BuildHers Circle: Women urged to embrace constructive criticism for genuine career growth

Women in Nigeria’s tech industry must learn to give and receive constructive criticism from each other if they want to build sustainable careers. This was the position of Detiem Taiwo, Programme Lead at CyberSafe Foundation, during the BuildHers Circle, which took place on Wednesday in Lagos.

Speaking during the panel session of the event, the cybersecurity expert told attendees that women supporting one another through honest feedback, rather than just empty encouragement, is essential for genuine professional growth in the male-dominated tech sector.

“Women should come together in communities, not just for mutual benefit but also to support the next generation by sharing advice, opportunities, and resources,” Taiwo said during the panel discussion on “The cost of building a sustainable career as a Woman in Tech.”

Her emphasis on constructive criticism struck a chord with women in the room, many of whom shared similar experiences of working in environments where honest feedback between women is often avoided for fear of being labelled unsupportive or competitive.

Beyond surface-level networking

Taiwo emphasised the “give to gain” approach, where women actively invest in each other’s success through honest feedback, shared opportunities, and resources that help the next generation avoid similar obstacles.

“Women should not see themselves as less; they should embrace all and double down by becoming better,” Taiwo said, linking her message to the event’s theme: “Give to Gain: Experiencing genuine growth beyond metrics.”

She encouraged the women to view themselves as members of a community and to treat upskilling as a continuous journey rather than a one-time achievement, highlighting “the role of community, particularly for ladies, and the need for balance and continuous learning” as critical to sustaining careers in tech.

Similar read: Introducing BuildHers Circle 2026: a gathering for Women leading and entering tech

In a post-event interview with Technext, Taiwo elaborated on how women should adapt to challenges in the tech industry, using International Women’s Day as an example of the power of collective action.

She pointed to how women globally come together on International Women’s Day to make a significant impact, demonstrating that when they unite around shared goals, they can drive meaningful change regardless of criticism or obstacles they face.

Taiwo said this same spirit of collective action should extend beyond one day a year, becoming the foundation for how they can support each other’s careers in tech throughout the year.

Reactions from attendees at BuildHers Circle

The discussion sparked responses from women across different career stages who described situations where they felt isolated in male-dominated teams, or where others viewed them as competition rather than collaborators.

Taiwo’s call for constructive criticism, rather than just cheerleading, resonated particularly strongly. Several attendees shared experiences where they struggled to get honest professional feedback, making it harder to identify blind spots or improve their skills.

The session created space for women to discuss these dynamics openly and identify practical steps for building stronger professional networks based on genuine support rather than performative solidarity.

BuildHers Circle is Technext’s community initiative focused on supporting women building careers in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. Wednesday’s event at Zone Tech Park, Gbagada, brought together women at different career stages to share insights on navigating the industry’s unique challenges.

Taiwo’s emphasis on constructive criticism and community support reflects a broader conversation in Nigeria’s tech sector about how women can advance not just individually, but collectively, by actively investing in each other’s growth rather than competing for limited opportunities.

The post BuildHers Circle: Women urged to embrace constructive criticism for genuine career growth first appeared on Technext.