Siobhán Dervan: How a Childhood Fascination with Dial-Up Led to a Career in Fashion Tech

In the fast-evolving world of technology, few stories capture the serendipity of career development quite like that of Siobhán Dervan, Director of Engineering at Rent the Runway. Her journey from a 10-year-old mesmerized by dial-up internet to leading engineering teams in the high-stakes world of fashion technology is a testament to the power of early exposure, parental encouragement, and the versatility of a STEM education.

The Humble Beginnings: A Compaq Presario and a Nokia Ringtone

Dervan’s story begins in the most relatable way possible—with a family computer purchase. “My dad purchased our first family PC, a Compaq Presario, and installed dial-up when I was 10, and I was instantly captivated,” she recalls. This seemingly mundane household upgrade would prove to be the catalyst for a lifelong passion.

What makes Dervan’s story particularly compelling is how she bridges the gap between her technical pursuits and her artistic background. “For me, programming felt like a natural extension of my classical music background (thank you mom). It’s the same joy of using a different language to interpret something abstract and bringing it to life as something functional.”

Her first foray into what she calls “programming” was charmingly analog: creating the Beverly Hills Cop theme song using the monophonic ringtone composer on her mother’s Nokia. This anecdote perfectly encapsulates the creative problem-solving mindset that would define her career—finding ways to create within technological constraints, a skill that would serve her well in the years to come.

The Versatility of Engineering: A Master Key to Any Industry

When asked about the best aspect of working in engineering, Dervan doesn’t hesitate: “For me, the best thing about working in software engineering is its unmatched versatility and broad applicability. A career in this field gives you a master key to almost any industry, allowing you to continually follow your passion.”

This versatility has been the defining characteristic of her professional journey. From conducting master’s research in using technology for environmental education to developing enterprise networking software, and now working in the fast-paced, consumer-facing world of fashion technology at Rent the Runway, Dervan has leveraged her technical foundation to pivot across industries without losing momentum.

“What makes this field truly special is that kind of broad, immediate relevance across industries—it’s simply unbeatable,” she explains. This perspective offers valuable insight for anyone considering a career in STEM: the skills you develop are transferable, allowing you to follow your interests rather than being locked into a single path.

The AI Revolution: Supercharging Productivity

While acknowledging the foundational importance of cloud computing, Dervan identifies the seamless integration of AI into workflows as the most exciting recent development in her sector. “Cloud technology gave engineers the power of a global data centre at their fingertips, and AI has now supercharged our productivity,” she enthuses.

The comparison she draws is particularly illuminating: “It’s like having a dynamic, hyper-contextual version of Stack Overflow embedded directly within the tools we use.” This integration has transformed how engineers work, providing instant access to solutions and best practices without the friction of traditional research methods.

What’s particularly noteworthy about her observation is the cultural shift it represents. “Arguments rarely break out in those discussions!” she adds with a touch of humor, highlighting how AI integration is reducing friction and enabling more productive collaboration.

The Leadership Challenge: Trading Code for Context

Every career path has its challenges, and for Dervan, the most persistent has been keeping pace with the rapidly changing technology landscape. “What we considered best practice even a few years ago can be made obsolete almost overnight by new cloud services, security mandates or AI integration,” she explains.

This challenge becomes even more pronounced when transitioning into leadership roles. “The hardest part of that transition was moving away from hands-on coding, because I worried about losing technical fluency,” she admits. This is a concern shared by many technical professionals who move into management—the fear that stepping away from the keyboard means becoming disconnected from the work that initially fueled their passion.

Her solution is both elegant and practical: “I’ve found that the solution to both challenges is the same: prioritize context over deep knowledge.” Rather than trying to maintain expertise in every new technology, she focuses on understanding capabilities and strategic usage. “Working as a leader within the innovative culture at Rent the Runway, I now focus on understanding the capabilities and strategic usages of these new technologies, which allows me to provide guidance, enable my engineers and effectively remove their roadblocks, rather than feeling the need to write code.”

This shift from individual contributor to enabler represents a mature understanding of leadership in technical fields—success comes not from doing the work yourself, but from creating the conditions for your team to excel.

Overcoming Personal Barriers: The Power of Healthy Conflict

When asked about the hardest thing she’s faced in her career, Dervan reveals a vulnerability that many professionals will recognize: “The hardest thing I’ve had to face in my career was managing my natural aversion to conflict.”

This self-awareness is particularly powerful because it highlights how personal traits can become professional obstacles. “Because of this natural aversion, in my early experiences as a leader I felt under-equipped when dealing with interpersonal difficulties, or having to tackle performance deficiencies head-on.”

The transformation she describes is inspiring. Since joining Rent the Runway, she’s learned to “truly relish the open and honest communication style valued at our company” and has developed the soft skills essential for effective leadership. “I now approach difficult discussions with the confidence to keep the conversational focus on outcomes and growth, which is a powerful asset in leading an effective team.”

This evolution underscores an important truth about leadership in STEM fields: technical excellence alone is insufficient. The ability to navigate human dynamics, provide constructive feedback, and foster healthy debate is equally crucial for building high-performing teams.

A Vision for Change: Dismantling STEM Stereotypes

When given the hypothetical power to change anything in the STEM sector, Dervan’s response is both ambitious and necessary: “If I could wave a magic wand over the STEM sector, the one thing I would change is to completely dismantle the idea that this field is inherently hard, scary or only for a select few geniuses.”

This perception, she argues, is “a massive, unnecessary barrier, especially here in Ireland where we see slow progress in encouraging women into tech.” Her solution is radical yet practical: “I would mandate a radical shift toward early, playful exposure to technical concepts across the educational system.”

