What it really takes to stay relevant in tech right now

Every few years, a wave of change sweeps through technology roles and resets what “being good at your job” actually means. Right now, that wave includes AI, automation, shifting expectations of leadership, and a growing demand for technologists who can operate far beyond the boundaries of the stack.

At Women in Tech Fest 2026, speakers across sectors pointed to a common theme: the future of tech work isn’t about chasing every new tool. It’s about how you think, communicate, and operate inside increasingly complex systems.

From AI as a teammate, to critical thinking, to deep business context, the message was clear: the most resilient tech careers will belong to professionals who combine technical capability with human judgement, clarity, and systems awareness.

AI is changing how work gets done, not why it matters

“The tech pros who'll thrive are learning to work with [AI] and bring their own unique insight to the party.”

AI is undeniably reshaping technology roles, but several speakers cautioned against treating it as a one-size-fits-all disruption.

Renece Brewster, Co-Founder & Co-Managing Director at Her Tech Circle, described a shift that goes beyond productivity gains:

“The evolution of AI from a tool to a teammate is revolutionising the tech industry. We're moving from using AI for simple tasks to having agentic AI handle entire workflows on its own, which is a game changer on so many levels!”

As AI systems take on more autonomous work, the value tech professionals bring is changing. Technical execution still matters, but it’s no longer enough on its own.

“It's not just about being a coding wizard anymore; it's about strategic thinking, good judgement, and bringing human skills to the table that AI just can't match.”

That means the people who stay relevant won’t be the ones who fight AI adoption, they’ll be the ones who learn how to collaborate with it effectively.

“The tech pros who'll thrive are learning to work with it and bring their own unique insight to the party.”

Be deliberate about where AI adds value

Pia Seeto, Technology Transition Lead & Head of Planning & Reporting Technology Governance at TPG Telecom, reinforced this idea, but with a strong warning against blanket adoption.

“The trend that is reshaping tech roles is AI, however what needs to be clarified by any tech professional is what is AI really reshaping for the tech role that they play.”

Rather than assuming AI should be applied everywhere, Pia emphasised intentional, task-level thinking.

“People need to be deliberately clear where AI is playing a role and where it isn’t. It is an individual assessment and requires critical thinking on the tasks that are relevant for which AI could be applied.”

In her own leadership role, AI supports preparation and reflection, but not the human work that creates outcomes.

“The value I bring is what is said in meetings and how the debate in a meeting is facilitated. I deliberately plan the intent and ensure there is clarity on the outcomes that people take away.”

AI, when used well, sharpens judgement rather than replacing it.

“I use AI to cross check my preparation prior to the engagement of my stakeholders, clarify my understanding of best practice in equivalent situations, clarify options to better present and close decision frameworks, help reflect and confirm the agreed actions in a succinct manner for the team to move forward. I self-monitor the situations in which I take the time to use it and deploy it.”

The takeaway for tech professionals is simple but demanding: experiment with AI while thinking critically about why, when, and how you deploy it.

The biggest skill gap isn’t technical, it’s communication

“It's not enough to build awesome solutions if you can't explain their value to all the stakeholders, work with hybrid teams, or get everyone on board.”

Despite all the talk of advanced tools, both Renece and Pia pointed to a far more human gap holding teams back.

“The biggest gap I've seen isn't technical skills, it's communication, and it's a huge one. Seventy percent of hiring managers put it at the top of the list, and it's what separates good technical people from great leaders,” said Renece Brewster.

She highlighted that the ability to explain complexity clearly is often what differentiates strong individual contributors from trusted leaders.

“It's not enough to build awesome solutions if you can't explain their value to all the stakeholders, work with hybrid teams, or get everyone on board. For many this does not come naturally so practice, practice, practice and find opportunities to constantly put yourself outside of your comfort zone.”

Pia echoed this concern, linking communication directly to decision-making under pressure.

“The skill gap I consistently see in tech teams is the ability to critically think and clearly communicate. Tech professionals should look to always lean into tension, clarify what they are looking to resolve and be clear about what they can control, and what support they need to resolve the situation. The ability to communicate constructively needs to be practiced and not let to atrophy.”

In an environment where AI can generate answers instantly, the ability to frame the right questions, navigate tension, and align people around decisions becomes even more valuable.

Context is becoming a core technical skill

“The people who stay ahead will be the ones who master the whole of business ecosystem, not just the stack.”

While AI dominated much of the discussion, Stevie-Ann Dovico, Group Executive for Technology & CIO at Beyond Bank Australia, brought the focus back to something equally critical: context.

When asked how tech professionals can stay ahead of trends reshaping roles, Stevie-Ann responded, “I’m going to say context awareness. It’s deeply understanding the environment into which something technical is being built.”

As technology becomes more embedded in regulated, customer-facing and risk-sensitive environments, surface-level technical excellence is no longer enough.

“Understanding business models, behavioural economics, operating rhythms, risk frameworks, regulation, and organisational power structures is key. The best technology increasingly requires cross-domain understanding to be deployed safely and effectively.”

This kind of knowledge can’t be shortcut.

“That’s not something you can learn off Udemy, you must learn the mechanics of the business.”

Stevie-Ann also highlighted a shift from narrow solution delivery to broader systems thinking to close skill gaps.

“What's needed? A shift from solution thinking to systems thinking. Stop thinking in features and start thinking in constraints, dependencies, failure patterns, trade-offs, organisational incentives, ecosystem economics etc.”

In practice, this means tech professionals who understand how their work interacts with people, policy, risk and incentives will be better equipped to design technology that actually works in the real world.

“The people who stay ahead will be the ones who master the whole of business ecosystem, not just the stack.”

What this means for your tech career

The future-proof tech professional is not defined by a single tool, language or platform. They are someone who:

1. Uses AI intentionally rather than indiscriminately
2. Thinks critically about where technology adds real value
3. Communicates clearly across technical and non-technical audiences
4. Understands the broader systems their work operates within
5. Develops judgement, context awareness and human insight alongside technical skill

In an industry moving faster than ever, these capabilities don’t just keep you relevant, they make you indispensable.

Learn more

Interested in learning more about leadership in tech? Join Renece Brewster Pia Seeto, Stevie-Ann Dovico, and dozens of other leaders in their fields at the 10th Annual Women in Tech Fest, 24th to 26th February 2026 at the Sydney Masonic Centre (SMC).