“If we want products and services that are fit for purpose we need a massively diverse workforce and diverse teams to  bring all of that knowledge and experience together,” says Dr. Sue Black OBE, Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University, and all around tech icon.

Speaking to Hot Topics at FinTECHTalents 2018, Dr. Black stressed the importance of confidence as a critical skill when helping people learn and become more proficient with technology.

Since founding TechMums, a course that helps women learn computer and digital skills in the UK, she has been amazed at how even a basic amount of knowledge can change people’s lives. After one session, a graduate of TechMums told Dr Black that learning how to attach photos to emails help her improve customer services on her market stall selling school uniforms in London.

“I put this course together but I hadn’t even kind of dreamed really that something so small could make such a big difference ,” she says. “Just from learning very basic digital skills I think, particularly from being in technology for a long time, those are things that I completely take for granted most people just don’t know, they just don’t know the basics at all. I think if we help people to learn those skills giving the confidence we can change our lives.”