More than 50% of women leave tech at the midpoint of their career. I’ve written before about this exodus, but this time I want to reflect on whether self-employment could be a solution for women who feel frustrated by their work environments.

Having left corporate employment myself about two years ago, I’ve found that many of the things that used to drain me in traditional tech jobs don’t affect me as much anymore as a freelancer.

Let’s take a step back and look at the most common reasons women cite for leaving:

• 37% point to bad company culture

• 28% cite limited growth opportunities

• 27% leave mainly for family reasons

The culture problem: escaping the boys’ club

When women talk about “bad culture,” it often refers the bro culture that still runs deep in tech: after-hours networking at the bar or gaming console, subtle (or not-so-subtle) bias around technical ability, being left out of high-visibility projects, or constantly needing to prove yourself in male-dominated teams. In fact, 72 % of women in tech report a “bro culture” at their workplace.

As a freelancer, you don’t escape culture entirely, some clients will carry these dynamics too. But the impact is far lower: projects are shorter, you are no longer part of the organization, and you can choose to walk away from clients who don’t respect you. In other words, you don’t have to live inside bro culture anymore.

Growth on your own terms

In corporate settings, growth often depends on climbing a hierarchy, competing for promotions, or visibility in environments where bro culture can stack the deck. Freelancing flips that. You’re hired as the expert, and every project is a chance to expand your skills, build credibility across industries, and grow faster than waiting for someone else to green-light your next move.

Flexibility for family (and life)

For many women, the “family reasons” for leaving often boil down to inflexibility — rigid schedules, lack of support for caregiving, or environments that still assume the ideal worker has no outside responsibilities. Self-employment doesn’t magically remove the juggle, but it gives you control over when, where, and how much you work. And you get to say no to clients who won’t respect those boundaries.

A different way to stay in tech

For me, freelancing has meant more freedom, autonomy, flexibility, energy, and yes fun than I ever thought possible in my corporate career. My experience inside big tech companies is valuable, but now I can use it on my own terms.

Self-employment isn’t risk-free: client acquisition takes effort, and the lack of benefits can be a real hurdle. But for women at the midpoint of their careers - the very group most likely to walk away from tech - freelancing can be a powerful alternative to either grinding it out inside the boys’ club or leaving the industry altogether.

You don’t have to accept the limitations of bro culture. You can step outside it, define your own space, and keep doing great work in tech on your own terms. At least this is my experience 🙂 

Code to freedom masterclass: Your journey from the corporate cage to your self-made wonderland

Code to Freedom Masterclass is where you are going to learn how to go from working in corporate for someone else, asking for permission for everything (except using the bathroom) to becoming the self-made wonderland woman.

The self-made woman who lives in her own wonderland doing what she wants whenever she wants.

This experience is on

Date: September 15th 
Time: 6 pm CET
Where: Live on Zoom

In this masterclass, I’ll walk you through:

• What to put in place now so you can quit without panic

• The mindset shifts that make your leap safer and less scary

• How I replaced my corporate income

Sign up here (recording will be made available if you can’t make it live).

Studies and stats 🔢 

Source: Women in Tech in 2025: 50+ Statistics Point to a “Bro” Culture

Do you agree? Reply with a yes to this email!

Wellbeing Hack 😁 

Sunlight / Daylight exposure

When spending long hours indoors on laptops, regular exposure to sunlight is a simple but powerful wellbeing hack.

Daylight helps regulate your circadian rhythm, boosting energy, focus, and mood while reducing the fatigue and brain fog that often comes from extended screen time. Sunlight also stimulates vitamin D production, supporting bone health, immunity, and stress resilience. Even a short walk outside or a few minutes near a sunny window can refresh your mind, enhance creativity, and provide a vital break from the digital world, helping you maintain both physical and mental health in demanding tech roles.

On sunny days, I like to work on my balcony.

Content recommendations 📚️ 

My favorite pieces of content to learn and grow!

• The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness | Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche - Book

  This book literally changed my life. A few years ago, when I read it, it set me off on my journey of discovering meditation, more yoga and learning about wellbeing. It started the transformation I have gone through since then, which started with nervous system regulation and then creating a new life. This book sheds light on the scientific studies of what meditation does with the human brain and humans overall.