The evidence of this approach working is personal for Dervan. “I can see it with my five-year-old son who started school this year.” This observation carries particular weight coming from someone who understands both the technical and pedagogical aspects of STEM education.

Her vision is to change the narrative from “STEM is too hard” to “STEM is just the universal language of creative problem-solving.” By showing children that “science and technology are fun tools to build things with,” she believes we can “rapidly accelerate the diversity and talent pipeline for everyone.”

The Perfect Personality Fit: Creativity Meets Empathy

When asked which personality traits make her best suited to her career, Dervan identifies a combination of creativity, passion for structured languages, empathy, and a communicative nature. This blend is particularly interesting because it challenges the stereotype of the solitary, socially-awkward programmer.

Her musical background through the Suzuki method deserves special attention. “Performance is encouraged from a very young age in the Suzuki method I learned music through, so I’ve never had a problem standing up to speak, whether I’m presenting plans, results, coaching or collaborating.” This early exposure to public performance has given her a confidence in communication that many technical professionals lack.

The connection she draws between music and programming is profound: “That musical background developed my core love for structured systems.” Both disciplines involve understanding and working within frameworks to create something meaningful—whether that’s a symphony or a software application.

Perhaps most importantly, she emphasizes the role of emotional intelligence: “On top of that, I think my emotional intelligence and sensitivity is crucial.” In an industry that often prioritizes technical skills over interpersonal ones, this acknowledgment is refreshing and accurate. The most effective leaders in technology are those who can bridge the gap between technical complexity and human needs.

Life Outside Work: The Support Network Advantage

Dervan is refreshingly honest about the importance of her support network in her professional success. “While my job is technical, the most valuable tool I have is my support network, my family and friends.”

This perspective is particularly valuable in the context of the tech industry’s often toxic “hustle culture.” “In a fast-paced field like technology, they provide the essential anchor of perspective and balance,” she explains. Her husband has been “my champion and rock since the very beginning of my career,” and her children serve as “a constant reminder of the world outside of work and the importance of being fully present.”

The wisdom in her approach is clear: “Work is work and life is life; happiness is crucial for long-term productivity and effectiveness.” This balanced perspective allows her to “approach my professional challenges with renewed energy, better focus and resilience.”

Building Community: Active Participation Over Passive Attendance

For those looking to build connections in the STEM community, Dervan offers practical advice based on her experience in Galway’s tight-knit tech scene. “The best way to make local connections is through active participation, not passive attendance.”

Organizations like ITAG (Innovation Technology AtlanTec Gateway) have been instrumental in her networking success. “I’ve made most of my strongest connections by not just attending their events, but by participating in the courses, workshops or mentoring programmes they facilitate.”

This approach of being a “visible, active contributor” rather than a passive observer is particularly effective in smaller tech communities. “In the tightknit Galway community, being a visible, active contributor means you constantly meet and build long-term relationships with the same influential people throughout your career.”

Advice for Aspiring STEM Professionals: Three Key Principles

For those considering a similar career path, Dervan offers three pieces of advice that reflect her own journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

First, she emphasizes the flexibility that a technical education provides: “Leverage the incredible flexibility and versatility that a technical education provides.” The ability to move between industries while maintaining your core skillset is a unique advantage of STEM careers.

Second, for women entering the field—who remain underrepresented at approximately 25% of the ICT workforce in Ireland—she offers a three-part strategy: “Firstly, find your tribe: Connections provide essential support and valuable perspective. Connect with groups and seek out mentors immediately.” Second, “own your expertise: Be confident in contributing your solutions. Do not diminish your achievements or apologise for taking up space in a technical discussion.” And finally, “be visible: Look for opportunities to present your work, mentor others or speak at events. Visibility is critical for career progression and helps normalise the presence of diverse individuals in leadership roles.”

These recommendations are particularly powerful because they address both the practical and psychological barriers that women often face in technical fields.

The Bigger Picture: STEM as Creative Problem-Solving

Throughout her story, Dervan consistently returns to the idea that STEM is fundamentally about creative problem-solving rather than abstract complexity. This perspective is crucial for making the field more accessible and appealing to a broader range of people.

Her journey from creating ringtones on a Nokia to leading engineering teams at a major fashion technology company demonstrates that success in STEM isn’t about being a “genius” or having some innate talent. It’s about curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to learn and adapt.

The most powerful message from her story might be this: the barriers to entry in STEM are often psychological rather than practical. By changing how we talk about and teach technical subjects, we can open the field to the diverse perspectives and talents that will drive the next generation of innovation.

Tags: #WomenInTech #STEMCareers #EngineeringLeadership #FashionTech #AIIntegration #CloudComputing #TechEducation #DiversityInSTEM #WorkLifeBalance #CareerDevelopment #TechInnovation #LeadershipSkills #EmotionalIntelligence #ProfessionalGrowth #TechCommunity

Viral Sentences:

• “Programming felt like a natural extension of my classical music background—it’s the same joy of using a different language to interpret something abstract and bringing it to life.”
• “An education in STEM gives you a master key to access and influence almost any industry.”
• “AI has now supercharged our productivity—it’s like having a dynamic, hyper-contextual version of Stack Overflow embedded directly within the tools we use.”
• “The hardest thing I’ve had to face in my career was managing my natural aversion to conflict.”
• “If I could wave a magic wand over the STEM sector, I would completely dismantle the idea that this field is inherently hard, scary or only for a select few geniuses.”
• “Work is work and life is life; happiness is crucial for long-term productivity and effectiveness.”
• “Visibility is critical for career progression and helps normalise the presence of diverse individuals in leadership roles.”

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