"Embrace Opportunities, Overcome Challenges, and Advocate for Yourself" - Insights from Pavlina Gilmore, senior manager at Barclays, on Women in Tech

Barclays Prague Technology Center is a unique place. We bring together a rare combination oftalent, tech, diverse perspectives, positive culture and genuine global impact to create an environment where the best people can do exceptional work. 

Meet one of the inspirational women working in Barclays, Pavlina Gilmore, who is a senior manager, heavily involved in developing tech talent, she's an active member of the WIN community, 2nd year in a row a mentor in one of our internal development programs and also the owner of Diversity Leadership Tech Award!

Pavlina, tell us about your role in Barclays and what determined you to join the field of IT?

I never planned to work in technology after school. My path began in retail banking customer support, where I was given the opportunity to join a project to upgrade the core banking system. From there, my journey evolved toward technology. I went from a business user to a superuser, IT trainer, business analyst, and eventually into IT project delivery and project and program management. I see this progression as a series of fortunate opportunities that I embraced to grow.

At Barclays, I’m a Senior Program Manager and People Leader. This role allows me to work on a strategic project that’s shaping the future of data handling for the investment bank. I regularly engage with many senior stakeholders across several regions, manage implementation challenges with the program team, and explore new methods and processes related to project delivery. Leading and managing people in this capacity is both challenging and rewarding.

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What are the biggest challenges you face atwork?

The main challenge is managing senior stakeholders’ expectations while keeping my team motivated to meet demanding program targets and KPIs. It is quite challenging for me to deliver bad news on a project, but it’s essential to address problems directly and ensure solutions are found.

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balancein such a demanding and fast-paced industry?

Achieving balance is easier said than done and requires discipline. I prioritize my working tasks and responsibilities in a way to meet critical deadlines without compromising personal time. A detailed to-do list helps keep me on track during work hours, and I block off time on my calendar for exercise or other activities which makes you happy and energized and protect that time as much as possible. Taking regular breaks and planning holidays in advance are also important to ensure quality time with family and friends.

What are the activities you are engaged in that help to support the growth of female tech talent?

I’m grateful to mentor junior female tech talent through a mentoring program in my company. These programs benefit both mentees and mentors, as we learn from each other and build trust. It’s rewarding to see mentees overcome self-doubt, build confidence, and grow professionally as a result of this program. Barclays offers a variety of initiatives to support female tech advancement, including advanced training, mentoring, and interpersonal skill development. I’m proud to be part of the WIN Prague program, a networking group dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing women at all levels in our company.

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What motivates you to bring more females towards IT?

The tech industry still has the perception of being a “boys club,” and based on current statistics, the Czech Republic has the lowest representation of women in IT, only 11% compared to the average of 19% in EU. This number is even lower in leadership roles, where women often face greater challenges, unconscious bias, and limited promotion opportunities. However, it is proven that diverse teams perform better, drive innovation, and make more effective decisions, which benefits the entire organization.

I’m encouraged to see more and more companies sponsoring women-only programs toaddress these biases and close the gender gap in leadership. I’m proud to actively support many women-in-tech initiatives within my company and the broader industry.

What is theadvice that you would give to women that are changing their career? 

This question made me reflect deeply. I’d offer three pieces of advice:

1.  Go for it. As the saying goes, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Be courageous,but sensible.

2.  Stick with it. Success takes hard work. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and embrace challenging opportunities.

3.  Speak up for yourself. It may feel difficult, and you won’t always get the response you hope for, but if you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will. Even if recognition doesn’t come immediately, you’re laying the groundwork for future conversations.