In recent years, we’ve seen a surge of women entrepreneurs in the tech industry. Despite the challenges of operating in a male-dominated field, these women have shown remarkable innovation and determination, building successful businesses and creating opportunities for themselves and others. Today, we have the privilege of sitting down with one such woman: Julie Foulon, a serial entrepreneur who has founded several companies in the IT space including Girleek.

A journey from finance to tech

Kingsley: Hello, could you introduce yourself?

Julie Foulon: Of course! My name is Julie Foulon, and I am the founder of Girleek. 

K: We noticed that you have a background in finance. Was it not a great fit for you?

JF: Actually, it was a great love story. I loved pursuing a master’s in market finance, but I had ethical concerns about making money with money, such as investing in corporations or betting on the crash of certain companies.

K: Did the 2008 financial crisis inspire your entrepreneurial spirit?

JF: Absolutely. During the subprime crisis in 2008, I was laid off from my job in a bank’s placement room near Charleroi. The sector was in turmoil, and since I didn’t speak Dutch, it was challenging to find a new job. However, I used the opportunity to reinvent myself. Since I knew how to code and had already developed websites, I launched my first company.

Girleek, a “women first” concept

K: What is Girleek? Could you introduce your company and its mission?

JF: I founded Girleek in 2011 as a blog inspired by the women of the Arab Spring who used technology to amplify their voices and reach beyond borders. I was struck by how these women viewed technology as a means to achieve their goals, rather than an end in itself, which was a distinct approach from what I observed among men. This difference sparked the idea for Girleek.

I also recognized that the internet’s content was heavily skewed towards men and their perspectives. To address this, I launched Girleek as a platform to discuss new technologies from a different viewpoint and to promote awareness and visibility among women in tech.

In 2019, we pivoted Girleek towards providing digital skills acquisition and training for women to prepare them for the rapidly changing job market. With 85% of new jobs in the digital sector, we aim to help women map out and understand the pathways to these new opportunities, including digital marketing and programming. Our goal is to empower women to build fulfilling and sustainable careers in the tech industry.

K: That’s a great initiative. Do you accept men in your training programs?

Yes, of course. Girleek is open to everyone, but our marketing and communication are geared towards women. We want to make it clear that our program was designed for them. However, men are welcome to apply, and we’ve had many men take our courses in the past. Men generally don’t question it: if there’s a course they’re interested in, they apply without further hesitation. I believe men are part of the solution in attracting more women to tech!

K: What changes have you observed regarding the role of women in tech/digital? 

JF: There’s definitely been progress in recent years, with more companies recognizing the need for diversity in their workforce. However, there is still a long way to go. One of the challenges we see is the difficulty in finding qualified women for these roles…

K: How do you address the talent shortage in the tech industry?

JF: At Girleek, we have implemented an academy with trainings accessible 24/7 on our website, allowing women to acquire these skills independently. We also offer coaching and certification exams to help them earn super badges that showcase their skills to potential employers. Additionally, we connect them with companies that are actively seeking individuals with specific skills or direct them to temp agencies to find job opportunities.

K: That’s fantastic. Why did you choose a digital format for your training programs?

JF: Balancing family obligations with learning new skills can be a daunting task, especially if it involves attending evening classes or dedicating a whole day to a course. At our institute, we understand these challenges and offer a flexible and accessible training program that can be completed at the learner’s own pace. With our digital format, we are able to reach women in different regions, including Tunisia and Palestine, where we have expanded our services. Our online platform provides an innovative way for women to acquire new skills and knowledge, without compromising their other responsibilities.

K: That’s impressive. Why did you choose to expand to those specific countries, and do you plan to expand further?

JF: Our decision to focus on Palestine and Tunisia is driven by both personal experience and strategic partnerships. In Palestine, our team has worked closely with Enabel on several missions, empowering women with digital skills to achieve financial independence. My personal connections to Tunisia also make it a meaningful location for us. We have been able to contribute to the AIM’s training initiatives there and are committed to developing a platform for training in both French and Arabic. Moreover, Girleek’s online training model allows us to expand our reach beyond these regions easily. Our goal is to create a positive impact on a global scale, and we believe that providing accessible digital skills training is an essential step towards achieving that goal.

Leadership and womenhood

K: Do you think the challenges faced by women leaders differ from those faced by men?

JF: Yes, I do. Women still face a lot of gender bias and discrimination, even in 2023. We have to work harder to prove ourselves and sometimes we are judged more harshly than our male counterparts. However, I do believe that the more women step into leadership roles, the more we will be able to break down those barriers.

For example, when I first started Girleek, it was difficult to get funding and support for our mission, but I believed in what we were doing and kept pushing forward.

K: What is your greatest professional accomplishment to date? 

JF: My greatest accomplishment is when I can help women secure employment and they can succeed in their new positions. 

K: What does it take to be a good leader? 

JF: It means trusting people and spreading a lot of love and good energy! That includes listening skills, empathy, and a great sense of understanding.

The future is female

K: What does it mean to be a woman in 2023? 

JF: Being a woman in 2023 means embracing the opportunities and challenges of the future. The tech industry presents endless possibilities for women with the emergence of new jobs. However, it also means confronting ongoing struggles for human rights, such as those in Iran, and addressing limited access to education for young girls in Afghanistan. As women of the future, it is our responsibility to advocate for gender equality and empower women worldwide to reach their full potential.

K: Who is the woman who inspires you the most daily? 

JF: Undoubtedly my daughter, despite not being a full-grown woman yet. I am driven to make a difference for her and her friends. I realize the importance of carving out new paths to promising careers and create a better future for young women.

Every achievement made by women should be celebrated, but we must remember that there is still much work to be done. (Julie Foulon)