitch, he expressed the energy at the offices and how they often worked late. I decided to pay them a visit that evening in Victoria Island.
From being a student volunteer, I went back for NYSC, took a gap year for my masters and then went back.

I guess my relationship with technology was consummated during those years. I was (and still am) fascinated by what I did not know. I learned how to administer the Xenix/Unix operating system environments. That wasn’t enough so I learned how to install and configure tape drives and other external devices. That still wasn’t enough, so I learned about Oracle database administration and went on to imaging. But, even with all that, I craved more so I was sent to R&D, which in essence was a play yard to try out new possibilities and concepts.
Before big data became a buzzword, we were building data marts and playing with online analytical processing (OLAP) tools. Before artificial intelligence became mainstream, we were exploring natural language processing. It was so much fun that going to work was always a new challenge and an opportunity to learn something different.

It was through those experiences, I learned about the power of users. We had just deployed a new imaging product and that meant our client had to rescan all their signature cards and pictures. The employees complained to their bosses that the product did not work. Being confident of the product we had shipped, I requested permission for my team and me to assist with the recapture. Miraculously, the product that was not “functional” worked. The client staff were reluctant to increase their workload so they blamed the only dumb actor – the technology.

My skills were developed through practice. You may have knowledge of all the frameworks and concepts, but without their practical application, they are nothing.

How has your background helped/differentiated you in the tech industry?

To date, I think my unique selling point is the ability to play both sides – technology and business. I am not a purely technology person, but my interest is in technology’s role and impact in business and society. In fact, when I tell my students I cannot write a line of code to save my life, they look at me startled. Programming was never my core strength. Writing lines
of code, compiling, debugging and all whatnot were too monotonous for me. I was brought up in the playground, and I enjoy working with different toys. Hence, I’m a generalist with insights on tech.

What advice would you give to women considering a career in technology? What do you wish you had known?

I’ll say go for it and go the whole hog, don’t stay in your comfort zone; it may change before you realize it. Technology work is more accessible today with remote management systems and laptop computers. In my early career, if a client had a problem, it had to be resolved before the following business day; hence late nights were frequent.
Also, ask questions; bug people; read between the lines: ask more questions and most of all continue investing in yourself.

Any other thoughts on women in technology?

Working in tech is beyond a job or a paycheck, it’s a consuming ecosystem. So, you have to have a deep passion for it. If you’re no longer feeling it, cut yourself loose. Otherwise, you’ll get no rewards and would have wasted your time!